Hobie Livewell Review

Received my livewell this past Wednesday and took it out for the first time this past Sunday. I removed the tankwell bungee then removed the first set of tankwell bungee hooks and installed another set of padeyes for the live well to clip to. I have noticed in the few photos I have seen of the livewell they clip it to the existing padeyes on the forward section of the tankwell. Just personal preference but I wanted the straps to come straight down for a more secure fit.

I have enough locations for rods but the rod holders on the livewell come in handy for a bait net and a net for my catch. I have to say that the rod holders are an ideal distance behind me to comfortably retreive what I have in them.

It looks like Hobie built this on the KISS principle. It is a very simple and effective set up. The intake tube has a scoop on the bottom which aids in priming the pump. Get your yak moving forward and turn on the pump. The scoop gets water to the pump and you are done.

When sitting in the yak, the on off switch is on the forward portion of the livewell and on your right hand side. The one thing I kept checking for is that the water bottle in the seat to my right did not turn off the pump. You might not know because the pump is so quiet.

It surprised me how quiet the operation of this livewell is. Except for the occasional gurgle from the scupper hole underneath you would never know it was on. This is a top notch product from Hobie.

Only one possible drawback on mine. The bottom front bottom corners of the livewell where the pump is and the discharge is are thin. The corner where the pump is mounted is real thin. If you have the livewell outside and look inside the light is bright on the pump side lower corner. Don't know if this in inherent of the production process or if it is just this one. Will have to be careful with it and keep and eye on it.

Overall I like it.

Great review, Joe. Did you notice any difference in the kayak handling due to the raised center of gravity or increased weight?

Cool review. I LOVE mine. Just don't forget to pull the black stopper off of the pump

It would be cool to see the rod holders on the back spread out so that they are in the 1,3 & 5 positions instead of the current 2,3 & 4 positions. In fact, I'm gonna switch mine up today. I'll post pics later.

Roadrunner - I didn't notice any difference in kayak handling..but I've been using a livewell of some sort forever.

_________________


OEX Oceanside - Authorized Hobie Dealer
Kayak Fishing Specialists

www.oexoceanside.com

I did not notice any difference in the handling due to the livewell. The sailing rudder I put on sure made a difference in drift control though. I could almost steer it and let the wind do the work.

Here is how the rod holders are set up on a stock livewell





I spread the rod holders out on mine so that my rods wouldn't tangle into each other

_________________


OEX Oceanside - Authorized Hobie Dealer
Kayak Fishing Specialists

www.oexoceanside.com

when i recieved mine, i thought the same thing. what did you use to seal the holes when you removed the rod holders?

I welded them with a plastic welder. You can also seal them with Marine Goop or Hot glue.

I eventually installed all rod 5 holders.

_________________


OEX Oceanside - Authorized Hobie Dealer
Kayak Fishing Specialists

www.oexoceanside.com