2021 OB cracked hull

IMHO, how it's stored is completely irrelevant wrt cracks. In the worst case, improper storage would cause a slight deformation of the hull, but should not cause anything to crack.

I've got 2 Hobie's (AI and Adventure/Revo 16) and have always stored them right-side-up, usually on PVC bunks. I've got a set of official Hobie cradles but don't use them, as the PVC bunks provide better support.

All of these crack stories are going to make be give my Revo a good going over. How do these cracks relate to where you strap down the kayak for travel? I've cracked surfboard rails in the past overtightening the tie-down straps - maybe the straps combined with pressure from highway speeds are causing something to pop? Just a thought. Hope it works out for you Fishgr.

Cheers,
Brad

Found this crack in mine after a Shelter Cove trip.
Only had her for 18 months.
I received a new outback in less than a month from filling a claim.
Wasn’t grilled  on anything. Kayak city just wanted to see my Receipt
And yes I registered it with hobie after I got home.
Had to travel from Reno to Sacramento to get it,was the only negative other than finding that crack after bailing about 2 gallons of water out at the Cove.
I kept my old prowler for crabbing, diving, and floating rivers.
The outback for trolling and most all ocean trips.
After breaking a cable at Little River I’ve been bringing old yellow along for a backup.
Before I purchased my outback I demoed other pedal drive kayaks, and find the hobie to be more enjoyable to fish with than the others.
Best of luck to everyone and let’s hope hobie strengthens there materials to prevent this from happening in newer models.

-4est

As I understand from my dealer and the many other stories I've read, Hobie readily replaces hulls/gear for known and common problems, such as that seat post crack. Evidently, that crack has been a fairly common issue, so Hobie responds quickly. The crack I have is not common, and therefore apparently warrants further review. The word from Hobie, from my dealer, was that Hobie did not understand the potential origins of my crack (insert butt joke, gently please), and therefore did not want to replace the hull in fear of the issue simply happening again. Hobie recommended a weld instead. Welp,...all welded up, and here we are. Ball back in Hobie's court,...but holy shit they slow play their customer response time.

I do wonder what the official word will be from Hobie after the weld failed. The dealer did the weld,...are they going to deny claim now and place it on the dealer? I would hope not. But I do wonder what the hell is runaround on the turnaround for a warranty claim.

To recap,...I store my boat on PVC, on the same wood cart a whole shitton of folks have built based on YouTube and stuff. It works well, no hull deformation, just like on all the other kayaks I've ever owned. My bunks do not have a center support, which allows it to "sag" a little bit, taking pressure off the hull. I remove all my gear from the boat, especially the heavy batteries. The only weight on the bunks are the boat, and the seat.

Transportation,...I carry my OB in the bed of my Tacoma, which has a 6' bed. The bed is more than enough to support the boat without a bed extender. But I got a boonedox, for added support and ease of mind. I strap it down with 2 NRS yak straps, one that I route through the OB's handles, and to my truck, and one on the boonedox. I cinch em down pretty snug, but not insano tight, just so it doesn't wiggle around. When in transport, I do have my battery loaded and some gear stowed on top of the hull - net, paddle, drive, loader, booties, bix motor, and my Nalgene bottle of water. On the stern I have my Hobie wheels attached by the built in bungees.

Only thing I can think of that would produce a crack (original crack was 1.5-2" open gap) right beneath the right side cup holder is when I put the wheels in the scuppers. I'll land gently parallel to the ramp (I mostly launch by ramps), exit the boat, pull the bow up onto the ramp and then walk around to the stern. I'll lift it, pivot the stern up onto the ramp, putting the weight on the bow. I'll then quick release my blackpack with rods, and place it up on the ramp, and then pick the boat up with the built in handle, and place the wheels through the scupper, plop the rod box back in, and scurry up the ramp to my truck. Same way I've seen hella people do it. I've tried the bungee methods, and while they work, they are more time consuming than I like. I've organized my boat to make landings easiest for me by doing the pain in the ass side lift. Mine as well get some landing gear,...at this point,...which I think I'll do if they give me a new hull.

I have a hard time understanding how anything I've done would cause my boat to crack the way it has,...except for just fishing it a shitton.

I love my Outback, and wish they'd simply honor their warranty. I've got mine configured to the point where replacing it with another brand seriously bums me out. I mostly troll and do some bass fishing. I don't believe there is another boat out there that is better suited for trolling than the OB, with the possible exception of an Old Town with the motor in there,...but I'd just get a boat boat at that point.

Thanks for the well wishes and such. I'll post later on if there's any resolution. Apologies if I'm all scattered and butt hurt in this thread.

Tight lines!

I wonder if this has anything to do with the new owners?  Those investment firms hate to give back a penny.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the new owners?  Those investment firms hate to give back a penny.

I’d bet this has something to do with it, as it sounds like a completely different experience than I had with a hull replacement issue. It does seem like the moderators on the Hobie forum are less forthcoming with info than they used to be.

This is why I have Old Town kayaks. They went above and beyond for me. I bought a used Predator from someone one here. After a few trips I noticed water in my hull. After several emails and phone calls I had a new Predator sent out to me. I can’t go I to specifics, but they are great to deal with.
The kayak did not have a crack when I bought it and was no fault of who I bought it from. It was a common issue on the early units.
Bottom line is these things are very expensive and companies need to stand behind their warranties.

