TURBO FINS PROBLEMS

I once met someone who bought a new car and within 6mos the engine light was on. I checked it out and it was oil bone dry.They could not understand why they had to every once in awhile check the oil, coolant, tires or even plan a road trip with a map. This person also bought a new tv and soon complained that the thing was a piece of junk cuse the remote never even worked. When I checked it out there were no batteries in the remote. I asked if the owners manual was read and they said no, it should come ready from the store for their house. Then they bought a toaster and complained it was junk too, that all it made was burnt toast, so i checked that out,,, and, well you know,,, THE REST OF THE STORY.

_________________
http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

FI,
If your worried about venturing away from the beach due to your age, well then best not venture. I know guys with paddel yaks that lost their's out in the middle of nowhere, because they did not have a tether on it. However with a lil 7P's, Proper Prior Preparation, Prevents Piss Poor Performance, you'll be fine. But as always, there are things that go bump in the night and there are sharks in the water.

In addition follow your own signature, it really says it all-
The sin is not the mistake but the failure to learn from it. However.... you can't fix stupid!

_________________
http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

About venturing offshore, "when in doubt don't go out".
I would go beyond the horizon in my older kayak all the time but I had years of experience with that one boat and that is with twenty years in one area to learn the tides and weather.
With my new Hobie and the same area, I am not so adventurous, yet, but after an established history with my new boat will do so again but will follow the simple rule to never sail/peddle farther than I can paddle. I always carry two paddles; one top side ready to use and one in the hull broken down as a back-up.

_________________

Things I carry. - (in order of most importance) Toilet Paper, First Aid Kit, Water, Floatation for myself and kayak, Spare Parts for Drive & Rudder, Tools, Lightsticks & small strobe, Handheld GPS, Handheld VHF, EPERB. Things I may need but don't carry. (in order of most importance) - Bang Stick (for man in gray flannel suite or large alligators), Gun (for Somali hijackers), spare drive (will get this if I ever get around the Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Trail), food, friend with a kayak.

_________________
I'm right 98% of the time. The other 3% I don't worry about.

I'm with Ranger908, but I carry a bang stick and 2 powerheads. 12ga and 44mag. My buddies taught I was goofy and paranoid till with got pesterd by the bright blue flash (Mako) and then they all beat a path next to me. Oh and the EPERB and VHF are 1 and 2 in order.

_________________
http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

iharo thanks you for speaking up I thought that I had the only bad set ever made.

I wrote:
Surely, there has to be a way to mount the fins so that they don't fall off? This sounds like a serious product liability issue!!!!! I'm an older guy... what happens if I get stranded out in the middle of nowhere? Should I not venture away from the beach?

Then Sammy925 wrote:
FI,
If your worried about venturing away from the beach due to your age, well then best not venture. I know guys with paddel yaks that lost their's out in the middle of nowhere, because they did not have a tether on it. However with a lil 7P's, Proper Prior Preparation, Prevents Piss Poor Performance, you'll be fine. But as always, there are things that go bump in the night and there are sharks in the water.

In addition follow your own signature, it really says it all-
The sin is not the mistake but the failure to learn from it. However.... you can't fix stupid!

Well, Sammy, I'll have to apologize for that... See, the idea of being stranded in the middle of nowhere brought back a flashback from the war and, what with drinking and all, the booze just made me let go and say that. I sure didn't mean to make anybody lash out at me the way you did, all superior-sounding and mean and all, with one of them little laughy faces there to make fun of me.

Anyway, I've figured out how to keep from having the problem of fins falling off. I'll just take them off before I mount the drive. That way, I'll have them for sure when I need them. The way these old legs pedal, it won't make much difference whether the fins are on or not. I'll just toss them in the front hatch and, since they float, they'll be right on top when I need to get them.

And, yes, I always carry a paddle, although I don't like using it much. With only one good arm it's hard to paddle straight but I figure if I just keep going around in bigger circles, sooner or later I'll bet back to where I started from.

