Come on Hobie - Cost cutting gone too far - Compass Duo

I've had many Hobie kayaks over the years and have witnessed the cost cutting in the form of reducing the features and "extras" you get with each passing year.

I remember back when you got a dry bag and water bottle with each kayak. They eventually dropped those. Fast forward to the 2019 Compass Duo and now you only get one paddle for a tandem kayak. I realize that the primary propulsion is the Mirage Drive, but come on Hobie.

When I received my Compass Duo without a paddle, the dealer said, that must be a mistake, we'll contact Hobie and get the second paddle for you. A few days later, the response from Hobie is that the Compass Duo is marketed with only one paddle and only comes with one paddle. Oh really? Doesn't really jive with the marketing material I see on the Hobie website.

I see they have updated the main website, but I still think this is pretty deceiving and they should be supplying two paddles. Hobie, do the right thing and ship me a paddle.

See page 15 and page 26 of the catalog, both clearly show 2 paddles.

https://cdn.hobiecat.com/digital_assets/2018-2019_HobieKayakingFishingCollection.pdf?_ga=2.179825319.2004521419.1557336124-1987159349.1557336124


Not what I see on many dealer websites either. The pictures either show 2 paddles or no paddle at all.

Yea, the Oasis comes with two paddles. The PA tandem does not. Doesn't look like there is consistency.

The website is correct in that only one paddle is shown for the Duo. The brochure features list shows one paddle.

I'm not in our sales department, but the Compass line is a price point kayak. Some reduction in features is the only way to lower the cost. Most people on a Hobie Mirage kayak rarely if ever use a paddle and less would use both. Most manufactures do not include a paddle... even with a paddle kayak. It is optional as there are many choices in paddles.

So one paddle makes some sense.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

It would make more sense to me to ship the TI with one paddle than the Compass Duo. I always use trampolines with the TI, so I never take 2 paddles. It also has two alternative sources of power, sail and drive.

I guess what gets me is that all the pictures in the catalogs show the Compass Duo with 2 paddles. Every other kayak that is pictured with 2 paddles comes with 2 paddles. The PA17 does not even show a paddle on the pictures.

It's as if it Hobie changed their mind at the last minute and said, "Hey, we'll increase our margin by $50/kayak if we drop one of the paddles!"

You knew this before you bought it or at least you should have if you would have done your homework. Be happy about getting a kayak that's economical yet not stripped of quality.

This is not a very nice thing to say. Your aim is to make them feel bad or push the knife in farther?

Some marketing images are shot before the product is fully defined. That is a constant battle.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Great comparison of the Compass Duo and the Oasis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmgikueFpGc

Helpful for future folks navigating the differences.

Yes sir you are correct. My frustrations clearly came out. I do get frustrated when folks seemingly become greedy after getting a fair deal. Assumptions were made both from the buyer and from the kayak shop that made this issue bigger than what it should've been. I've never considered buying a duo kayak of any kind yet I know the Compass only comes with one paddle and the Oasis with two.

We are all in school regardless of how old we are.

My assumption (AS WELL AS MY DEALERS ASSUMPTION) was that a tandem kayak would come with 2 paddles. Every Hobie tandem kayak I have ever bought came with 2 paddles. I have bought literally dozens of Outfitter, Oasis, Odyssey, and Hobie TI kayaks.

When I unwrapped the kayak and it had one paddle, I was surprised. I called my dealer. They said yeah, it should have 2 paddles. Only after they called Hobie did they realize it only came with one paddle. Hence my post here to vent my frustration...