I do wonder what the official word will be from Hobie after the weld failed. The dealer did the weld,...are they going to deny claim now and place it on the dealer?

If the dealer that did the repair was acting under the direction of Hobie, and in the interest of Hobie, the dealer is Hobie’s agent, it is as if Hobie did the repair, and as such, Hobie and only Hobie is responsible for the quality of the agent's repair, not the agent/dealer.

You have to allow Hobie an opportunity to repair a valid warranty claim. You did that. You do not have to allow Hobie unlimited opportunities to effect that warranty repair.

You may not have realized it but you now have Hobie over a barrel, they are now 100% on the hook for replace or refund as the only two acceptable solutions. Any attempt at a second repair is literally a courtesy you extend to Hobie, it is your choice, not Hobie’s.

Personally, if the yak was working for me, I would be ok with a properly welded fix. A second attempt to do that would not be free because the warranty is still running on my kayak, I don’t have use of the product, I need to be compensated for that loss. Hobie would have to write me a check ($500), pick up the yak, repair it, then return it by a specific date or they agree to refund the full purchase price less the $500 from the check they wrote earlier.

Gentle enough?!

 Your Butt hurt because they don’t understand the origin of YOUR crack?! 😝


That sucks man, I hope they step up and do the right thing, if not and your not a member of NWKA up here in my neck, join and post up your story there as well. More eyes on the issue makes a manufacturer a little easier to deal with, and more likely to stand behind there products. Just my $0.02

You need to go up the chain at Hobie. Who ever you are talking with ask to talk to their manager. Find emails to upper management. The warranty guys are authorized to make $1000 dollars decisions, upper management makes much bigger decisions. Do they have a Facebook page that they monitor? Beat that drum until they step up and do what is right. Make sure they see the safety side of this. Now that they have “repaired” it once they are really on the hook. Explain that a cracked kayak in the salt water is very dangerous. They are now liable since they know about the problem and tried to cut corners on a remedy.

For all those considering a new Hobie,…here’s what they think about you:

"Improper storage is not warranty…

Fix it correctly it won’t open – he can use a KC Welder on it himself… it looks like it wasn’t fixed right if it’s opening back up

Also if he is still leaving it on it’s side long term – its distorting the plastic and will likely break again – can’t leave it on PVC

Sorry he’s upset but this is the issue

You can get him a new hull but it won’t be free – there will be a cost component"

That is evidently from Jacques Bernier, the head of Hobie warranty. I store my boat on pvc bunks, just like every other kotherfucker out there - if this crack was a result of improper storage, they’d have a shitton of boats with cracks like mine. Their own fucking manual/warranty says the warranty does not cover issues arising from storage,…so yup,…they’re going to blame shitty manufacturing on pvc tubes. Their boats are that fucking weak.

Fucking goddam horseshit. Don’t buy a Hobie. Buy something else, and spend your extra cash money of cool gadgets n shit. Fuck Hobie. All the way.

I'd suggest posting to the Hobie forum. Jacques Bernier replies often there (or at least he used to), so you might be able to talk more-or-less directly with him.

Anyways, I suspect this is related to the new ownership. They've already killed off the AI, and they've probably decided they can squeeze out more cash by being less forthcoming on warranty issues. If so, it'll be a bad long-term strategy, as Hobie's reputation will quickly go down the toilet.

I'd suggest posting to the Hobie forum. Jacques Bernier replies often there (or at least he used to), so you might be able to talk more-or-less directly with him.

Anyways, I suspect this is related to the new ownership. They've already killed off the AI, and they've probably decided they can squeeze out more cash by being less forthcoming on warranty issues. If so, it'll be a bad long-term strategy, as Hobie's reputation will quickly go down the toilet.

I did post to the Hobie forum. I also have my doubts they’re going to approve a post critical of their business’ warranty.

I’m stuck with a broken yak, and if they don’t like talking to me, they’re gonna be hella bummed when my wife gets on the horn. She’s full on smalls claims, social blast, USAA credit protection,…she won’t stop.

Wow…I’ve owned 3 outback’s without issue, first purchase in 2010. Before reading this, I’d have gone to Hobie again if I ever wanted another boat…not now. Maybe Hobie will start to care if long time, repeat customers choose to go elsewhere based on consumer feedback like this. Your experience sucks, I’d be coming unglued if I were in your shoes. Apologize for nothing, stick to your guns and if nothing else draw as much negative attention to Hobie practices as you can.

I did post to the Hobie forum. I also have my doubts they’re going to approve a post critical of their business’ warranty.

There's critical stuff posted on the Hobie forum. In fact, lots of warranty issues get discussed there, with people at Hobie (either Bernier or Matt Miller) often stepping in to offer useful suggestions. Unless things have changed recently, I don't recall seeing any moderation happening on that forum, so there should not be any issue wrt anyone needing to approve your post.

I did post to the Hobie forum. I also have my doubts they’re going to approve a post critical of their business’ warranty.

There's critical stuff posted on the Hobie forum. In fact, lots of warranty issues get discussed there, with people at Hobie (either Bernier or Matt Miller) often stepping in to offer useful suggestions. Unless things have changed recently, I don't recall seeing any moderation happening on that forum, so there should not be any issue wrt anyone needing to approve your post.

When I submitted the post, a message popped up stating admin approval would occur before posted to forum. Maybe things have changed. I had no use for that forum, as it is generally poorly attended from my experience. Far more knowledge on NCKA, NWKA and others.