Picking up my new Oasis.

Hello Everyone,after many months of fence sitting,forum surfing,and kayak renting we finally pulled the trigger on a 2012 Oasis.We live in South Florida so we plan on many great outings on the water.We will be transporting the kayak on our Expedition,and were wondering which roof top carrier to get,the Thule Glide and Set looks to be what I am leaning towards.Also I was wondering if there is a checklist that you would go through with your dealer upon picking up a new kayak.Any thoughts would be a help since we are new to the sport.

Thanks, Mike

Mike, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new Oasis.

I use an earlier version of the Thule Glide N Set and it has proven to be excellent. Depending on whether you mount the boat from the back or side, you may want an extension or use a "T" bar with a hitch receiver to keep the boat off the back of your SUV.

An owner's manual comes with your boat (and can also be downloaded on the Hobie Web site). Nevertheless, there is nothing like a hands-on introduction. Things you might want to have the dealer go over are:

--installing the Drive correctly (and front end forward)
--how to adjust the pedals to insure a full leg extension without hitting the stops
-- stowing the Drive in position with the fins up against the boat (special bungee)
--how to lock the rudder down
--seat installation and removal
--attaching the paddles to the boat

That ought to get you successfully launched. The manual and forum FAQ can instruct you on any adjustment and tuning items. I'm surprised at how few people seem to know how to install and remove the cart in the water. With practice, you can also install and remove it before unloading/loading from your SUV (in most cases). A small pad, rug or carpet also comes in handy for resting the boat on the ground if you don't want to scratch it.

You may want to rig your boat with a few additional items. The first thing I always add is a permanent bow line or "painter" to tie up if necessary, and I carry additional line for emergency towing (for others).

If you get other questions along the way, don't be shy about calling your dealer or asking the forum!

Roadrunner,
So how do you install/remove the cart in the water? I've been tilting and removing before loading the yak with gear. Takes two trips. Do you do without dumping any gear ?

Johnny

EQWPD1 :
As far as loading systems go we have had the best luck with the Malone Seawing Stinger Combo MPG113MD ( http://maloneautoracks.com/loading-systems.php ).
We bought an Oasis and a Revo back in 2007-2008 and have many many miles on the system (over 60k). We travel all over the country with our camper and the boats on the roof. We purchased a Tandem Island in spring 2010 and are still using the same racks. We often travel with both the Island and the Revo on the roof.
Here is a pic of our car loaded with one boat

The trick for us is to have two of the combo units installed to handle the larger boats (like the Oasis) a little better. One of the stingers is pointing forward and the other points back (for loading). This makes 4 contact points around 8 or 9 feet apart, which is great for stability over railroad tracks, and helps in strong side winds. Of course if we have to go any distance we tie the bow also. If you take two 6 inch long pool noodles wrapped in electrical tape and rope them under the stinger, it pushes the stinger up against the hull, and stops them from rattling in the wind.
As far as the scupper cart goes, I slide the boat back from atop the car, place the back on the ground (on a rug), put the scupper wheels in, then lift the front and walk sideways a few feet and set the boat down (with the wheels in), never lifting more than 40 lbs at a time with the Oasis (1/2 the boat weight). I then load everything and roll into the water. Once you are in a couple feet of water it is easy to pull the cart out and strap it to the deck. When coming in you stop in a couple feet of water, place the cart under the boat, then wheel it in and back to the car (loaded). I then unload all the gear and lift the front on top of the rear stinger, remove the scupper cart, then slide the boat onto the car. For safety I usually strap a Hobie sail (or any suitable pole) to the side of the car to prevent the boat from falling over the side of the car while loading (happened to me on a windy day, ruined the top of my door). I'm not a big guy (5'8) in my 60's and load and unload every weekend by myself with no issues.
Don't do like I did and forget to take the cart from under the boat when going out, I came back in a half hour later tired and wondering what the heck was wrong with the boat, turned out I forgot to take the scupper cart out.
We also have one of those hitch extender T bar things, but hardly ever use it (too much hassle for me, the combo's do the job just fine)
Good luck
Bob

# 1 While at the dealer, make sure that your rudder has been properly installed and adjusted after the shipping. If you do a search, one of the major owners's problems listed is the lack of rudder control. We had that on our 2009 Oasis, which was unwrapped in the parking lot and loaded on my truck with no rudder adjustment. I finally did the research and made the adjustments and our Oasis will turn around basically in its diameter. We check the rudder out at home and at the launch site before it goes into the water. Once the Yak is in the water and I can put the rudder down, we do that. My wife turns the rudder control and I make sure that it is performing before we shove off.

Rudder tuning/adjustment is even more critical with your duo steering. Make sure that the rudder fully responds out of the water with the front and rear rudder control before you leave your dealer.

# 2 Hopefully you and your wife can load your Oasis on your SUV. My wife and I couldn't with our Ridgeline pickup. We went to the Malone sport trailer and saved our backs/shoulders and enjoy it.

# 3 Get a bow line that stays on the Oasis. We have one with a snap, and it clips on the front carrying handle and when folded fits in the front pocket so my wife can have it ready.

