Cooler Rod Holders/Rocket Launchers.. etc...

Thanks.. you guys!!! Wow... that's some damage from the scupper cart! Even before I got my SUV... I read too many stories about one of those scupper carts. One guy couldn't get the cart to release and ended up going fishing with it still attached. He said.. when he got back in.. they were still attached. HAHA. I guess he was able to undo them when he got home. I've had one under cradle carts from Academy and I hated it. It would not go through our sand here... which is very light and deep. Very hard to take a normal cart thu. I LOVE yak fishing in the gulf... but it zaps all your strength out of you just getting your yak to the water. The last time I went with some club members.. they ended up carrying several yaks back to the vehicles.. it was just too hard. I had even borrowed a set of those nice rolleez and it was difficult with them. Right now... I have lots of 1 1/4" sch 40 and t's and l's... so.. I will be making one this weekend.. or at least start on it. Need to get the axle and some ends.. washers.. & nuts. I have a used set of those kids cars- plastic wide tires that I am going to try out.

Yeah.. I don't know where it's leaking.. but I had two large sponges this past Sunday.. soaked them good and twisted out about 15 EACH. I'm thinking it was a couple of Gallons. My Brother and I could hardly pick it up. We were in the ICW for about 5 hrs. I'm waiting to see about that kit Hobie is offering 05' owners and see what it does. I'll apply it where they say it should go no matter what. At least I will know THAT part won't be leaking anymore. The water was pretty flat.. so it did not come into the rudder holes. Will just have to keep searching for it. I thought.. since I was pouring a lot of water on me.. (it was soooo hot) that it might be the hatch under the seat. I'm thinking of really sealing it since I have that 11X15 one now right below it. That would eliminate another possibility.
If I can stay out of it long enough.. I'll fill it half full of water and wait to see if it leaks. Hate to say it.. but Hobie placed the drain in the oddest of places.. especially with no handle on that side to hold it up while you are draining it. I've read where it seems quite a few suv owners are dealing with leaks. Oh well... I'm NOT giving up my fishing machine!! laffs. Thanks again for all your input!!

If you've got gallons of water in the hull, something is wrong. Check around the Mirage drive and by the rudder cables. Also, make sure any hatches you have are not leaking, check to see if the hatch gaskets are torn or damaged.
The damage in the photo caused by the scupper dolly would allow the hull to fill up with water in a couple minutes.

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Waterman at Work - Kayak Fishing Photos, Video,Kayak Rigging - Blog

I have checked the hull.. even from inside.. and I didn't see anything. I don't think it's that.. or if it is... it's very small. With all the fishing I do... the hull would be FULL of water.. it's not... so it has to be some small spot. I don't think it's the rudder holes either. I am going to seal the latch under the seat on Sat.. when we have our fish/meet/grill/workshop with out local club. I'm thinking it's that hatch mostly because I'm ALWAYS dumping water on me... it seems. Now that I have that other hatch I put in.. I check it periodically to see how much is accumulating. It's not enough to stop me from fishing tho. I'l find it.. I just have to have a day... when I'm not fishing.. so I can fill it half full with water and see where it's leaking. I might do it in my parent's driveway as they have concrete. I have asphalt by my apt.. so I don't think it would show as good. I'm wondering if "marine tex" would be a good sealer. I've used it on my windsurfing board... just wondering... OR would you use epoxy?

I don't think epoxy would be a good solution. Something like Marine Goop would probably work best. See where the leak is, if it's some kind of defect, most of them have been well documented here, it may be a warranty item.

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Waterman at Work - Kayak Fishing Photos, Video,Kayak Rigging - Blog

Would it be in warranty... if it is owned by the 'second owner' in the next state over (fr AL to FL)... and it is a 05 model? (manufactured in 04/2005) I'm thinking there is a fine line there. Were waiting on info about transferring ownership.. and getting the need patch for the front hull. It could be that it just needs the longer thingies... lol (can't think of what they are.. without going to those threads) HAHA

I think many will respond that the warranty is transferable from one owner to the next...it follows the boat.

...and in some cases, due to the nature of some leakage problems, the warranty may be extended beyond the normal period.

When you installed the 11 x 15 hatch, did you use a lot of sealant when you seated it inside the hole? There are drain channels that need to be filled with sealant or else water can enter the hull through the channel under the rim of the hatch.

