Edited to update with photos. I figured it out.
Well my new Adventure has arrived. Here's a rather long rambling discussion of her delivery and preliminary prep.
If your like me you are far from any dealer. My distributor is on Oahu. I'm on the Big Island of Hawaii. Here's what I experienced on pickup. I provide some detail for others isolated from dealerships.
Young Brother's (inter-island barge company) let me drive my truck to the yak where stored. I had my Nissan pickup with a roof rack and rear rack previously build for a 30lb OC-1 (one man out rigger canoe).
The yak was surrounded by a layer of bubble wrap, than a thick plastic sheathing, and strapped on a small pallet . Paddle, drive, and other parts were firmly secured inside bubble wrap in against hull. A+ job.
The distributor had the pallet cut down in anticipation of Young Brothers requirements. Which is to remove your packaging.
In anticipation I brought along a hacksaw for the bands, and knife and scissors . I was fortunate enough to have Young brother's permit me to put the plastic in a dumpster, but was still required to take the pallet. Thanks to Marlene cutting it down it fit in my short bed as I had forgot my hammer and crowbar.
I did an inventory check of paddle, seat, etc as I unpacked. I had brought along a camera to shoot any damage, but pics were not required.
I flagged down a worker and he helped me get the yak on my truck. It weighs IIRC 69 #s, so this was not trivial for one man. Piece of cake for two.. More on this later.
I have a shot of some of the stuff I accumulated prior to the yak's arrival, plus the cart.
Pictured is a simple five gallon bucket storage/rigging rack. Functional, but pretty unstable, but works if you get it on balanced, and is cheap. Maybe someone can post a fastener system for the 2X4's on the other thread with the buckets turned upright. Then a little cement in the bottom, etc.
I was worried about interference from RAM balls during enter and exit from the yak if spear fishing, swimming, etc. so I wanted to simulate a mount for the RAM balls. Otherwise would have gone for Scotty flush mounts.
Pictured are the golf balls (real not wiffles as originally proposed) that I later duct taped to the proposed RAM ball mounting positions. I had first used auto goo to hold them in scrap foam blocks.
No problema from anything getting back in after deliberately huli (capsize).
Also they are so far forward that when slipping into the water for swimming, etc they are out of the way. The Hobbie hold down for the paddle , however, is NOT. It catches your trunks when deliberately slipping over the side into the drink.
Anotherphoto shows golf balls installed for the test, and includes my addition of reflector tape for night fishing. A feeble attempt at graphics design versus a plain rectangular strip. Hey Hobie build reflection tape into graphics! Nike and every shoe manufacture does.
Pictured in the first photo is the kupuna step I stole from the SINK yak thread. It's a foot of old garden hose threaded with clothesline. I didn't need it getting back in (I'm an old OC-6/1 paddler), but my spouse might. I'll report on her efforts later, but the way I see it rigged, tied off on the opposite side of entry, she won't need a paddle for stabilization, ala the SINK technique..
The cart is interesting. Wheels are very light weight plastic with a wide soft (not air filled) rubber tire. Off an initial impression you think it's cheap, but performance is not. The guts are the frame which is quite sturdy chromed tubing that beats the pants off any irrigation plastic homemade model.
Mine performed beautifully on any hard road surface, pivoting on a dime.
Across grass, a small rocky beach, and packed sand, no problema.
Deep soft sand could be another story, but so far haven't encountered any. (Big Island is relatively young) However if that's your environment Hobie wheels may still work. If you have to change over to wide pneumatics remember the frame is your gold salvage.
I stuffed four of the pictured big Wall Mart Noodles into the front hull section with some room left over for gear. See also Noodle as a life jacket thread.
Had to pull the big noodle out of the back and insert the narrow one(kids to 5 yrs. on label) from the rear hull . Still getting some cable interference to rudder. May have to go with cut larger ones inserted crosswise.
The surgical tubing will be used as lures and a fish calling device. Blue water Hunter has a tip on strumming spearfish gun bands to attract fish. Why not for jigging, etc? I'm going to try a one string fiddle.
The compass is a standard and will be installed as described in other thread.
Also pictured is a rod leash. I'm getting worried about all the straps and lines spread all over the cockpit. Maybe I can see them with the pizzoelectric flashlight (brown thing you can grind-has flashing and steady capability. Or reflection from tape on left.
Not pictured are my charts. First I plotted the island's Fish Aggrvatig Devices (FADs).
I drew and labeled magnetic course lines to various light, stacks, etc. I took our island, split it in half and glued it back to back. During Christmas trip to mainland went to Kinko's and had it laminated. (be sure there is at least 1/2 inch of plastic overlap when trimming)Then duct taped edges. Another idea others might use is to line the top of their tackle boxes with their local charts. Mine even pre-trimmed is pretty big so figure it will be rolled up, stuffed somewhere.
When I got the yak home first thing I did was put it up on my bucket racks (it was after sunset), turnout garage lights, insert a flashlight into each hull hatch area, and check for pin holes. None as later evidenced by no water entry during huli practice.
I pulled the scupper plugs in the seat and am trying to figure a use for the scupper plugs provided for the rear storage. Don't need them in Hawaii water. Do need drainage if sea comes up.
Interesting Hobie accommodates both warm rough water and cold calm. Although I guess the So. Cal guys would claim a seat with plugged scupper drains, with a little non circulating water would be a warm butt suit.
Onto more seriousness. The Owners manual is feeble. I have posted comments on adjusting the Mirage Drive before. For guys not NEAR A DEALER (hey Matt how you going to support us!!) We need more info. Maybe a video?
And I'd like to see some info on how to replace a busted rudder cable. Try peering into the hull using your wife's compact mirror, and guessing based on the meager info in the owner's manual.
Hey it's going to happen, two or three years out. I've seen too many cables break on surf ski's ,etc, including my own OC-1 due to S&S (stress and salt). More on an emergency rig that will help you steer later.
I'll post more as I go along.
Aloha
Dan