Cracked Hull / Hobie Pro Angler

I think IHop wants you to contact Hobie.....

Sllly Tapatalk, or is it antiquity?

I think IHop wants you to contact Hobie.....

That sounds about right

Sllly Tapatalk, or is it antiquity?

If your still in a human powered boat and making progress you can't be an antique. 

If I was an armoire I'd be an antique. My hinges are rusty and loudly they creak...

I'm a poet! Top that Jadester

I'm going to work with next adventure to see if they will contact the factory on my behalf.  I am not here to bash Hobie at all.  I would not have bought a Hobie if I didn't think they had a great overall product.  It's possible that the layup was a little thin.  Or the Kayak was not meant for 250 pounds of muscle to ride on it across the choppy bay.  The other thing I noticed was a big lump of plastic bubble inside the hull under the seat.  Really strange.  I will take a picture.....

Okay guys.  The picture with the red circles is looking through the hatch in front of the seat, back towards the back of the boat.  This is only about 5 inches from the larger crack on the port side.  This could be normal, but it seems really unusual to me.  Has anyone else seen this sort of build up of plastic?  You cannot tell from the outside.

The picture with the shadows is taken from the outside of the hull with a light shinning on the lump from inside the hull. 

I also took a picture of the bigger crack with a dime in the frame for reference.  I don't know what the normal thickness is but it seems like it's on the thinner side.

Maybe it's possible they were having problems with the injection molding machine or something when they made this hull, or maybe the extra plastic on the inside is normal....

If I was an armoire I'd be an antique. My hinges are rusty and loudly they creak...

I'm a poet! Top that Jadester

60 isn't old if your a tree , having a hard time moving , take better care of thee

These kayaks are rotomolded. Injection molding is a different process. Here is a video that explains rotomolding.


Those pictures show a manufacturing issue. The wall thickness at the crack is definitely too thin. It's actually a wonder that it didn't crack sooner. That plastic in the bulges should have been distributed evenly if the kayak was molded properly. I think they stopped rotating the kayak too soon while cooling. That would cause plastic to flow toward the lowest parts and possible drip down from the top in a clump if the viscosity is right making the bulges.

You should not attempt a repair and see if Hobie will respond. They might give this situation more attention as it is definitely not a misuse of the kayak that led to those bumps. Hopefully karma is real and your bad luck with this hull will translate into good luck on the next. If nothing else this will get everyone reading this thread to look inside any kayak they own or buy.

If I was an armoire I'd be an antique. My hinges are rusty and loudly they creak...

I'm a poet! Top that Jadester

60 isn't old if your a tree , having a hard time moving , take better care of thee

Oh to be 60...

Hobie should definitely replace that hull, it's clearly a manufacturing defect.

Yeah, hopefully Hobie will replace it.  I don't own one and am now questioning why I would get one, although I've been considering it.

I had a crack in my 2010 Outback. My dealer and Hobie took care of me.

willbd

A special shout out to Wrenna at Next Adventure.  She worked with Hobie and they have offered a replacement hull at a discounted price.  I am very pleased with the response from Hobie but especially grateful for Wrenna who followed up with Hobie on my behalf.  She was responsive, assertive with Hobie, and provided great customer service.  I paid for the new hull today and I'm hoping to have it within a couple weeks.  The hull is "new old stock" so I'm thinking it will be similar to what I have now. 

Glad to hear it.

Sweet! Good customer service is always a plus.