2020 HOBIE COMPASS step by step INSTALL & MOD’s! Why I DITCHED the Pelican Catch 110HDii explained.. 

Thank you! It’s intimidating for sure. Just take your time & don’t rush it. It get less scary with each mod. Before you know it, you’ll be more confident of your abilities to do it.

Capt Adobo Thanks for stopping by & commenting. I trust your assessment of the compass vs. the revo meant the dry weight being equally distributed. I can agree with that. It does seem slightly nose heavy for sure. I did receive replacement straps which are at least 12 inches longer overall so I’m good to go in that regard. When you say vertical hatch I assume it’s mounted lengthwise opens from seat towards the drive. I never even knew that one existed 😂. My only issue since was loading the yak without severely damaging the rudder. I’ve since purchased the compass loader which has remedied the issue.

As the saying goes...There is no such thing as free! Thanks for the support.

scorpiontube712 Thanks for checking it out! I see you out there slayin’ them rockies. We should connect sometime.

Thanks for stopping by giving it look over. I’m sure whichever yak you end up with you’ll be super stoked about it.

Carlos Tiburcio I’m hoping to get out tomorrow or Tuesday for a 2 hour session. Thanks for watching & glad I had some small part in bringing someone new into the sport of kayak fishing.

Thankfully this comes with the kick up fins & that reduces the likelihood of getting a bent fin rod. As far as the drive itself, I heard stories here & there of issues with some of drives. My take on it is this, we’ll hear far more about those issues from those dissatisfied whom traffic in amplified negativity through every available platform afforded them, than we will from those whom are completely satisfied. There is a reason there are so many Hobie “fanboys”. Despite there being no 1 perfect kayak (they all have at least 1 thing we’ll take issue with individually) most folks agree that Hobie is in a class by itself. I love my compass so far & I’ve only taken it out once for 2 hours. Night & day from any kayak I’ve ever had previous. Thanks for stopping by!

Cali Bear Not everyone & their mama has a Hobie, they are so cost prohibitive. But in the end, they are the most reliable & proven kayaks on the ocean. Which is why I went with it. Thanks for the words of encouragement & stopping by once again!

Couldn’t agree with you more!

I guess it is kinda off topic but do anyone know a good site to watch newly released movies online ?

@Roger Trace flixportal :P

@Cain Jad Thanks, I signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I appreciate it!

@Roger Trace No problem :)

Thanks! It was quite an unnerving task cutting into a $2.7k kayak to say the least 😂

I to love the compass. It’s a good kayak. I love how light it is compared to the outback & I won’t even talk about the PA 😂

cy fels Thank you! Hobie just sent me the correct seat straps on a warranty claim. So now I’m good to go. As for loading & unloading, do yourself a favor & get a compass loader. It’s a cheap ($30) & effective fix to the design flaw of the compass. Without it, you WILL break the rudder. To remedy the issue for the 2020 compass Hobie made an attachable footing. It’s similar to the one made for the outback but this one is specifically for the compass. Thanks for stopping in & commenting!

Big Shticks Yeah, I'm still waiting for my loader and the side pockets, accessories have been hard to come by. Been loading stern first at the water

cy fels I couldn’t agree more. I’ve gotten kind of lucky though. I ordered the map pockets on eBay but realized they were without frames after the fact. Told the seller I didn’t want them if they didn’t come with frames & they threw in some frames they had laying around. Got the rectangle storage bucket from a local kayak dealer whom happened to have one laying around when I called. The loader is a funny story. I emailed the seller of my kayak about the straps & in an additional email I inquired about the loader. When they called & told me all they had was straps the same length as mine & they’d like to make it right by doing a warranty claim, someone in the background says “if that’s the guy asking about compass straps, tell him I have a loader we used for a demo video”. “He can have it for $20 bucks but he has to buy it now over the phone & pick it up today”. I said...Done & Done! I do see however that a few retailers still have them in stock if your interested.

Big Shticks Yea, I got a call in to the dealer to see if he's got the loader in. They were advertising them and then all of a sudden they disappeared. Ditto for the side pockets. Luckily I still have my old cart that works just fine. My kayak buddy in Arizona with the mirage sport got me started on this Hobie obsession so I'm blaming it all on him!😎

cy fels 😂 it seems it’s never ending once it starts! I feel like I’m just going along for the ride.

My retailer ended up doing a warranty claim & Hobie sent me new straps in 3 days. Turns out they shipped a bunch of compass seats out with incorrect straps.

I’ve done many things in this life that could have cost me my life. But each experience has brought immeasurable learning opportunities with profound effect. I won’t lie though, each has scared the SHI# out of me 😂 in the process!

Skamper Camper 😂 been there, done that

So true!

I think the rectangular hatch is ridiculously heavy. The key to the compass is the light weight so I opted to improve my space without adding weight

It was, but it wasn’t suited for the style of fishing I’m setting out to accomplish.

Lol 😂 me too!

🤔 I’ll have to check out the new compass. It’s hull design has largely remained unchanged until now it seems. Pretty interesting tidbit!

