Overkill

Yesterday I installed the newer midship Hobie handles on my 2011 Revo.  Love how easy it is to lift now.

Anyhow, before doing that, I inspected how they were installed on Linglady's 2012 Revo.

Turns out they are just screwed into a chunk of plastic with no extra backing or even a washer.

So, over and over we see folks installing rod holders, fish finders, and other random accessories, using backing under the hull, to help distribute the weight.  But if you can lift the kayak by 2 screws with no real backing, is a backing plate really needed for a rod holder or a fish finder, or that cool go-pro mount you just installed?

I'm starting to think it isn't, unless you do really dumb stuff with your mounted gear.   

Great point Lee. I didn't use backing on my flush Scotty mounts and they hold like a rock. I even accidentally put my full weight down on one of my extended arms and all it did was tilt the kayak on its side. Didn't budge the Scotty mounts. I figured I'm heavier than most fish I'll ever catch so I should be ok if a big salmon slams my rod while on the holder with no backing.


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Unless you're really worried about weight (and taking a dump before hitting the water would probably help more) I'd look on the backing plate as cheap insurance.  If those screw pull out, or cause a fatigue crack, that will occur usually at the most inopportune time possible.

For a Go-Pro mount, there's just not enough weight there to need to worry.  If you huli in such a way as you damage the yak with the Go-Pro mount that's probably the least of your worries.

But for carry handles (due to the weight they are asked to hold) and rod holders (due to the force and moment arm that can come from the rod) I would use a backing plate if you can reach the area on the inside of the kayak well enough.

Hey Lee, thinking of doing the same mod to my Revo.  Which handles are you referring to?  What location(s) did you choose?


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Ahh, this helps a bunch.  They look like they were built just for this hull.  Appreciate the photo!


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