Mike

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"If I'm not at work, I'm Outback"

Hey Ronbo,

That's some serious crackage on those scupper pillars. Great picture. Clearly the result of an overweight kayak sitting on an unpadded cross bar on the scupper cart. I seem to remember reading in this forum that Hobie's base cart had an unpadded cross bar...or that the padding was inferior and quickly came apart, leaving the bar unpadded.

I used the venerable pool noodle with a heavy nylon fabric sleeve to pad my cross bar. Hopefully it won't suffer the same fate as the poor yak in your photo.

Mike

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"If I'm not at work, I'm Outback"

Mike... I have the new hatch almost submerged in clear silicone. It's very waterproof!! I would bet my yearly (measly) salary.. that the leak isn't coming from there. (It was leaking pre-hatch). It's probably the most waterproof thing on my yak.. laffs. (as a side job previously... I've been known.. as "puddy queen"). I use to puddy condos - preparing them for painting. I've also painted many many walls.. etc.. etc. I'm a Jackie of all trades.. and Master of none.. HAHA. I'm going to do what Matt suggests.. and write Hobie.. give them the transfer of info.. with S/N.. etc. I sure LOVE my Hobie.. I do wish that it was just a little bit lighter.. maybe one day I can also get the sport.. and have both.
Pam

SheYakFishr

I had trouble finding where my yak was leaking also. Finally i used a hose to squirt water into the pedal well. (from outside of the yak) Looking into the yak from the front hatch you could see it. Very small. Not even a drip, drip, drip. But somehow big enough to add up to gallons when the peddals were inserted on the water.

Also I going to get a drain plug for the front from my dealer, Root Beer Barrell. He put one on his yak. Makes it a lot easier.

He also put a cleat on the back to put straps through when he has it on his pickup bed rather than running them through the handle cords. I'm going to get that also.

Or, the scupper dolly not fully inserted into the scupper holes, wiggling back and forth as the kayak was being transported, eventually tearing into the relatively thin plastic inside the scupper holes.
Always make sure the kayak is fully seated on the scupper dolly. Look through the top of the scuppers and make sure the dolly posts are near, at, or past the level of the deck.

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Waterman at Work - Kayak Fishing Photos, Video,Kayak Rigging - Blog

Thanks Librarian... I'll try that first and see what happens. Guess I'll sit it up a few feet so I can put the drive in it and see if it leaks that way. I'll find it... one way or the other. lol Yes... they definately need a better place for a plug. I'll have to install one myself!

SheYakFishr
Hi, I'm new here, I got a 2003 Hobie outback fisherman mirage drive, and would like to add a rectangular hatch in front, I can not find any place that sell them and I would like to know if yours has any leak after install, and also if you don't mind I need to see some pictures. Thank you

Hi! I never had any problems with that rectangular hatch leaking, as I sealed it quite well with silcone. Unfortunately... I no longer have THAT particular yak anymore... it leaked so much from God knows where, Hobie replaced it with a new one. If you find a hatch... just seal it really good around the cut lines and even put some goop on the screws and you will not have any problems.

Wow that was fast thank you, Do you remember where you bought it from, or how many T-handles and screw holes had?

I'm thinking the one I bought was pretty cheap as it was on sale. I'm guessing it was because it was white... but can't remember where I bought it from. If you check out this link.... http://www.nextag.com/kayak-hatch/products-html they show several but in black. They have two T handles.. like the one I had.. actually it looks the same but I prefered the white so it wouldn't absorb the heat from the sun, but maybe that wouldn't really matter. The hardest part was taking a drill and making the first hole... then I used a jig saw to cut the rectangle part out, (which I kept for making repairs). Just make sure you measure SEVERAL times to make sure exactly where you want it because once you drill or cut... that is it! Then use a dark pencil or marker and draw the outline of the inside part of the rim of the hatch so it will fit snug... then drill the starter hole on the inside of a corner... and then start cutting. I had to do some fine trimming afterwards to get it to fit better but it was so worth it. I'm NOT going to lie.. I was a nervous wreck when cutting that part out.. but it turned out great and I was thrilled with the ease of getting in side the yak!!! Good luck!!!