Thanks for watching & commenting! I’ll definitely hit you up when I have some time to go out. As for the rigidity of the hull, I must say I was pretty disappointed to say the least. But I have to imagine that for kayak to be it’s weight it’s gonna be sacrificed somewhere. I just wasn’t expecting it’s hull thickness to not be uniform. Thanks for the tip on the fins! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on that for sure. I hope that your fin issue is a one off & gets resolved soon. I would think the vendor would just shoot you some while they work on their end to resolve the claim with Hobie. There doesn’t appear to be any shortage of them around so I can’t see there being a drawn out resolution. But good luck getting an answer soon.

Jason Wei BTW where do you fish out of so I have better idea of when to contact you?

@@BigShticks I am from Fremont and usually go out as far as an hour and a half; once in a while, I hit Clear lake. Please let me know at least 3 days in advance so that I can request for time off from work. Thanks. The last 4 places I went were HMB, Bolinas, Santa Cruz Harbor and Monterey Bay.

@@BigShticks Are you planning on going to the Ocean Cove event coming up on the 18th-20th? Thanks 😊.

Jason Wei I don’t even know about that event. Is that a NCKA event?

Jimmy Inthaphanh I can totally see how that’s possible. But that’s not the case here. I spent $2.2k on this yak & an additional $220 on the mods. That’s about $600-700 less than the outback. But I can see where you lose that savings if you have a dealer do the installs. However, for me the biggest factor was weight. The outbacks extra 23lbs is significant in my mind. Helping my cousin move his around showed me the struggles of moving an outback alone, particularly loaded down with gear.

Big Shticks yea it’s a good boat. You can definitely feel the extra weight from the Outback. Only reason why I upgraded to the Outback was the seat for the Compass gave me back pains after sitting for 5-6hrs on the water and I wanted more of the bells and whistles the Outback offered.

Jimmy Inthaphanh There is nothing worse than not being comfortable in small spaces, so your decision to move on is wholly justifiable. The outback offers unrivaled “bells & whistles” with so many options that work with every feature. It is the cream de la creme of kayaks made specifically for fishing.

Out of an abundance of caution I went out & checked those screws. Fortunately, my screws don’t protrude through the hull. I can feel a slight a bump, but nothing sharp or rigid. My question to you now is: wouldn’t a cord rubbing on a nut still create the same undesired friction?

@@BigShticks Not really. The sheet metal style screws that came with the map pocket have a pointed tip and more aggressive thread. The nut is a smoother more polished surface

The compass can handle swells with the best of kayaks. Really it has everything to do with the period between swells. For instance, a 5ft swell every 10 seconds is relatively mild ocean conditions. If the frequency is every 5 seconds at 5ft then it’s gonna be a rough day. It also helps if you keep your head inside of the kayak if you lean out in the same direction of the waves energy you will tip. Honestly though, being out in the ocean & swell isn’t what really worries me. Surf launching & landing is my biggest issue.

@@BigShticks Thanks!

The Smokin’ Salmon Oh yes my friend I am planning on it!

Yes I’m still rocking with the compass (I have lynx now too) & haven’t given it a second thought. With either the compass or the outback it comes down to weight for me. They are both very seaworthy kayaks. Nobody will bat an eye that you’re in a compass. When you consider the mods or accessories you’ll add to either kayak it’s all relative. I’ve probably got about $600 in mine (fish finder, nocqua battery, crate, Hobie cart, deep storage bucket, hatch, h-rail & numerous rod holders). TBH you’ll still end up spending on most of those items anyways with an outback just to get started too. But remember, the more you put on it, the more gear you have, the more it weighs. So I try to minimize gear so it doesn’t take me 45mins to an hour to get on the water. Not to mention breaking it all down for the trip home. I literally unload onto the cart, connect my battery & FF, plug in my rod holders & add my 2 poles & tackle then shove off. Sometimes I’ve been fishing almost an hour before my friends make it out to the fishing grounds. It’s all about speed & efficiency for me. But the best part is, when back at wherever we launched my kayak weighing a solid 40lbs less than an outback or 80lbs less than a PA, I have noooo problem making it up the ramp or up the beach while my friends are struggling, stopping to catch their breath & begging for help. If I didn’t fish the ocean or SF bay I would have no problem getting the passport instead. It’s all about getting the right kayak for what you want to accomplish.

No, once I put in the rectangle hatch the deck is completely solid. I feel more stable standing in it now then when the round hatch was there.

Yeah I was pretty perturbed by the discrepancy in thickness myself. But I guess it’s how the compass is so much lighter than an outback. As for sealant, I’m not sure it would be any good. The hatches are sandwiched between two foam gaskets, so I don’t see it bringing much benefit to the party.

They put in a warranty claim with Hobie. I received the correct straps 3 days later.

All good points! I never even considered removing the map pocket from the lid. I do use it though to store various items. When I didn’t have the bucket I still stowed my water pump & a dry bag in the space under the seat. Now that I do have a bucket I store just about everything I can fit in it, on the water & off.

