Does anyone know the REAL truth??

I'm working on buying a PA 12 and the biggest challenge for me seems to be how to store and transport it - PVC bunks or cradles?

I've been all over the web and initially I thought it would be a no brainer. There seems to be hundreds of examples where folks have used PVC pipe to create bunks that look great and by all accounts, function well. Then I started to see where Hobie supposedly discourages the use of PVC because it doesn't somehow properly support the hull. This was reinforced this weekend by a dealer I visited who insisted the only proper way was to use formed cradles (like Hobie happens to sell) at 67" apart. I've also read reports that the problem with the bunks is that they don't support the sides of the hull, and thus the reason for the cradle.

So, does anyone really know for sure what's best? My gut tells the PVC bunks must provide better hull support than a couple of cradles, but do you really need to provide side support as well for the safest use?

Thoughts would be appreciated.


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I store my ProAngler12 like this (see pic) over winter. During fishing season (May-October) I put it on a set of old chaise lounge cushions on my garage floor. I haul it with a bed extender on my crew-cab pickup. I've been doing this for 4 years no problems, Hobies are tough, and that's the truth.

Theory with supports under only rather than wrap around is that gravity eventually tries to flatten hulls. So by supports wrapping around sides it prevents the sideways spread. I think the PAs suffer less from this than others.

If you throw straps over to tie it down then that does the same thing. I did this for a long time with my first Adventure when transporting. Then when I replaced with a new revo 16, it was obvious the hull had flattened overtime, the freeboard now being a good inch lower than the new hull. Now when I strap down I still use PVC bunks but rather than just throwing straps over I wrap them around the hull twice, crisscrossing them around the roof bars underneath, this applies a compression force all around the hull, rather than just compressing it down, as well as holding it more securely

Inverting is the best way to completely avoid any compression issues. But that means you need to strip it down. I also found it dumps excessive water on roof if car topping. Inverting is probably too cumbersome for a PA anyway

A word of caution with strapping down, I never use ratchet type straps to haul my Hobie. Only bungee with no downward force. I've had no compression issues at all and it hauls just fine.

I will offer you this . . . I use 3" PVC pipe for my garage hoist setup for storing my PA14. However, the PVC I use is the drain type of pipe as shown in this Home Depot link:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/3-in-x-10-ft ... AQodCJMEhA . After searching and reading as you did, I asked myself, how is it that rigged PVC conforms to the hull of the PA? It doesn't! The pipe I use has some "give" to it and provides support. Take a look my YouTube video to get an idea what I did. There are far fewer what I call "hot spot" where the pipe and hull come together. Hard surface against a hard surface. When I transport the kayak in the back of my F250, I place a few of the large diameter pool noodles across the bed covered by a heavy folded moving blanket. This helps to provide some give also and reduce hot spots on the hull. Hope you find what you're looking for.

https://youtu.be/pDucTjFJAMA

i use cam straps as yes the ratchets can exert too much pressure. Cheap ones can also seize up.

Good ideas!
I'm thinking that there isn't a "perfect" way to do this, just good common sense and care to not over stress what is really just a semi-rigid hull.

BTW - that electric garage hoist is pretty neat. Did you engineer that yourself or was it purchased ready to go?


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Thanks and yes, I put it all together myself after doing some online research. Love a good project! Here is a link to the my video, How it works. I hope this provides some ideas for others.

https://youtu.be/W_M0uwYlYOs

Wow. Now I'm really impressed. Very nice!


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