Hobie Ama Question

Hi guys, brand new Hobie owner here.

I was thinking about getting a set of ama's for a Hobie Quest, but worry they would get in the way of the back of my stroke while paddling. James (Rider) suggested that I don't mount them directly behind the seat, but instead move them further back.

Any potential issues with this setup besides possibly obstructing the tankwell?

Also, how easy would it be to put on/take off the ama's while on the water?

Thanks!

you talking about the inflatable ones that have the three piece cross bar?

you talking about the inflatable ones that have the three piece cross bar?

Yes

I put a set on my wife's Revo and they don't get in the way. The bars are bent, to allow them to be adjusted.

I put a set on my wife's Revo and they don't get in the way. The bars are bent, to allow them to be adjusted.

exactly you can roll them down, up front or back. and the two outer bars can be removed OTW (sitting side saddle)

I put a set on my wife's Revo and they don't get in the way. The bars are bent, to allow them to be adjusted.

The Revo has the Mirage Drive.  The Quest is a paddle kayak. 

I mounted 8" Yakattack GT90 rails on both sides of the tank well and use the Yakattack Sidekick adapter mounts. 
You can quickly add or remove the center mount bar, align it just behind the seat if more tankwell room is needed or slide the center bar back to get the amas further out of your way. Plus with backing plates the mount is way more solid than useing the wellnuts Hobie supplies.

Why do you want ama's? It seems like 99% of the kayaks with outriggers are pedal yaks. Ahhh, I just thought about it...I bet it's so you can bring the pup with you...amiright?

I mounted 8" Yakattack GT90 rails on both sides of the tank well and use the Yakattack Sidekick adapter mounts. 
You can quickly add or remove the center mount bar, align it just behind the seat if more tankwell room is needed or slide the center bar back to get the amas further out of your way. Plus with backing plates the mount is way more solid than useing the wellnuts Hobie supplies.

That is a BRILLIANT solution and exactly what I was looking for! Thank you Ghan!

EWB - Awesome. Nice to know I can take them on and off on the water.

Pat - Taking my pup on the water would be awesome, but I'm not sure how well he would handle being in the Hobie's tankwell! Although he is only 8 months, he is HUGE now, weighing close to 60lbs and still growing. I actually have a tandem OK Malibu 2XL that I take him out on, but only in calm lakes as he's gone overboard at least once each outing we take. The amas are more for being able to stand up and freshwater bass fish from. Prior to winning the Hobie  I was actually looking at different Jackson kayaks, especially the Kilroy which was stable enough for not only standing, but also bringing Finn along.

Several years ago (at least 6-8) I was down at the Martinez Marina going for a paddle, there was a guy there that had built a setup for deployable/retractable amas.  It was a prototype that he was working on, he showed me how it worked.  It had a lever, you put it one position and it brought the amas out and down to water level. In the other position it lifted the amas up and the brackets folded/slanted back and brought the amas in tight to the hull and up completely outta the water.  It was really functional but at that point it did need some strengthening, he was just getting the angles and movement down before he rebuilt it out of stronger members.

I distinctly remember it all because he went ballistic when I told him how cool it was and that now that I'd seen it I might build one myself.   He started getting all hot and talking about stealing his idea and patents and stuff.  He really calmed down and apologized when I told him I would only build one for myself and probably never get around to doing it anyhow.

His idea was for stabilizing a paddle yak so he could sail it.

So the point of all this is I wonder if he ever got around to marketing it, it was really quite spiffy.