It’s so simple of a a system.  I bought a new fish finder ((Garmin) for my Hobie. Mounting the transducer in a “Lowrance ready” kayak, I thought would be my biggest hurdle.  Nope!  Minor drilling, minor cutting of transducer plate and it was a well fitting slam-dunk.

However, it would not retract fully.  I effed with the knot time and time again. No successes.  I finished up running the wires , sealed everything from leaks, and gave up. 

I took it to Billy at Wind Toys.  It yanked on the cord and smiled.  He knew exactly what it was. The internal bungee knot was tied too closely to the pulling up near the front. He pulled it all out, moved the knot and VOILA!  It works.  Not sure I would have cracked that solo.  Thanks Billy.

wow.  I kept postponing my DMV visit due to other things happening in my life.  yesterday, I ran out of excuses and showed up at my appointment.

1st point:  anyone that doenst make a DMV appointment and would rather show up as a "walk-in"...that is true grit.  me?  no..appointment please.  the line was around the building!!!

I walk in to the empty appointment line and get a number.  5-10 minutes of sitting next to a dude that smell faintly of cooked cabbage.  I got CALLED!! I got a nice lady!  her eyes did glaze over as I explained my situation. 

I registered a kayak, one month later; I notice a crack, Hobie replaced my hull, new hull # means I need a new registration.  Billy did give me a new STATEMENT of ORIGIN for the new hull.  no bill of sale, no receipt.

the lady went into action.  she first made me fill out a statement of fact, and totaled my old hull. 

then she made me fill out that standard form 100something and treated my new hull like a free gift from Hobie.  I bought a new mussel sticker, and was out the door for $35!!!!

no big deal.  I fist-bumped the kind DMV angel and skipped out the door.

just in case this happens to you.  get that Statement of Origin..and a bill of sale showing FREE would be helpful, but not necessary. 

I’m gonna trust the warranty process.

My Hobie cracked on both sides.  Same location. Right at the bottom of the gap in the cupholders. The opening where the “Ear” of a coffee cup would go, and where water is allowed to drain. Hobie should close that opening and simply put a scupper hole in the bottom to drain out.

Saddened.   
But I did catch my two first LMB of 2024.  Happy!  😃

I went down a path.  Invested time, brain power, and money.

Yesterday was my maiden voyage. I hit Clearlake. I have the battery inside my Yak-black-box.  Towards the rear.  I’m gonna source a battery box, and I’m gonna relocate it right behind my Hobie Outback seat.  Almost 2-feet forward.  I thought about putting it into the front hatch, but I bet that will be too nose heavy…and when I flip, it would be a complicated situation. I’d rather lose the battery, than myself.   Current location feels tail heavy. 
 I just raised the motor up 3”. Under power the motor leverages the back down, big time. I;; need to experiement w this.
Loading and unloading the kayak was a new thing.  More trips back and forth from kayak to truck. Eck!   More time as well.  Double eck!

I made the decision to only use the motor when I need to. Big lakes, long hauls, etc.  kicking the pedals is no big deal.  A lot to be said about the simple life. Haha.

I've been a member here for a minute now.  it is always that white seabags article.  nobody cranking out new stories? 

maybe some Freshwater love?

I had a game warden suggest I get nav-lights.

I am not sure if I need them or if they are even wanted on my regular Outback, without motor.

going bass fishing now, the daylight hours are shorter.  I slip into a dark lake.  I got lights. 

are they required?

I hooked three without trying.  While bass fishing.  I boated a 12lb cat, and lost two giants.

Heads up if you’re into that kinda thing.