#4 We have the Hobie wide track scupper cart, and it is a love/hate relationship. It works great after we flip the yak over on the trailer and pull it back a few feet and insert the cart. Then, we insert the Mirages, test them and put them up into the neutral position. Then, we put into the Oasis what we will carry in/on the yak. Which will have to be removed when we get to the water. Then we connect our AMAs for the trip down to the water. We have successfully carted our Oasis over pavement, gravel, sand, rocks a few feet to several hundred. That is the love part.

The little pin that secures the cart in the scuppers kept coming out, and I replaced it with a small bolt and an plastic electrical screw connector. It "ain't" elegant but it works.

When, we get to the water comes the hate part. We have to tilt the yak over on its side to remove the cart at the waters edge. We tried putting it into the water with the cart still in. The big wheels float and make it a lot of fun and excitement getting it out of the scupper holes.

Anything in the yak can end up in the water when we tilt the boat to get the cart out of the scuppers. So we have become very minimal re what we carry on our Oasis to avoid items in the water. If we are staying longer and may need more than a snack or maybe a change of clothes, I carry one of my fly fishing boat bags and strap it on the back after we get the cart out, and the yak is in the water. When we get back, I remove the bag and whatever isn't in it before we tilt the yak to get the cart back in the scuppers.

5. We don't use the full Hobie paddles, we take off half and add the T handles which are easier to transport and handle. Also, they are all we need to safely launch and land the Oasis.


We return to the launch site, we now bring it in parallel it the waters edge. Next while my wife holding the boat with her bow line, I remove the fly fishing bag and anything that is on top. Then, we have to tilt it on its side and insert the cart into the Scuppers.

Then, we pull it up out of the water to where our stuff is and reload the yak and head back to our truck and trailer. The love part returns as we get back to our truck with minimal sweat and put the bow of the Oasis on the trailer's rear cross bar. Then, we remove the Mirages, AMAs and stuff that we put into the yak to get it back from the water. Then, we lift the Oasis up, the cart slips out, and we flip the yak over after my wife pulls it forward with her bow line and me pushing and guiding from the rear of the yak, center it and secure it for the trip home. We store our Oasis upside down on our trailer with the Hobie Kayak Cover in our driveway.

At home, we have a team load and unload drill. After I back the trailer up and disconnect it, my wife has grabbed the Amas, cart and other gear from our Ridgeline and puts them into the carport shed. I have been washing off the yak, and she lays the Mirages down in the driveway to be washed/hosed down. Then, we towel off the bottom of the Oasis and put the cover on. Next my wife heads for the shower, and I take the Mirages into our back yard where they are out of sight and safe to dry off.

Then, I hit the showers. Afterwards we bring the Mirages inside for safety and dry storage. I spend more time in the shower than the home drill.

For the trip out, I load the trailer on its hitch and take the cover off. My wife has brought out the gear for the trip and stored it in the Ridgeline. Then after a few minutes with the safety check of lights, straps and hitch, we are off. That takes less than 5 minutes.

We carry a Garmin GPS 76CSX with the card that shows waterways and our Olympus digital camera. They are small, light, shockproof and waterproof. They don't float and they have the little Olympus life jacket attachment to keep them floating. I store them in the little side pouches. The Garmin besides showing us where we are and how to get back has a mileage and speed screen which we use more than the mapping screen. The camera is ready for quick pictures of critters/birds and even Bald Eagles.

In your area, you might consider having a ACR Personal Locator Beacon and a waterproof 2 way Marine VHF Marine radio with auto Noah stormwarnings. When, I go out by myself I carry these items in a dry bag which is attached to the topside of my Fishing yak, my Freedom Hawk 12. That way you can get to it if your yak gets flipped.

Last but least carry drinking water. Camelbacks can fit on the back of your seats.

_________________
2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder

Standing in calf to knee height water with the boat away from the shore, Drives still installed, I nest any loose gear in the seat area. Then I lift the near side of the boat at the midpoint handle and slide the boat up onto my thigh for a stable, easy one handed hold while the other hand reaches under with the cart. I locate the seam with the near post, slide it to the scupper opening and get it started, then pivot the cart until the far post engages the far scupper. The boat tilt angle is about 30 degrees +/-, so loose gear doesn't get ejected. This method works for me with all the Hobie models. IMO, the secret is stabilizing the boat on the thigh so it doesn't squirm around or over-rotate.

It takes a few times to get a feel for it, but then it's a snap. I use the standard cart, which is mildly buoyant but easy to maneuver underwater. If you use the Trax wheels, you have to increase the tilt angle or replace some of the air in the wheels with water to reduce buoyancy.

Easier done than said. I'll try to get a picture next time I'm out.

This may be a bit off-topic because the post is about a new Oasis but since the info may be useful to new owners I will say it anyway: IMO the Hobie cart suffers from 2 basic design flaws:

1. It has to be inserted into scupper holes which makes it difficult to load a heavy boat onto it. The flip side is that it is easy to unload cos the cart just drops out when you lift the boat, but that is not always what you want to happen: sometimes you want the cart to stay attached to the boat and the Hobie cart doesn't.

