Bad luck, and Hobie paddle.

Well, Monday was quiet the eventful morning. Me and my buddy John launched at La Push around 0730 to target some big lings, and bass. Nothing out of the ordinary as we do this 2-3 times a week. Water is a little bumpy with 3ft swells at 7 seconds, and a slight northern wind, still all is good. We make the 2 mile peddle to our stomping ground in about 40 minutes, and start getting on the fish right away. John gets a nice ling follow by 2 bass for each of us in the next 5 minutes. I then hear in a distance " Jake!". I look over my shoulder and John is about 50 feet behind me using his paddle to come towards me. I think to myself "hmm thats odd, why the hell is he using his paddle?". Knowing something isnt right i put my rod in the holder, and start paddling towards him. A minute later we meet up to find his crank of his mirage drive has snapped in 2! Well that sucked, but we continued to fish fighting the current. I nailed a 5 more bass, as John was struggling to just stay on the fishing grounds fighting the current. 20 minutes of this goes by and John calls it quits he is going to start paddling to shore. I pass him my bass so he has a limit, and i continue to fish as i know it will take him quiet some time. I fish for another 30 minutes, and nail 2 lings 32" and 27", and my limit of bass so I start putting my gear away as my phone rings, I answer and its John. "F@#k F@#K F#!CKK!!!! Umm whats up? My F#@#cking paddle just broke!.. Well at this point i couldnt help, but laugh. I am on my way be there soon. I catch up to him, and there he is sitting with half a paddle, and a broken drive. I give him my paddle, and tie a rope to his front and my back, and we head in for the last mile. We get to the launch, and both of us are laughing and still a bit in shock. Whats the chances you break a drive, and a paddle in the same trip?

Moral of the story - Bring a friend, you never know what can happen!


Ok so now for my question. Does anyone know where i can find a right paddle blade for a hobie paddle, and a decent price? The only one i could find comes out of Australia, and comes with a 100$ shipping price.

I will post a pic to show what I am looking for.

Tight lines all!

Ouch!! That must've been a rough morning for your buddy!! It's a good reminder why we should always be prepared for the worst, having a paddle with the hobie even when we don't plan on really needing it, having a buddy with us, communication device, etc! I am just waiting for one of those arms to break on my drive at the most inopportune time. Someone on the board here was making stronger pedal arms (can't find the thread.)

Edit: found it http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=13295.0

As for the paddle I would just replace it with a better quality one if it's going to cost that much to get the piece shipped. Austin Kayak may be able to get it for you though or even your local hobie dealer.

Glad it all turned out for the better. Good thing there was 2 of you.If it was me I would just get a better quality paddle. When I sold my trident 13 you know what paddle I sent with it? The hobie paddle. I kept my bending branches angler classic because it's a better paddle in every way.you don't use it often with a hobie but when you do the difference is noticeable.

When my Hobie paddle broke, I took the remaining paddle back to Next Adventure and they swapped it for a new one without question. 

But I agree, just pony up and buy a better paddle that has less chance of breaking by just using it. 
The plastic that Hobie (rebadged Bending Branches) is just too flexible and will break if a guy is really cranking on it to make progress in current or wind.

I happen to have a set of fungunnin heavy duty peddle arms I dont need.

I happen to have a set of fungunnin heavy duty peddle arms I dont need.

Pm sent, thank you!

When my Hobie paddle broke, I took the remaining paddle back to Next Adventure and they swapped it for a new one without question. 

But I agree, just pony up and buy a better paddle that has less chance of breaking by just using it. 
The plastic that Hobie (rebadged Bending Branches) is just too flexible and will break if a guy is really cranking on it to make progress in current or wind.

Thanks for advice, Ill see if he wants to go that route. Any recommendation on a fairly priced decent paddle?

Jakeandrae, I think its got something to do with that spot at Lapush! The day I went there after meeting you and John at Sekiu I snapped a blade on my Hobie paddle on my surf re-entry, Lol. Had a chance meeting and paddle with another member Dave who I met just as the coast guard was fixing to turn us around. That was my first surf trip I actually made it out on but on our way back in I watched Dave proceed in facing forward and roll once he got near shores edge. I figure ok, I'll back paddle the PA in like I've been told and read about except I should have hopped out when I got in the shallow. Instead the bow got lifted, I stuck the paddle down to keep perpendicular to the wave and next thing I knew I had 150lbs of loaded kayak on my back. Oops, lesson learned. Once I pickled myself up I realized my paddle was "missing half" but saw after getting up on the beach the blade had actually snapped off.
Now I know 

Jakeandrae, I think its got something to do with that spot at Lapush! The day I went there after meeting you and John at Sekiu I snapped a blade on my Hobie paddle on my surf re-entry, Lol. Had a chance meeting and paddle with another member Dave who I met just as the coast guard was fixing to turn us around. That was my first surf trip I actually made it out on but on our way back in I watched Dave proceed in facing forward and roll once he got near shores edge. I figure ok, I'll back paddle the PA in like I've been told and read about except I should have hopped out when I got in the shallow. Instead the bow got lifted, I stuck the paddle down to keep perpendicular to the wave and next thing I knew I had 150lbs of loaded kayak on my back. Oops, lesson learned. Once I pickled myself up I realized my paddle was "missing half" but saw after getting up on the beach the blade had actually snapped off.
Now I know 

Damn that sounds painful! Actually John did almost the same thing on his first trip to Neah Bay. 6ft swells don't make surf launching fun! On a side note launch at the marina next time. The boat launch is free if you wheel your kayak down there, and makes things much easier!

The plastic that Hobie (rebadged Bending Branches) is just too flexible and will break if a guy is really cranking on it to make progress in current or wind.

The Hobie paddles aren't great but I think it's overstating it significantly to put it that way. I was using my 2015 Hobie paddle exclusively on my paddle kayak (Tarpon 140) for 1.5 years (ironically because my Bending Branches paddle broke for no apparent reason) until this spring when I got a carbon fiber Werner, and it was fine. Is the Werner nicer? Of course! But I put a lot of miles on the Hobie paddle in all kinds of conditions and it worked fine.

I just saw that Accent Paddles had these available.  I've never used Accent paddles before so I can't say how good they are but with $20 going towards HOW from every paddle sold I think it'd be worth at least a back up paddle.  I plan on getting one to try out so I can say for sure how nice they are (or aren't).

https://accentpaddles.com/collections

Hope this link works:

https://www.hobie.com/parts-and-accessories/?q=paddle%20blade%20right&hPP=20&idx=ItemGroup&p=0&is_v=1

What model of Hobie? I can not grasp how a mirage drive arm can break unless someone it trying to get one up on plane.  Kayaks are displacement vessels with a maximum hull speed. Once you reach that speed, it is next to impossible to go any faster.  Therefore the harder you push, the more energy you waste and the more likely you will have a catastrophic failure.

I want to see them peddle arms mounted up!

Saw this thread today after breaking my Hobie paddle yesterday coming out from the lagoon below my place against the tide. It was too shallow to use my Drive so I had to use the half a paddle to get deep enough. Got out to Albert Head trying for salmon but no luck.
T2