2016 PA14 Skeg fails to deploy

The plastic grommet has already pulled free again, and the skeg will not drop down. I think that the worn down spot on the grommet is catching on the line and pulling the entire grommet out. Long story short, thinking I am going to need a replacement grommet.

Matt/Stretch - can either of you find/provide the part number for that grommet?

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

I came up with a solution to this as mine wouldn't deploy

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I wanted to smooth out the line so it would slide easy and not dig into the hull. I found inspiration lying amongst my large scale gas rc boats. This is brass tubing with a teflon tube sleeved inside. As of now the skeg deploys and stows more efficiently and smoothly than when it was new. I just put it in so i don't know how long it will hold up. I'll update if it fails.

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I am now having the same problem where the Skeg is now inoperable. It's not cutting into the hull. I'll have to take the assembly apart and trouble shoot it.

These are very expensive kayaks and it is poor design that these problems are occurring. Its akin to using plastic inserts on the line guides of fishing rods...........wouldn't last very long!

Surely Hobie is going to address this issue.

Owners/customers shouldn't be expected to 'jury rig' solutions to a design problem that needs to be addressed by the manufacturer.... particularly given the cost of these kayaks. Customers pay the premium for quality, not for cheap short term solutions. I have a PA14 2015 model I purchased new and don't use the skeg very much. Having said that, one of the main reasons I purchased the kayak new was because of the skeg. I certainly hope that at a later date when the warranty runs out that I don't experience the problems raised in this topic.

Come on Hobie, surely replacing the 'soft' plastic inserts with a ceramic guide will help alleviate the problem of the line wearing through the guides and into the hull. As for the line wearing into the hull where no guides exist, a similar solution should also be implemented.

Hobie really needs to fix this issue. The skeg is great but what is the point if it just sits there. since the 2016's also have this problem with the rerouted cable. I am thinking instead of making the modification on my 2015's I am considering using a plastic swivel pulley inside the hull to reduce the tension on the pull cord in the rear section of the hull.

Boagy I totally agree. Hobie should absolutely put something out. All it would take is a hardened, rounded gradual cone shape sleeve that fits flush to the existing hole that goes down to the skeg and something similar to the existing guide that enters the rudder box from inside the hull. Something akin to the material in a rod eye would be perfect. In the mean time, the temporary solution i posted is working great if people need an idea while hobie is hopefully sorting it out.

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Yes James, thats the type of solution I had in mind. Guides made from a better material which could simply replace the existing ones. Areas that are wearing that don't have guides would need addressing as well.

For me the key is whether Hobie is doing something to provide a long term solution to this problem? They have invested time and effort into providing a good solution to the Hobie Livewell XL problem and have supported their customers there, lets hope that the same is happening with this problem.

"I am now having the same problem where the Skeg is now inoperable. It's not cutting into the hull. I'll have to take the assembly apart and trouble shoot it."

Since Boomer135 has indicated his issue is the tracking skeg will not deploy, I would guess there is possibly some foreign material lodged in the mechanism that prevents the skeg to deploy.

What are the results of investigating the skeg?
I assume you have turned your PA on its side and tried to manually pull down the skeg or actually taken apart the shaft/pivot assy??

I know from first hand experience with my 2013 PA-14, w/o the tracking skeg, the rudder pivot assy can trap crap/bark/junk that will impede deployment of the rudder.

It's no different than the Lowrance ready cover plate can collect crap between the transducer and the plate that significantly reduces the sonar signal. It needs a simple cleaning/flushing out to get the sonar back to "normal"....

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR