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PA Sinks
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=78&t=43953
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Author:  rmwilson [ Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:06 pm ]
Post subject:  PA Sinks

Does anyone know about the PA that sank at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel on 7/13? Apparently it began to take on water and sank rather quickly. Here's a link to the Tidewater Kayak Forum that discusses this:

http://tkaa.org/index.php?topic=4055.0


Ron Wilson

Author:  SRAces [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

It will be interesting to find out what really happened in that situation. There are too many unanswered questions as to why the angler got in the situation that caused him to be seperated from the PA and the PA to apparently sink.

The last entry in the thread states that the PA was purchased used and implies that it had a hole in it when purchased. It's my understanding that a PA will float even when full of water. I thought I read that somewhere here on the forum.

We don't know the details as to why the angler ended up out of the PA. How loaded down it was, condition of the PA in general, etc. I would not have gone out by myself at night in an area that has large boat traffic. We'll just have to wait and see if any additional details emerge.

Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

An empty PA will surface submerge, but not sink. However, the instant you start putting stuff into it (and how much you put into it) you have a boat that will indeed sink to the bottom.

Author:  Tim Antoine [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

maybe someone with factory info will know if it is possible to sink all the way. The manufacture usually does float test. Even swamped, I doubt it would sink to the bottom unless there was substantial weight attached to the kayak. It would nice to know what would happen if water entered the drain plugs.

Author:  redgrappler [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

Wow! This is my neck of the woods and my fishing club. Shows what happens when your offline for a few days.

Author:  Roadrunner [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

Another PA sank a few years ago -- the boat was capsized by a wave and the fisherman had a hatch open. I believe all Hobies have at least 40# positive flotation since 2011. It's hard to sink a Hobie with its hatches closed, even with a leak. 8)

Author:  Big Green Yak [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

Oh that sinking feeling. My PA14 became water logged due to a split in the scupper hole. First symptoms were instability, It wanted to roll. I opened the hatch and saw that the hull had filled with water. The boat was very tippy but stayed afloat while I sprinted to shore. Lesson learned USE YOUR LEASH!!! I removed the drive preparing to paddle in and the boat rolled over. Drive went to the bottom. My fault totally on losing the drive. I was overconfident in the normal stability of the boat. Lesson #2 Using a plug in cart can be considered abuse and voids the warranty. I say that I know that the cart must go through the hull completely and was using the cart as Hobie instructs. It is good that Hobie recognized the possible weakness and began installing reinforcements. I am still working with the local dealer to resolve the problem either through warranty replacement or out of pocket repair. I still believe that I have the best boat on the water and love the PA.

Author:  SRAces [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

For those interested I read on the Tidewater Kayakers forum that the folks at the local Hobie dealer confirmed the PA owner did recover the sunken PA minus the Mirage Drive and that the PA was purchased used from a private seller.

I guess you can only assume the Mirage Drive was not locked into the well or tethered to the PA. Even with currents, I would think it would not seperate from the PA if locked in. I could be wrong.

Author:  Memory Maker [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

Roadrunner wrote:
Another PA sank a few years ago -- the boat was capsized by a wave and the fisherman had a hatch open. I believe all Hobies have at least 40# positive flotation since 2011. It's hard to sink a Hobie with its hatches closed, even with a leak. 8)


I was thinking about installing some flotation foam when I bought my first PA but was assured by Matt that the PA's would not sink ........ hmmmm

Author:  Jbernier [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

Everyone should use a leash if you are taking the drive in and out - really no reason to remove the drive for beaching - just push one foot forward and the fins will be tucked up against the hull - that's how it's designed, no reason to remove the drive under normal conditions.
Image

Author:  SRAces [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

Jbernier wrote:
Everyone should use a leash if you are taking the drive in and out - really no reason to remove the drive for beaching - just push one foot forward and the fins will be tucked up against the hull - that's how it's designed, no reason to remove the drive under normal conditions.
Image


Jacques,

Great points! I do have the leash kit pictured and use it as the safety mechanism it was designed for. I do usually remove my drive right before reaching shore because once I reach shore I usually lift the front end of the PA up and pull it further off the water and didn't want the weight of the PA on the drive.

I guess I'm just being protective of the drive. I'm sure not everyone uses the same beaching methods. I have pulled the drive out completely while on the water only to inspect it if I felt that I might have hit something or felt a lot of underwater vegetation was tangled up with the drive. Most of the time, just pedaling clears the soft green vegetation off the drive while moving.

Author:  Roadrunner [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

Jbernier wrote:
really no reason to remove the drive for beaching - just push one foot forward and the fins will be tucked up against the hull - that's how it's designed,
I prefer to remove the Drive prior to beaching to keep the sand out of the sprocket area as much as possible (personal preference). However if you do bring the fins up, be sure to bungee them up -- if the Drive is well tuned and lubed they may likely fall back down otherwise. This can lead to bent masts. 8)

Author:  Jim_MI [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

OK, dumb question... If you beach your PA with the drive in place, how do you remove the drive? At some point you will need to lift the front and set it on top of someting tall enough to fully extend the fins vertically in order to pull the drive. Sounds like a lot more work than just pulling the drive when you are floating in 2 ft of water, and then paddling or hopping out and walking to the beach.

Author:  saltfisherman [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

SRAces wrote:
Jbernier wrote:
Everyone should use a leash if you are taking the drive in and out - really no reason to remove the drive for beaching - just push one foot forward and the fins will be tucked up against the hull - that's how it's designed, no reason to remove the drive under normal conditions.
Image


Jacques,

Great points! I do have the leash kit pictured and use it as the safety mechanism it was designed for. I do usually remove my drive right before reaching shore because once I reach shore I usually lift the front end of the PA up and pull it further off the water and didn't want the weight of the PA on the drive.

I guess I'm just being protective of the drive. I'm sure not everyone uses the same beaching methods. I have pulled the drive out completely while on the water only to inspect it if I felt that I might have hit something or felt a lot of underwater vegetation was tangled up with the drive. Most of the time, just pedaling clears the soft green vegetation off the drive while moving.



I do the same as you are doing, pull the drive out prior to beaching. During a launch I wait till I reach a bit deeper water before the drive goes in. I also have a leash on the drive at all times.

Author:  Jbernier [ Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PA Sinks

Jim_MI wrote:
OK, dumb question... If you beach your PA with the drive in place, how do you remove the drive? At some point you will need to lift the front and set it on top of someting tall enough to fully extend the fins vertically in order to pull the drive. Sounds like a lot more work than just pulling the drive when you are floating in 2 ft of water, and then paddling or hopping out and walking to the beach.

Roll the boat over on it's side, remove the drive, then roll it back onto it's bottom - that's the process, simple.

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