Hobie surf lanches

Guess I wasn't pay attention on how Hobie riders situate their drives when surf launching.Of course I'll leash it. Figure the pedals go in the drive well and the fins should slide under a bungie over the front hatch. Would appreciate some feedback on how you do it before I drill any holes in the boat for the bungie attachment points

only surf launched a few times, but I just tethered my drive leash to one of the bungies that hold the front hatch closed.
should be ok in all but the sketchiest conditions(i hope)

 
   If your comfortable possibly loosing your drive, then don't add a secure anchor point specifically for the drive.  One of the first things I added to my hull was a separate eyelet bolted not riveted, exclusively for my drive.

   If your comfortable possibly loosing your drive, then don't add a secure anchor point specifically for the drive.  One of the first things I added to my hull was a separate eyelet bolted not riveted, exclusively for my drive.

Dang, now you got me scared, I guess even a small roller could yard sale it all.
I've never crashed yet going out or coming in, but I know it's just a matter of time

I have a leash for my drive in the front, and bungee it in the foot well with the pedal bungee in while launching and landing in small surf.

For real surf where I may roll, I have a 2" webbing strap in the front of the tank well.  I find my pedal fits nicely in the cup holder behind the seat, I have the fins under the tank well bungees.  I then snap the webbing strap over the pedal arms, once secured it does not move.  I got the webbing strap at Walmart, it is a large nylon compression style strap.  I just used the existing bolts in the tank well (for converting it to an adventure island).

Surf Launches are simple...it's the landings that get my full attention!

For launching/landing my Hobie I installed an Ocean Kayak deck lid strap to secure the front hatch and add a secure place to put the drive unit during both. The last thing you want is a leashed drive unit flailing around in your way in case of the inevitable crash. Yeah., the drive between your legs is a bit clunky but it beats the alternative. Oh, put the drive plug in before launching and landing to keep the sand and water out of the cockpit.....

My Adventure has a bungee cord with a hook on the end to keep the pedals apart/ keep the mirage drive fins up against the hull. I do that, the mirage drive is locked in place and isn't going anywhere and the fins are out of the way.

I have an exact setup as Matt, bungee plus a leash securing the drive during launch and landing.

Jedmo

My Adventure has a bungee cord with a hook on the end to keep the pedals apart/ keep the mirage drive fins up against the hull. I do that, the mirage drive is locked in place and isn't going anywhere and the fins are out of the way.

Tried that a couple times...the sand will pack into the moving parts. Unless you break down (flushing just won't do the trick) the entire drive unit each time your drive unit (especially the metal to plastic areas) will wear out rapidly.

My Adventure has a bungee cord with a hook on the end to keep the pedals apart/ keep the mirage drive fins up against the hull. I do that, the mirage drive is locked in place and isn't going anywhere and the fins are out of the way.

Tried that a couple times...the sand will pack into the moving parts. Unless you break down (flushing just won't do the trick) the entire drive unit each time your drive unit (especially the metal to plastic areas) will wear out rapidly.

Woah! Thanks for the heads up! I haven't noticed any sand build up- but I'll take your word, I'll go to leashing on deck from now on.

I've never crashed yet going out or coming in, but I know it's just a matter of time

Yes. Yes it is.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I use a Drive leash 100% of the time. For surf launches I usually put the drive in, spread the pedals, then wade out to around thigh deep water. Time the sets, then jump on and pedal like crazy till I'm outside. The revo is a donkey to paddle with the rudder up so I try to skip that step all together, just wade out a little farther. You only need 18" of water for the drive to work.

On my OB I would just leash the drive, and shove the fins between my fish finder, and then the pedals off to to the right a bit, resting in one of the trays.  Then it's a whole procedure to get out, timing the waves, jumping aboard and make a few paddles, deploy the rudder first, pop in the drive, and hopefully pedal away from the surf. 

This one time I didn't secure the down rudder line while launching at the Bean.    I guess it popped up, because I did a full 360 and was pedaling back towards the beach!    Locked it back down, and pedaled my ass out of there!

Re-entry is kinda the same thing but backwards.  I get close to the surf zone, I pull my drive before entering the surf, wedge it between the FF, pull up the rudder, and disconnect my paddle leash. 

Funny thing is that down south the PA is becoming one of the most common kayaks for saltwater big game. They don't have the punishing steep shore breaks like we have but they often have inside and outside breakers. I use the technique Kayote and O2B uses with some modifications. Basically the drive lays flat on the foredeck with the drive shaft in the sail mast hole. I use the drive leash to secure the drive to the foreward aka bar. The mirage drive is relatively heavy so I would no use a bungee to secure it to the foredeck.

Only surf launch I do is from a ramp

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2