New PA14 owner

Hey all,
First post. Long time kayak fisherman, happy to finally own a PA! Picked up a 2016 a few weeks ago. Been busy with installing a lift and accessories:-) since I will be obsessing for at least another month before I get it on the water, can someone tell me what parts fail the most so I can put together a kit to keep on the boat?

Thanks!
Greenleaf

Greenleaf,

That's a question that's completely dependent upon model year of the PA14 and how it's used. I'm on my 3rd PA14 and have never had any part fail related to the PA14 itself. You have a 2016 PA14. I am not aware of any issues related to that year. For those of us with a 2015 model, there have been some concerns with the skeg cord cutting into the plastic back by the rudder adjustment area on top, but I believe Hobie put out a kit to fix that. I have a 2015 and while I have some minor rubbing on my skeg line in that area, mine works fine.

If you were going to maintain any spare parts, you could carry backup Mirage drive parts (i.e. small split rings and the pins that hold the fins on the rods. Maybe a spare set of Mirage Drive rods. The Mirage Drive is very durable and will last a long time with regular cleaning, adjustments and lubrication.

Welcome to the PA family and the addiction!

_________________
Steve Stubbs
USAF (retired)

SeaDek Fishing Team
Unfair Lures Pro Staff
Ziptailz Ambassador

2015 Pro Angler 14 - Papaya
2018 Compass - Sea Grass

SRAces,
Thanks for the response! Yes I own a 2016 PA14. I should have been more specific. I like your suggestion for back up parts for the Mirage drive. I just wanted to put together a small kit that would allow me to fix an issue should I be out on the water and something decided to break. I love hearing that you have had multiple boats without breakage! Years ago I remember seeing videos of guys out and mirage drives breaking. I assume that at this stage of the game Hobie has really refined the drives to the point where failures don't often occur?

I saw the posts on the 2015 rudder and skeg line issues. I am assuming I don't need to worry about this. However, I would like to keep the parts on my boat to fix both should it happen to fail. I guess I should probably just examine the parts of those systems and the drive and determine what I should keep on hand. I was just hoping maybe someone already had the list so I wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel.

Again, thank you for taking your time to respond.

Greenleaf,

I am in my 2015 PA at least once a week during the winter months primarily in the Gulf. During the warmer months with more daylight I sometimes fish for a couple of hours after work in our freshwater lake. I am headed out tomorrow and Saturday to fish the Gulf.

Yes there are folks that have had issues. I never had the floor crack issues on my 2012 PA14. A good friend that owns it now has not had any failure issues.

The variety of conditions the PAs are used in is extremely varied. I have seen some pictures of people's Mirage Drives posted and wonder if they ever clean them or perform maintenance on the drive. When people see either of my PAs, they always comment on how great they look. When I go fishing, I fish pretty hard. The key is taking care of your equipment. I might go a few days and not wash the PAs if I'm fishing those days, but I always make sure to clean everything when I stop fishing.

My first PA14 retailed for $2350. The last one was $3200. The 2017s are more money. They're not getting cheaper, but are well worth the investment and hold their value. Again...welcome to the PA family and the addiction. You will love fishing out of a PA.

_________________
Steve Stubbs
USAF (retired)

SeaDek Fishing Team
Unfair Lures Pro Staff
Ziptailz Ambassador

2015 Pro Angler 14 - Papaya
2018 Compass - Sea Grass

Thanks for all the info. Do you think I would be fine not carrying a kit and take the fix it if it breaks attitude? I hear ya on the addiction part, fishing is an obsession. So pumped to actually get out on the thing!

Greenleaf

The only replacement parts I kept with me were a set of replacement fins and masts. You can bend them back should you run into something, but sometimes I find it's quicker and easier to switch them out, then straighten the mast out when I get home.

http://www.summitsports.com/hobie-st-tu ... Value=Grey

_________________

Just a few thoughts. I own a 2016 PA14, and when I bought it, I also bought spares for just about every part needed to rebuild the V2 Drive. In over a year of heavy uses, 5+ days a week, I have never had an issue, other than an occasional mast bending. Like Steve said above, the few things I would keep around, would be a spare mast, split rings (these are small and have a tendency to shoot across the kayak when putting them on), pin, and maybe a spare fin. The 2016 seems to be solid as a rock.

The skeg line issue was addressed on the 2016, though it is not perfect. I rarely use the skeg, but the line has a tendency to pull the routing grommet out of the side of the kayak (Under the rudder plate), and does groove the scupper hole slightly under that same rudder access plate.

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