Hobie conversion

Please don't flame me for the asking ..but has anyone converted a Hobie cat to be motored. I have and idea to convert a 16' Hobie to handle an outboard motor as a small freshwater lake pontoonboat. There are some of our whitewater kayaking rivers that empty into a long lake paddle to the take out and am thinking of developing a type of tow shuttle.
Any help or consturctive advise would be appreciated.
Martin h2o N X S

You are not the 1st to do this. I know of several people who have done this. You can either use plywood to make the platform to site on you fiberglass. If the hulls are solid you may be able to trade them for some that are starting to go bad and get a buck or 2.


Thanks,
Brad Stephens
www.sunjammers.com<------new site!
Authorized Hobie/Vanguard Dealer
Division 15 Chairman
Panama City Beach, FL
[email protected]
850-235-2281

The hobie catalog has sells a mount for an electric trolling motor. At least they did last time I checked.

Rick Wite is selling one on catsailor.com. I have seen it at his seminar and it is pretty cool. heavy as hell, but cool.

I part out a lot of boats in my area and if the hulls are delaminated, I won't sell them. I have been giving them to a local group that converts them into lake boats. There is one lake in my area that must be FULL of converted Hobies, Prindles and even a Sol Cat!

Dan Berger

To help with the weight distribution and as you won't have a mast on, I'd have a look at making my own fitting and place it on the front cross beam (assuming you'll still use the rudders). This would make towing a lot more straight forward as there would be a lot less likelyhood of getting the tow rope caught in the prop. will also make the boat more manouverable.

When the water level is low on our local river, we try our white water kayaks behind a ski boat... word of warning, if you get going fast it is fairly lethal and you'll not want a paddle on the kayaks, for high speed tows...

Have fun...