2. When loaded the boat rests on a bar (albeit covered in foam) onto which the whole weight of the boat bears - leave your boat on the cart for any length of time and you will get a depression in the hull.

There are a number of alternative carts on the market but I have been won over by the charms of the C-Tug. It is plastic so no rust. It has inflatable tyres for a comfortable ride. It breaks down for stowing in the boat. The other 2 big benefits are:

1. It has a little stand on it so that loading the boat is a breeze: you stand the cart beside the boat, lift the boat onto the cart, tighten the straps & you are done. Far easier than lifting/tipping the boat with one hand and trying to locate the scupper holes with the other; that is a recipe for a back injury IMO.

2. The cart has wide pads to support the boat - my AI hull (only) has just spent mid April-mid October on its cart in my garage without being moved once and without any noticeable deformation of the hull. The other aspect of not requiring scupper holes is that you can site the cart at any point along the length of the boat - which makes it very easy to establish a good balance point so that the weight of the boat is being taken by the cart and not so much by the person pulling it.

I bought my C-Tug (several years ago). I found that the strap tightening buckles did not create enough friction in the straps so that the straps tended to pull through when dragging the kayak over soft sand. Also, when I bought an Outfitter double the standard straps supplied proved not long enough to go round the boat. So I ended up having to replace both the buckles and the straps but neither of these updates cost more than a few dollars and overall I have been delighted with the cart.

I can only add that the advantages increase as the weight of the boat being loaded increases - so for heavier boats like the doubles and the AI the benefits of the C-Tug are significant.

However, that problem has been eliminated with the new C-Tug cart with the hard wheels.

http://www.campmor.com/c-tug-hard-wheel ... keyword%7D
http://www.campmor.com/c-tug-hard-wheel ... keyword%7D

I will be ordering one for our Oasis, my Freedom Hawk and a new yak.

My Scupper Pup is worthless for the same reason. The tires and tubes are flimsy and lose air as soon as they are put into use with any yak. Even with my Freedom Hawk 12 at 49 #'s without its pontoons, the tires deflate and fall off the Scupper pup in my driveway in a few feet after inserting the Scupper pup.

Thanks for your info on leaving the yak on the C-Tug while storing it. I have been trying figure out how to use something with wheels to roll yaks in and out of our storage area in our carport. A younger yakker uses his old skate boards to roll his yaks in and out of his carport and stores them on their side on the skate boards.

The new C-Tug with wide hard wheels, should do a great job with this issue. I can put any yak on it and move from my truck into the storage area.

_________________
2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder

Hey Guys, Thanks for the very useful info.I'm sure this is the first of many PIA questions from a newbie,but having a forum with people willing to help answer questions and any problems was definitely one of the reasons that helped sell us on a Hobie. Again Thanks.

Mike

The cart keeper pin and collars have solved both these problems. If you add tennis balls it's even better.
I have the C-Tug and whilst it is a very well made and cleverly designed cart I still prefer to use the Hobie scupper carts.
The main negative is that the cart supports aren't flexible and don't mold to the shape of the hull so flat spots can develop. You will need to add an extra foam piece to distribute the load more evenly.
It also needs to be securely fitted so it doesn't slide around during transport.
There is a cart available that looks to be made up of the main C-Tug 'wishbone' structures but with roof rack type cradles fitted in place of the flat pads. In Aus Rays Outdoors stock it.

I mainly use the C-Tug to assist in retrieving the TI during Winter trips and I don't want to get too wet inserting the scupper cart.

Johnny -

I load up my Oasis and roll it on its cart down into the water so the stern is floating. I then lift up the bow about chin high, (I have the cart in the middle position) and the cart falls out of the scuppers - as long as I remembered to remove the keeper pin. I have the heavy duty cart with the foam wheels, which floats; I usually have to set the Oasis down off to the side a little, then I pick up the cart off the surface. I often have it loaded up for fishing, and it works well doing it that way.

Taking it out of the water is another matter though, if I am by myself. I have to unload it to insert the cart. If I have help though, I just lift the bow again and have the helper insert the cart.

_________________
2011 Oasis (papaya)
2012 Revo (dune)

Hey guys,
Thanks for the waterside cart removal tips. I'll give 'em a try.

Johnny

Does water come in over the stern when you lift your Oasis up by the bow?

If not this would be a lot easier than rolling it on its side. I only use my Oasis when my wife is with me, so she could grab the cart when it bobs up. I could see having a bungee cord on one side of the cart so she could pull it to her side and retrieve it when it comes free.

Thanks for the suggestion. My wife is close to full recovery from a surgery this summer, and she should be able to go out in our Oasis soon.

_________________
2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder

Is it the Feel Free Camel Kayak Trolley.

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/562 ... olley.html

_________________
2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder

Grampa Spey -

To tell you the truth, I don't really know if water comes up into the stern well or not. When I am lifting the bow, I am only paying attention to whether or not the cart is coming out and to which side to set down the kayak . I don't have anything in there that I care about getting wet, and I am usually wet up to my knees myself - at least by the time I get in the yak. (I find it easier to get in the boat in knee deep water.) I guess it isn't a concern to me.

_________________
2011 Oasis (papaya)
2012 Revo (dune)