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Pro angler leaking
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=78&t=47677
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Author:  Gemitaur [ Mon May 20, 2013 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Pro angler leaking

I liked my Pro angler 14 (2011) so much that I used it all the time, fishing both salt and fresh water. In all the times I used it it always remained bone dry. I upgraded to the 2012 for the vantage seating and the many other modifications that are now standard. However whenever I go fishing now, I always have a little water (1-2 cups) in the hull when I put the boat away. I attributed this to some water slopping over the sides and/or condensation. I found the following while installing my Lowrance sounder. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?edit=vd&v=4TqzI3RSQFQ[/youtube] This seems to be a split in the hull during the factory assembly that has been repaired. As the slides show this area is quite thin and you can see light coming through the thinnest part of the patch. The next time I put the boat in the water I took a close look at the patch job and water definitely comes in through the repair. This is totally unacceptable to me. My question is should I go directly to Hobie or through the dealer first?

Author:  islandspeed2001 [ Mon May 20, 2013 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Your dealer handles all warranty issues.

Author:  makobob [ Mon May 20, 2013 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Take it to your dealer, should be under covered.

Author:  DaytonaBeach [ Tue May 21, 2013 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Did you get the kayak New with that patch on it? I hope not.

Author:  Gemitaur [ Tue May 21, 2013 9:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Yes I did get it new. The patch is kind of out of the way and only noticeable from the outside when you shine a flashlight on it from the inside.

Author:  SkiPro3 [ Thu May 23, 2013 5:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Considering the top dollar price Hobie insists on, I'd be pissed as hell if I found a factory delivered flaw masked over like that. If it were me, I'd haul it down to my dealer, drop it at his front door and tell him either a full refund or a replacement plus 10% credit back on Hobie accessories for my trouble.

Amazing considering their cost! I shake my head!

Author:  islandspeed2001 [ Thu May 23, 2013 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Let's see what Hobie and the dealer say/respond before we start casting stones. I have always found that they respond well to any warranty problem. Especially, when you ask them nicely :mrgreen:

Author:  Gemitaur [ Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Update. I sent off the pictures and description to the dealer with the following letter:

Hi XXX I was installing my fishfinder and found this inside the hull. I purchased the Kayak in April from your store. The serial # is US -XXXXXXXXXXXX. It looks like the hull split during the manufacturing process and was poorly repaired. There is no damage to the outside of the hull but I can see light coming through at several points. As I will be using the Kayak in open seas this winter I am extremely concerned about structural integrity. I believe this to be a warranty issue. Could you please contact me regarding this
Thank you

It's been a week and no response so I phoned the store.
WOW! Interesting response over the phone.

They sent off the pictures and info but didn't let me know of the status of the case. The owner of the store basically said that I probably damaged the boat and now want a free replacement (despite pictures showing the outside hull intact from damage). Also, if I get another boat they want to charge me for transferring all my equipment into the new boat...and charge me for damaging the boat with my "unauthorized modifications" (fish finder and rod holder mounts on the side boards). I will be contacting Hobie directly. If a moderator reads this can they PM me with a phone # to deal with this? I just want to replace the factory defective boat. As for the store I Just won't shop there anymore and will happily drive the two hours more to get to the better dealer.

Author:  Pete@JAX [ Tue Jun 04, 2013 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

where are you located???

Author:  Stevemcnerney [ Tue Jun 04, 2013 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

You would do the Hobie owners community a service by letting us know the area where the shop is located. That's not the way to treat customers, especially when you bought one of the most expensive kayaks on the market. I would call Hobie corporate and share your story.

Author:  basskicker [ Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

I guess I consider us to be sort of an elite group of kayak/pwc owners not just because of the money we spend on our boats, but because of forums like this where everyone shares and is willing to help. Very sorry to hear of the way you've been treated. You deserve better and by all means post the name and location of the dealer if you are comfortable doing that. People should know the kind of people they are giving their hard earned $$ to. Thanks for sharing your story. :D

Author:  Gemitaur [ Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

I would prefer not to post the name or location of the store until this is sorted out. I am located in south central British Columbia, Canada. I spend my winters fishing in the sea of Cortez an hour south of La Paz, Baja. The water there can get very choppy with HUGE waves so hull integrity is important when I am 3 miles offshore.

Author:  Pete@JAX [ Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Keep us posted on the outcome - I'm sure Hobie will make things right in the long run

Author:  Bcastile [ Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

That grind mark or scar is in nearly every kayak we make. If there's not a scar there, there will be a little pile of plastic. During molding, there is a vent tube going through the kayak where the center hatch is. This tube allows the pressure to release as it gets hot, and then allows air back in as it cools. It collects plastic, and some drips off to the bottom of the kayak. If there's a big mound, we scrape it off. If there's just a little, we leave it. If you have an older PA14, you have a little white round disk welded in the deck under the seat where the vent tube went. All other kayaks have it though where the hatch goes. This is not a defect, or anything that the kayak needs to be returned for. We have received a warranty claim from this dealer but the photos were too small to be useful so we have asked for better quality photos of the leak. The video helps show what we're looking at. If there is a leak here, maybe it was ground too thin, but I have never seen that happen before.

Author:  Gemitaur [ Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pro angler leaking

Hi Brendan; With respect this is not some plastic that has been shaved off you can see that the hull has cracked and then been filled in. I will take some better Hi Res pictures tonight and send them through this forum in a PM to you.

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