Manufacturing Issues (flaws & defects) with Hobies

I'm wondering if others are having similar experiences so please chime in.

Last year I bought a Hobie Mirage Adventure.  Immediately I identified a few issues.  Stitching on the seat came apart the first time I hooked it up.  I figured this was a small glitch so I sewed the buckle back on myself after letting the retailer know.  Then I took it out for a test drive only to find the Mirage drive wouldn't seat properly and required some modification of the hull (shave out significant flash).  I also discovered that there had been several holes drilled in the hull and were filled with almost the same color plastic.  Lets not forget the issues they had with their paddles snapping where the handle meets the blade.

At the Sportsman's show I picked up a Outback.  Took it out for the first time today as conditions finally allowed.  Again, the Mirage drive wouldn't seat properly.  As I played with it I discovered one side of the latch assembly that locks it in wasn't securely flush to the hull and wobbles.  I finally got it to seat and lock in place.  However, I then discovered the right pedal has no clearance and, if I were to push the pedal all the way forward, it would bind with the hull.  Yes, it's a V2 drive. If I leave it this way it will eventually wear a hole in my hull.  When I picked this one up from the retailer I watched as it was unwrapped and I saw nothing that would suggest it was a 2nd - but that obviously crossed my mind.

When one spends this kind of money (we all know Hobie's aren't cheap) we have an expectation they'll function properly and will have gone through some sort of quality control, including putting a drive in and making sure it will function properly and not bind.

So my question to all of you that have purchased new Hobie's in the last few years is, are you seeing similar or any other issues?  I love that drive but I never had a single problem with any of my Ocean Kayaks - ever.  As you can imagine, this is really pi$$in me off since I've had issues with two new Hobie's in as many years.

You are scaring me.   I was thinking of dropping the $1799 for an i12 that I can take with me when I travel for work.

I got my Revo a year ago and have had zero issues to this point. I'd take that Outback to the retailer and put the ball in their court. If you got your Adventure from the same place, they should doubly want to take care of you. Or so I'd hope. We have a large membership in NWKA that has a fair amount of buying power and influence(except for me...recently laid off). That can also be used as leverage if needed. Good luck.

 My year old Pro Angler has been perfect. It sounds like your dealer didn't rig or check out the boat prior to you taking delivery. My yak was fully rigged and ready for water testing when I came to pick it up.

My only issue was seat related.  The cinch strap would slip through the plastic cincher if I put any pressure on the seat back.  I think the webbing is too smooth, and there is virtually no teeth on the plastic cinch.  I remedied it by heating up an old butter knife and laying it on the face of the cinch where the webbing contacts.  Allowed the plastic to melt a tad and then quickly pulled it straight off leaving little micro teeth.  Works like a charm now!

The other seat issue, was the cleats that screw/wedge into the hull.  Mine would just spin and never really tighten up.  Then because of that, they would pop out easy.  Fix this by taking a 90 degree pick and scratched up the sidewalls of the holes in the hull, and scuffed up the cleats with 80 grit paper.  No more issues! 

Now, granted none of the other items I fiddled with had anything to do with quality control, I did spend some time adjusting the drive system so that all the chains had even and proper tension, as well as perfectly centered action.

I also went through and fine tuned the rudder cables so that it tracked even from both directions.  Seems like it had more slack in the line from one direction. 

Again, this wasn't a deal killer.....I'm just that way when it comes to mechanical items. 
I deal with high dollar robots at Intel on a regular basis and get anal about their alignments, handoffs, and teaching.  I'll spend extra time to dial in extremely tight tolerences when it was technically in spec as is. 

Fishsniffer, Sorry to hear you are having issues with your new boat.  We have not had many issues with the hobies, and the few we have had Hobie have been great with getting the issue resolved.  Send me the details of the problems with pictures if you can, and I will pass it on to Hobie. 

I've had issues.  Unfortunately, if you want the mirage drive, which is phenomenal, you have no where else to go. 

Revo hull warp:  http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,4766.0.html
Rudder line stays:  http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,4553.0.html

Still, although I also have an OK T13, the Revo is my main boat.

I also discovered that there had been several holes drilled in the hull and were filled with almost the same color plastic.

This has me curious, and concerns me a bit.  Where were the holes?

When I picked this one up from the retailer I watched as it was unwrapped and I saw nothing that would suggest it was a 2nd - but that obviously crossed my mind.

Even factory second get shipped all wrapped up.

Find the serial numbers for both yaks and ask Hobie what their lineage is, were they seconds or not.  They should know.

-Allen

Sounds real fishy FS. Holes that are filled are not sold from the factory to be re-sold. If the shop did it they shouldn't be selling it w/o your knowledge. Seating the mirage drive can be a little difficult at times but if there's material in the way then something's up. Follow up w/ Ndogg. He should get you taken care of.

Z

I've had my share of issues with Hobie, but the one really nice thing is that they take care of their problems. (see my post on repairing my second Adventure drive well crack). But as I said, that was because I'm impatiently waiting for my new hull.  That said, I don't think Hobie sells repaired hulls. The dealer that's replacing mine is cutting it up. 

Are those filled holes in front of the drive and under the mast? If so, I think those are some reinforcement foolishness that's on all of them. You might check the Hobie forum (or Zee?).

I also had a similar issue with my seat in 2007 and they replaced it with no grief. Please note that I have no interest in or from Hobie. I just have a boat that's had problems that have been taken care as they occurred. Can't complain too much about that and that drive just plain works.

Not talking bad about OK boats, but once they are out of the mold there is not much to go wrong. They don't have a drive and its big azz hole to contend with.

I have two Hobie Pro Anglers that are a year old.  No problems to date. They are tanks.