2015 models?

Just wondering where any pics and videos of the new stuff in actual owner hands are? I am dieing over here in Hawaii waiting for another month to get the PA14 i ordered. Still haven't gotten a hard date for delivery and at this point hoping by the end of OCt. In the mean time i would love (and greatly appreciate) any pics or videos of "Unboxing" or once you guys get them home and start planning the mods lol.

I have told my wife that this is worse than any x-mas morning i have had to wait for. VERY excited to get the new yak and start the Huli training (flip) and get it rigged for chasing some Ono (wahoo) and Mahi Mahi! and be able to quit bothering the hell out of my local dealer lol who i must say is very understanding with me.

Go easy!

Here you go.. http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/show ... hp?t=23287

Sweet thank you!!!

ccloanshark...Thanks for posting the link. The photos are very revealing.

One major change is the longer length of the new H-rail-mounting-rail, has significantly reduced the mounting boards......On my 2013 PA-14, I mounted my Scotty Depthmaster 1050 down rigger, on the "near end" of the port mounting board for ease of access/adjustment/use.....it's no longer possible to do this on the 2015 model.

The Scotty Depthmaster, quick install/removal mounting base footprint is 5.75" long x 4.75" deep.......I hope Hobie has considered tooling an "over-sized" H-rail mounting plate as I am not alone using a down rigger and need it close at hand....not located up past the Mirage Drive.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Doc -
I am thinking the same thing about the aft extent of the new longer rails. I ended up installing the downrigger on my older PA14 on the deck, just slightly behind the seat and forward of the molded-in-hull rod holder. It is in easy reach for me in this location. But the new longer rails would seem to make that on-deck location unusable, too. I suppose we could mount the DepthMaster on a flat rail mount and put it where you want it, but then it is probably more than 6" higher than it would be on the mounting board or rear deck. Old dog, new trick I suppose.

It looks like you could possibly change the mounting boards over from older pa's with just a little modification.

The nice thing about the pre 2015 PA-14 is the mounting boards have the receiving hardware (nuts) captive in the recessed rail.
Jim_MI...I hear ya on your location, but my old body does not turn/twist around like it once did......I really like the location I presently have as it's easy to change the depth up/down and my reel at the same time when it's in front of me.....same is true when a fish is hooked up.

I would hope the brain trust at Hobie, will address the down rigger use since "it's a Pro Angler"

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

From the looks of it the boards seems like they are the same size. I'll compare the two when I get home. When I picked up the 2015 the dealer told me that hobie should be releasing a retrofit kit for the older model so I'm pretty sure they didn't change anything with the top design.

Just compared my old PA board to the new 2015 and the screw placement seems to be the same. Hopefully you guys can add the old board and still mod your down rigger. Hope this helps

Thanks ccloanshark....your photo appears to be different from the one on the first link....possibly the PA-17 and not the PA-14.
Regardless of which photo I looked at, the Scotty Depth Master and quick install/remove base can't be mounted where the H-rail is located.....it needs a clear, open spot unless the H-rail has a mount large enough to accommodate the 5.75" x 4.75" base.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Dr. Both of them are PA 14. Link above is to another forum members. I measured the top section for you to give you guys an idea of the space you guys have to work with.

Thank you once again......from your photo, the only "clear location" is just behind the front storage hatch and it's not a practical location.
You will need to get out of the seat, down on your knees to use the down rigger.....won't work for me.
Maybe the Hobie brain trust can come up with a modification that allows for a shorter H-rail for those who are in my boat

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Never used a down rigger but would it not work putting the older mounting boards on and the down rigger reach over the h-rail where you would mount it with the older style boards?

Dr.SteelheadCatcher,
just throwing ideas around and i don't have my 15 here yet but as far as the accessory plate attachment for the H-Rail, would it be possible to mount a bigger piece of the cutting board material to the universal plate to make it bigger and then add the downrigger? I guess the main issue i see with that is making sure those brackets are solid enough to support it but if it passes that test i think the mounting plate could be added to or modified to accommodate the larger base plate need. The other option is to put the older plates on and possibly build up a box style platform to raise it above the H-Rail. I am sure there is a way to get it on there just will take a little pondering and maybe a beer or two while staring at it and the ingenuity that yakkers possess! just throwing an idea or two out there but once again i don't have the stuff in front of me to look at.

BadKarma...Possible two H-rail accessory mounts sided by side and a cutting board secured to them might work......I wonder how strong they are?
With my down rigger I use both a 2.5# and 4# weight....some guys use 6#'s....even with my down rigger arm cut down to 14" long, there is a significant amount of mechanical force/twist applied to the base.
The force only increases as you troll deeper....for me 20 to 40 feet is normal, but I sometimes drop down to 110 feet while maintaining 1.8 mph towing a K15 quick fish and flashers.
I vote for Full Sail IPA's while studying the issue

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR