Where to stow my Hobie paddle?

Hello everyone, I am proud new owner of a 2016 Pro Angler 12. Can anyone tell me a good place to stow my paddle?

On my PA-14, I use 1/2 of the paddle with the t-handle installed. I place the unused half inside the hull and I store the usable half in the "taco clip" behind the left side of my seat.

I attached a Hobie, coiled cord safety leash on the paddle. The Velcro attachment is nice and secure.

I rarely use the paddle, but I find the storage location is good for instant use and the safety leash stretches enough so to not interfere with using the paddle.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Like the good doctor, I don't use the double sided paddle much, in fact I have recently changed paddles from the Hobie to an Accent Transformer that has attachments to make it a traditional kayak paddle, canoe, SUP paddle or stake out pole. It has its plus's and minuses. Plus - one paddle does everything. Minus - heavy. The Hobie paddle is silly light in comparison. I use the SUP configuration 90% of the time, but keep the other pieces under the front hatch. I like having the availability of the double sided paddle if something were to go disastrously wrong with my mirage drive and I had to paddle a long distance back.

That being said, I did not like the Hobie taco clips location. I felt it placed the paddle in a location that took up to much space in the rear tank well. I went with mounting it on the exterior of my kayak, on a combination of H-Rail Mighty Mounts and YakAttack Roto-Grip paddle holders. I also added 9" H-Rails on the rear of my kayak which gave me more mounting options for gear but also helped facilitate moving the paddle even further back and out of the way.

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

If you don't have the Hobie live well in the back, the taco clip location is "just fine"

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

I used one of the Hobie H-Rail mounting plates and the taco paddle clip to make a Paddle mount on the H-Rail. That way it is adjustable to where I need it.

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Steve Stubbs
USAF (retired)

SeaDek Fishing Team
Unfair Lures Pro Staff
Ziptailz Ambassador

2015 Pro Angler 14 - Papaya
2018 Compass - Sea Grass

Steve is more frugal than I am. His idea is only $20! Mine cost closer to $80...well $100 if you count the H-Rail. This addiction thing I have is turning into a real money suck. Thank god I don't drink drug or hang around to many loose woman, or I would be in the middle of a financial crisis.

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

What we like to do is install a second paddle clip, so you have one on each side of the tank well. Break the paddle down into two pieces and store a half paddle in each clip. This is efficient, and puts your paddle completely out of the way. The second paddle clip screws right into the same threads as the existing pad eye. Part no. for the paddle clip is 71119001.

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Howie Strech
Parts & Accessories Product Manager
Hobie Cat USA

The diagram posted above is commonly called the "Taco clip"

It's inexpensive and works great for storing the paddle. When I launch my PA-14, I unstrap the small bungee/shock cord strap so the paddle is easy to grab if needed.
Lastly, securing the Hobie coiled cord safety strap to the paddle shaft is a must. I use P/N 74051001, PADDLE LEASH - COIL

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Thanks everyone! Those are all great ideas. I shall try them out.

So are you at the mercy of whatever angle the taco clip happens to be at when screwed in all the way? I have a PA17T and I wonder what angle the clip will be at when screwed into a pad-eye location nearest the rod holders in the rear.

No, its a very tight fit. Soooo, just partially unscrew it, to get the position/angle you desire.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Thanks for that. How tight is it? If using only one clip with a t-handled half paddle, would there be enough leverage from the paddle that it would end up turning the clip when grabbing the paddle?

I have a 17T which means I have the added consideration of where to put things for my two seating positions (the solo middle position or all the way back when tandem). I need ready access to the paddle for beaching after pulling the mirage drive up. So far, the best place has been sliding the paddle halves into the rear horizontal rod storage. I can still reach the paddle easily when in the solo position. The only real drawback to this is I can't leave the T-handle on, so I end up never using it. It also chews up the rod holder space. ("chews up" both in the sense of "uses up" and potentially "is abusive to")

If the taco clip were all the way back by the rear trolling rod holder I wouldn't be able to reach the securing cord from the solo position, and so would have to leave it unsecured. Do you think it would be secure enough that way as a single clip? Or do you think I would need something like an H-Rail G-Hold to secure the T-handle end where I can reach it?

Steve - Looks like a good solution. But how did you thread the taco clip into the universal mounting plate?

It didn't really screw in where it would not turn in the hole I made in the mounting plate. Once I got it right on the plate so the paddle was horizontal when mounted I used a combination of epoxy and super glue on the back side of the plate to make sure it didn't move...lol! It's definitely attached to the plate. I like this setup as I can put the paddle holder on either side along the H-Rail quickly if needed.

This was my original configuration below for both PAs. It worked fine with the YakAttack Blackpak between them, but once I got the Livewell XL, I didn't have the room on the side. So that's when I went to the paddle clip on the H-Rail plate.

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Steve Stubbs
USAF (retired)

SeaDek Fishing Team
Unfair Lures Pro Staff
Ziptailz Ambassador

2015 Pro Angler 14 - Papaya
2018 Compass - Sea Grass

I know that you prefer a half-paddle to a full paddle, but I prefer a keeping an assembled full paddle within easy reach. Do you think that using 2 of your modified clips (one at the front and one at the back of the H-rail) would keep a full paddle secure and not interfere with other H-rail mounted rod holders and such? Or would the convex curve of the H-rail preclude clipping a straight paddle at front-and-back? I apologize for asking, but I am awaiting delivery of my first H-Rail PA so I cannot just run out to the garage and check on this mysef!