It wasn’t a matter of going back so far. I received a seat with straps that were about 15 inches to short & wouldn’t even allow for the seat back to come upright. Hobie sent me new straps at a later date.

@@BigShticks oh wow!! That doesnt sounds like a fun time at all! Good thinking on the fix in the mean time!

Epoxy makes it sound like forever 😂. I did a few dabs of silicone for good measure. Thanks for the suggestion!

Hunter Wilson I water tested it the next day & had a little water enter. I subsequently put a good bead of silicone around the hatch & it’s been good to go since.

I feel exactly the same way! The weight was another component in my decision.

The wieght was my main component. Plus, I do not need to worry about waves crashing into the front well like the outback does.

It was just too slow, not very agile & difficult to maneuver in wind & current. Plus, it didn’t feel like a premium kayak, more like a cheap imposter. As soon as I realized the gear tracks couldn’t stand up to the gear I required to use for ocean salmon I got rid of it for something that could.

I forgot to mention you got the MooMoo mobile 😂

It’s ram mount with 1 inch ball

Alice Koonko I appreciate the support! Thanks for stopping by & commenting. Im going to go out on a limb & say that because they are the largest online kayak retailer coupled with them also having the largest inventory in the country that somehow they got confused & attached the wrong straps to my seat. I contacted Hobie & they said to contact Kayak City & have them send me the correct straps. Interesting that yours didn’t come with the camo colored foot grips. Is yours a 2020? As long as it performs the same would be my take. But if I was a stickler about appearances I’d definitely bring it up. Either way I’m hoping you are enjoying your new kayak as much as I am! It’s a huge difference from every kayak I’ve ever owned.

@@BigShticks yeah 2020, just got it maybe two weeks ago from my local, smaller dealer, WindToys in Santa Rosa. I'm sure it performs the same, just got me wondering if maybe I somehow got the different one lol. Just aesthetics either way. It's a great boat! You got me thinking about this small H-rails, I always think I thought all the mods out, then I see something else I want LOL.

Alice Koonko It’s never ending 😂. I almost ordered from WindToys but I was skeptical it was a malicious site. I’m scared of .net sites.

Interesting 🤔, your not worried about water getting in the tablet

@@BigShticks Got a water proof case..keep it under the seat otherwise I set it on top of the hatch hole between my legs also can pass it to the front passenger so they can view it too

@@jeffdavenport4939 OMG I can’t believe the waterproof case never crossed my mind as an option 😂. Hey sometimes the best solutions come through reuse of our seemingly outdated things we supposedly have no more use for.

Are you talking about the screw in padeyes? What’s the mod?

@@BigShticks yes, the padeyes thread will strip if you lean hard on the seat. The padeye is hollow on the inside. Since you have not stripped yours I would fill it with an epoxy. I hope that make sense.

@@timleng4404 What does filling the inside of the padeye with epoxy do for the threads on the outside?

I THINK it will help to support the thread to not give in. I am going on a different path by cutting the hook out and go with the stainless steel ring bolt on. Look up some of the videos.

@@timleng4404 Maybe this is a silly question, but why didn’t you warranty it? Also, I watched the video where the guy cuts off the eyelet of the padeye & drills a hole to put in a metal eye bolt. I believe his problem was the padeye broke on him & not that the thread stripped. Not to be downer but I don’t see how this will solve your problem unless you plan to drill into the kayak & nut, washer, washer, bolt, sandwiching the kayak hull in between.

Ooh rah! We all have to serve overseas my friend. It’s their way of breaking us from the idea of being close to home. So we get used to the idea that we could be pulled away from everything we hold dear at a moment’s notice. To get used to putting everything on hold & put the Corp’s & Country first, because without it, our families & our way of life ceases to exist. Give your cousin my best!

Will do sir he took an ied drivin a mrap after 2 weeks of deployment and lost his leg..best dude/angler i know he in 1 of my bass vids..great humor we do drinking games with his artificial more of a man than ill ever be and a hell of a father too!! Thankyou for your service brotha glad to see ur in the yak game now go get some ocean chrome!!!

Nor Cal Fishermen Right on man!

It sounds good in theory. I’m sure it would provide additional water tightness. But it’s difficult to accomplish when using the foam gaskets that go on both sides of the deck before inserting the hatch. Plus, Hobie didn’t see fit to apply any to the exist factory installed hatch.

Damian Westcott Yeah I emailed Hobie, they said to contact kayak city & they can send new straps. Problem is they are only open Wednesday thru Friday 11-5 due to CoVid & I work every Wed-Fri in the hospital. There’s no answering machine so I can’t leave a message. But I plan to get it addressed because it’s just unacceptable

What anchor system are u using..?

Damian Westcott Right now I’m going to use an 8lb mushroom, 80ft of line with a pot float & loop on the end that goes on a quick release line that’s affixed to the rear of the kayak & runs to a clam cleat by my side.

I noticed on your old kayak u had a winding system next tour seat

Damian Westcott That’s a downrigger bro