TURBO FINS PROBLEMS

I have to disagree with you.
They are made from the same material as the ST's. Are you saying that they are not up to standard as well?
I am very happy with Turbo's and could never go back to the standard fins.
How long have you been using turbo's?
Operator error is the cause of fin tears. 2" does make a difference. If you are careful then the Turbo's will last just as long as the ST's.
In 4 years I am on my second set of Turbo's ( a recent upgrade). The newer ones have been greatly improved. The advantages of Turbo's far outweigh the negative of being easier to damage due to their longer length.

PS- A bent mast can usually be straightened.
PPS-If you'd spent any time on this forum you'd know that Roadrunner DOES NOT work for Hobie.

Granted, Turbos aren't for everyone and there is nothing wrong with not liking them, but that doesn't make them sub-standard, poorly engineered or inadequate. You're certainly entitled to your opinion though and hopefully you don't mind someone taking issue with some of your statements that to the reader may appear a bit incongruous and inconsistent.

With over 2000 miles on Turbofins since they first came out, in a variety of conditions (without any tape), I find them hugely enabling -- they are extremely fast, range extending, powerful, and efficient. This is not opinion, but fact borne out in races, towing and rescues and sailing performance. "Not up to Hobies normal standard"?? They're among Hobie's most brilliant achievements!

So please, if you're not planning to use them again, don't ask Hobie to redesign them on my account.

hey D Rheul I only have one question for you. I'm the person who started this post with the problem that everyone and there extended family says is my fault. does all hobie owners swear by thier products even with a flaw and call the person asking the question stupid and try to belittle him in every way possible. Thank you for your post for now I see that I'm not the only one with this problem.
Jnoel

This is going on way too long. No one intentionally told you that you were stupid or anything close to it. The fact is, you can mount those fins and drive in a kayak and kick away at them for a whole lot of miles and nothing like what you experienced will happen. Short and sweet. It's not how they work. No obstructions, no problems. They weren't designed to self destruct if used properly. Of course there are limitations as to what they can endure. Most of the owners of these particular systems have unintentionally inserted the drive without seating it properly and caused some damage or got real lucky because they felt the difference and stopped kicking before they did any damage. I'm in the group that felt the difference and stopped before I ripped anything. Now, I take extra precautions and double check before I start out. If the drive isn't inserted properly, the top of the fin area will contact the hull and can easily rip the fin with the power the legs can bear.
You were told that you didn't know the difference in properly mounting or recognizing the feel of the drive not being inserted properly. Maybe the language wasn't clear but that's how I see it. It's easily done "wrong". It's nothing you should have been put through with someone lending you their equipment. If they're aware of the issue they should have explained it in detail to make a strong impression on the user.
No one on this site is trying to "better someone" or give false information. Yes, we're an extended family. We like and enjoy the Hobie equipment for the most part. They stand behind their equipment and always strive to make it better. I've got several years on my original drive system and kayak and now have the PA in the fleet. I've noticed that with the rubber seal on the drive that it's easier to get the drive aligned wrong. Takes extra checking before starting out. You personally weren't at fault, but we that have had these things for years aren't going to accept, is that it was a defect that ripped the fins. Waving them around in clear unobstructed waters won't do that. Now, can we go fishing and get along? Hope to see you all on the water one day.... good fishing.

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Yakkingaway
Portsmouth, VA

I upgraded to turbo fins this year. I had the STs last year. I have noticed that I hit more rocks. Everytime out I hit a few. have bent back the mast 2 times. I basically troll close to shore for fish in the ocean. I do pedal little strokes when trolling. I have noticed a big increase in speed and power. I wish they were alittle more tougher in the rubber. I have patched them twice with gorrila glue when riped. Overall, it was a great improvment.

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John

Agree I've been able to "touch" more stuff with the turbo's. But I've cut up my ST's more. But more miles on them too and I haven't fished "unknown" areas with the turbos on the PA either so I know where the issues are. I keep spare fins for both sets... I've been ultra careful with the PA when out.

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Yakkingaway
Portsmouth, VA

I had similar experience with Turbo fins which came loose from the lock screw while in a river. Luckly a boater had the tools to repair them. From then on I always keep a small took kit with me. But last weeks the whole mast right below the lock screw, where there is are two notches, got sheared (completely broke apart). Seems like it could not take the stress from the fins and definitely it was a night mare since I just could not believe it (how could such a strong piece of steel could just snap right off). Now I am having a hard time just trusting them. Also another nightmare is the fins getting stuck in weeds, I mean any kind of such aquatic plants can completely screw up the drive and its a pain to take out them every time and clean all the tangled plants...

Heads up for you - just because a Hobie dealer did the upgrade, doesn't mean it was done by a professional. It can pay to seek out experienced dealers. I know this as someone who once worked for Hobie (Australia) working directly with dealers. Hobie Australia does go to lengths to train dealerships, but often the results of this come down to how receptive dealers are. During my tenure at Hobie the thought of 'training' was a bit much for a few select dealers, and one or two thought they were above it as well. They are not all the same.

Look for specialists (or supercenters), not just dealers. Some retailers are in it simply for the quick profit. Others are selling Hobie because they truly know and love the product.

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Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au

These look identical to my Turbo's. The problem with them is that the rod doesn't extend all the way to the end of the fin. The tip's hit something, then flex and tear around the rod. Why can't the rod just go all the way to the end??

while I'd like tougher fins and yes the price has gone up, I have never had a problem with turbos that wasn't caused by dragging or striking something (my fault) I had first pair last 3 years and I have went through 2 pairs this year. Found a couple of ways to repair and carry material to do so, also I carry old patched fins and straightened rods and pins etc. I have used Hobis since 2007 and still have to make sure the drive goes in straight on my new PA. There is instruction and helpful hints on the site. Sounds to me like some dealer error and lack of instruction was involved here not the product. It's almost 500.00 to replace drive, I would would rather the fins and mast take the abuse and are easily replaced. I compare a torn fin to a flat tire, neither is the products fault.

If you have the proper masts (rods), you can see that they are plenty long:


Yet for the fins to perform well, they must have some wind up space. That's what the adjustable clews are for. Accordingly, if fins are given some slack (or space) at the end, they can coil up around the mast as they twist.

As to fin punctures as in the pictures you displayed, I don't see a problem other than the minor inconvenience of resetting the fin (much easier than straightening the mast when necessary) -- a small price to pay for performance.

While beaching my tandem boat one morning a year and a half ago, I struggled like hell to pull it about 30 feet across the beach before I realized that it wasn't the wheels that were digging into the sand. I had forgot to tie off the drive pedals in the 'fin-up' position and had dug two deep furrows behind me with the ST fins! I tore them all to hell, rods sticking out, fins torn, masts bent. I straightened the masts, retaped the fins with duct tape (yellow, to match the boat ) and they have been faithfully serving me since.

BTW all repairs I've ever needed to do in the water were accomplished with a Leatherman multitool equipped with a set of drill bits. You don't need much, but you need something. You can't just 'pull over to the side of the road' and expect to call a towtruck.

Keith