By the way, I wish Hobie would make the right pedal bigger. It's real hard to get my bum foot and my cane on the pedal at the same time. Reckon they could so something about that?

Till next time,

Fish It

Fish It

After reading your post I understand your concerns about the fins. You have to have a 100% reliable system.

You are venturing offshore in one of the most hostile Atlantic Ocean areas (Duck to Cape Hatteras Light), I know. I spent my youth swimming, boating, and surfing those beaches, and 10 years of my career, rescuing those still alive and picking up bodies along that stretch of Beach from. I can't count the number of bodies, but I can tell you only a few died of stupidity, most were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I watched a Coast Guard rescue boat roll over in Oregon Inlet trying to rescue another boat. The changing seas and daily storm form quickly there without notice. I have counted over 500 sharks while flying over the beach on one trip.

From my experience I make two conclusions about kayaking offshore from Hatteras that have always worked for me. Always heed the quote, "We're going to need a bigger boat", and alcohol is more effective when taken with pain killers.

Don't think anyone was targeting you on the post. They were making general points for all to read. Things break, sometimes defective parts get out, play it safe, and think about what you are doing. In the end, we are all responsible for our on safety.

_________________
I'm right 98% of the time. The other 3% I don't worry about.

And here I thought I was the only one not happy with my new st turbos!!
In the end, if they are "fragile" or even "less robust" than the standard fin, THEY SHOULD BE MARKETED AS SUCH!
Then I'll know before I throw my money down.
Had I known, I wouldn't have bought them.
The fact that they are routinely fixed with duct tape should be addressed by the guy from MIT!
Thin does not necessarily equate to weak.

Every powerboat guy knows its his fault when he grounds a prop. Same goes for the MirageDrive fins. While these can not withstand every grounding (mud, sand, logs or rocks have differing results), the fins are plenty tough. We have already toughened the Turbos a couple of times. It is certainly possible you had a set of older ones too. Just place a claim with a dealer if you really feel that the fins are defective in some way. We will take care of it.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Matt, what are possible causes for the rear fin's tiny split-ring to deform? The fin is installed and functions properly, and there doesn't appear to be a clearance issue, but the ring is now deformed to the point of needing replacement. I hear a slight klunk while pedaling which I suspect is associated with the ring's deformation. I've got a spare ring and I'll also find a local source for spare rings. Such wear seems abnormal to me and I'd like to fix the source of the problem. Did I install the split ring wrong when I replaced my rear fin? The ring was fully on the pin.

Try reversing you clevis pin and installing the new ring on the other side. If there are any contact issues with the hull on the original side, this may alleviate them. Just an idea.

Turbos are designed for efficiency and speed. To the best of my knowledge, Hobie doesn't rate their fins on an abuse scale and makes no claims that would indicate otherwise.

Yet you're still using them?

I would think that if Duct tape actually fixed the fins you wouldn't have to make repairs on a routine basis. Evidently the guy from MIT already figured that out.

Since you're not happy with your Turbofins, why not switch to standard fins and be happy? They'd probably be at least as fast with all that duct tape stuck to those Turbos!

I tell ya' my Bottom Sensor/Collision Reference and Prevention (BS/CRAP) System is the answer! See: Shallow Water Bottom Finder............

Unfortunately, I bent one of my rods while removing it. So to go back to the originals, I need to shell out a few more dollars. I promise you I will do that before I buy another turbo fin.

I'm glad you're happy with your turbos. Perhaps you work for hobie. Spend any time on this board and it is pretty obvious I'm not the only one disappointed in this product. I've been using Hobie products for over 15 years. I've used those products a hell of a lot harder than this kayak. My opinion of Hobie is that they are an outstanding American company. I can not imagine not having one or more of their products in my drive. I've purchased over twenty thousand dollars of Hobie gear over the years. I've earned my opinion. The turbo fin is not up to Hobies normal standard.