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PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 1:24 am 
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Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2021 5:23 pm
Posts: 4
As the title suggests, I bought a new hobie outback today and took it home. Upon storing it bottom side up I noticed the right side of the hull has a slight flatness to it, starting from about where the mirage drive well is to where the guardian transducer plate is. Below are some photos. In the second photo I tried to capture the flat spot, to my eye it is noticeable where the black/white camo is. This is a very "slight" flat spot however I am not sure if this is considered normal or not? Is this the nature of rotomolding? Two different outbacks will never have exactly the same hull? Basically just after some guidance here on whether I should be concerned and I guess some general education on rotomolding kayaks.

Thanks.

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:07 am 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
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Location: Oceanside, California
First, this is not a problem.

These are hand-shaped and aluminum molds can distort from use. Hot, cold, hot... Hulls that come out of the molds are still soft and have to be inflated to retain shape. The process is inconsistent in thickness. Thicker areas will cool slower and shrink differently than thin areas. Storage and shipping can distort hulls.

All that said. This does not look significant and would not affect the performance or function.

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


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 2:07 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2021 5:23 pm
Posts: 4
mmiller wrote:
First, this is not a problem.

These are hand-shaped and aluminum molds can distort from use. Hot, cold, hot... Hulls that come out of the molds are still soft and have to be inflated to retain shape. The process is inconsistent in thickness. Thicker areas will cool slower and shrink differently than thin areas. Storage and shipping can distort hulls.

All that said. This does not look significant and would not affect the performance or function.


That's good to hear. I was particularly concerned because I used to store my old PA14 right side up on some foam mats. The foam mats where softer than the hull and it worked great because over time the foam mats took the shape of the hull and the hull never deformed. Would it be possible to use foam mats with this hull or would this create a problem given the hull is slightly flat on one side?


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 4:24 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
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Location: Oceanside, California
Several foam mats should work well.

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


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