Hobie Cat Forums

I recently purchased a 2011 Hobie Oasis. Upon receiving the boat via carrier I have discoverd that it is missing the serial numbers on the right rear side of the kayak. The circle with the engraved U.S. is there but there are no serial numbers. I even looked with a magnifying glass. I contacted the dealer and I am also trying to contact the folks at hobie. I sent the pics to the dealer and he said he has never seen anything like this before. I'm just wondering if I should return the boat or if hobie will provide a warranty on a boat with no serial number. Has anyone else ever had this experience?

swampthang:
I don't think it's legal for any manufacturer to make or sell any boat (including kayaks) without a hull number and certificate of origin. You need to get this into Hobies hands right away to get this resolved. I'm sure it's just a slip up somewhere. I have a tandem Island and was pulled over and told the boat needs to be registered in Florida (because the TI is over 16 feet). I was planning to add a motor anyway so I did quite a bit of research into the subject and learned quite a bit. It took me a couple months and quite a bit of running around to get everything titled, registered, and insured. Then when the hull was replaced a year later (broken scupper hole) I had to go through the whole thing again.

Without a certificate of origin and hull number you can't register the boat in any state if you ever wanted to add a trolling motor or anything you would be out of luck. It would also be impossible to trade in to any dealer if you decided to trade in and upgrade to a AI or TI later (all Hobies really hold their value very well).

If you ever take the boat out of the country on a fishing trip or vacation (Canada, Mexico, etc) you have to prove ownership (certificate of ownership, title, etc) if you want to get the boat back into the US when you return.

If it is stolen off of your roof, or from your yard, you will need to have those documents to make an insurance claim, and also if the kayak is stolen, or lost on the water if the police can trace the vin number (HIN) it will be returned to you if possible.

You would have no means to register with Hobie for your warranty. Hobie has the best warranty and support in the industry, you definately don't want to pass on that. When we bought out Oasis and Revolution we gave our insurance the HIN numbers, and registered the boats with Hobie for warranty (glad we did). Just my two cents.
Bob

I have a 2011 Oasis. I noticed that the serial number isn't really visible (very faint) on the hull itself. There is a sticker with adhesive on the hull with the serial number on it. I suppose I should take a photo of it and maybe peel it off and put it with the paperwork in case an issue occurs.

Great tandem, fast and fun.

_________________
Tom

2011 Oasis Ivory Dune

The serial # is easy to illuminate by rubbing a piece of chalk over it and wiping off the excess. If you don't have any, try talcum powder or flour.

Swampy I feel your pain:I had an Adventure which had no serial number engraved on the hull. when I tried to explain to the dealer and to Hobie my query was met with incredulity until I was able to show a photo of the panel in which the number was meant to be engraved. Unfortunately by the time I had realized that the number was missing the sticky label had washed off the boat. However Hobie was ultimately able to furnish the dealer with a serial number which was meant to be the one for my boat and Hobie more than honored the warranty on the boat when I had to make a warranty claim on it so I suspect Hobie will not make a crisis out of a drama though the same may not apply to Uncle Sam.