How tough is Hobie plastic vs others

My brother is looking for a kayak. I told him I really liked my Hobie. I told him about storing upside down and that I have a couple deformations (one unknowingly present when I bought it) and another on the rail from storing it upside down from the garage ceiling with 1 inch straps. He currently owns 2 less expensive non pedal kayaks (lifetime) and says he has never had any problems with deformation and is currently on hold now because he says he is pretty rough on kayaks and sounds like he needs a stronger brand. Didn’t mean to give him the wrong impression but is hobie a softer or thinner plastic or can I give him some information that will reassure him

Plastics vary greatly. Hobie tests primarily for fatigue strength due to the MirageDrive pressure on the well. Could be softer for better fatigue strength. We also tend to have many more features molded-into the hulls and that can possibly make the bottoms thinner, but storing on the rails is a good idea for any hull. Not just a Hobie. The rails are structurally stronger than the broad rounded bottom shapes.

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

Thanks. I will give him the info. I did look at multiple other makers for him and as you said they recommend long term hull up storage as well.

To me, seems like Hobie plastic is fairly soft, and I assume this is to give resilience against other things. They have to be stored properly to prevent deformities, although Hobie do say if you get deformities leave it in the hot sun and the original shape will slowly come back.

My Hobie Outback is fairly old (2014) and has been stored outside it's whole life and no deterioration or weathering can be seen, the plastic looks exactly the same as the new ones in the shop.

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2014 Hobie Outback set up for rod and longline fishing