The ONLY Hobie Kayak Cart mod you NEED TO WATCH!!! 

As they say, better late than never! I to probably watched a dozen or more cart mods & there was just way to much involved to keep my interest. I’m glad you found my version to be beneficial. Thanks for checking it out.

It’s been a lifesaver for me thus far. Thanks for watching!

Thank you sir!

Thanks! While I’m not a fan of the Hobie Kayak carts price, I am a fan of how modifiable their products are & how well they work. This mod is a game changer for me as I do kayak alone a lot. Not having a second person or having to dump my gear & rest the kayak on it’s side to insert the cart is a hassle for sure. Thanks stopping in & contributing to the conversation!

Don't get a scupper cart. Scuppers aren't meant to have things shoved in them, get a Ctug

Actually, the hobies have a reinforced scupper with black pvc type tubes in the scuppers and it pretty beefy inside as well. I wouldn't make a practice of rough launches though, I would use a strap on for that too.

@@Cyfi71 Go ahead and trust the little piece of plastic they half ass line the scupper with. They still crack. The "reinforcement" is not really a reinforcement.

Thanks! Great screen name btw.

Happy to hear it! I like you looked at all sorts of mods & while I’m sure most worked, there was just so much involved in the mod that I just wasn’t interested at the end of the day. Thanks for taking the time to comment & letting me know that you found value in it as well.

Thank you! Nice Hali in the avatar!

@@BigShticks haha thanks, wish it was a hali, only a summer flounder (east coast)

@@PeterRanieriII Well damn! That’s a big ass flounder then 😂

@@BigShticks 😆 appreciate it

Thanks!

Rarely do I have to get wet to apply the bungees. I position the wheels on the shore, leaving the nose of the kayak in the water I swing the back end into the wheels then run the bungees through the scupper holes. If the ramp is too steep I position the cart at an angle so that it doesn’t run away from me while doing this.

@@BigShticks Aha! Well, that makes a lot of sense! And then you back the kayak up until it's clear of the water? BTW, LOVE the name of your Channel and Hobie!

@@RogerFordTheSmilingBassHole Entry & exit from the water is virtually the same process, only in reverse. If I’m entering the water I place the nose into the water, unclip the bungees from the cart, then lift the kayak from the rear & swing it into the water. Your kayak will now be parallel to the shore. The cart will have fallen free & then you can retrieve it & place it wherever you like. I generally place it back into the scuppers with the wheels up behind my seat ready to use when back at the shore.

@@BigShticks Great strategy! Thanks!

Yup, because I do use the bed of my truck that pin is still a key component & gets used every time I take it in & out of the bed.

Thanks Moo! Still moving in? I haven’t seen much fishing from you lately.

@@BigShticks My honey do list got so much longer LOL

Ahh yes, the side effects of homeownership 😂

Absolutely, the Trax-2 is really for crossing loose sand. It wouldn’t make much sense if it doesn’t suite your application. Thanks for weighing in with your thoughts!

Nah, just someone who likes to keep things simple. Appreciate the compliment though!

Me too! But honestly I need to pick up some crab gear appropriate for the kayak. As I told MooMoo when he invited me to go to Half Moon bay all my gear is heavy duty commercial pots I use on my boat. Hopefully soon though.

@@BigShticks Yeh I noticed that in the background of the video, those commercial grade ones and was thinking that you are a commercial crab guy!

@@obwith2.332 😂 I don’t know if I could do that for a living.

@@BigShticks Now that I know you are a boat owner, I want to ask you about the ownership and the lenght of the boat that one can safely take a few miles out from the launch at Half Moon Bay providing that all safety precaution and other condition such as swell, wind etc... are being considered.

@@obwith2.332 Well to be honest, I’ve many people safely take out 14ft aluminum lake boats in the ocean provided the right conditions. That being said, it is frowned upon by serious ocean goers. However, there are smaller boats on the market that can stand up to some serious ocean rigors such as the C- Dory & Boston Whaler Montauk. The later I actually saw someone fishing at the Farallon islands in. That’s quite a perceived gamble in a 16ft boat. But it is known as the unsinkable legend for a reason. Matts (Fisherman’s Life) actually has a 16 ft boat he frequently takes out into the ocean as well. Not really sure what brand, but it appears seaworthy. I guess what I’m getting at is really that if you have safety in mind, have taken the necessary precautions, know what your respective boat & you yourself can handle & are comfortable with, you should be fine. Just don’t be afraid to say no way or tuck tail & run if the conditions start to get bad. As for boat ownership. Just know this, we live in California, they want their cut of your enjoyment. So when a boat owner tell ya... B reak. O ut. A nother. T housand. We mean it 😂

This mod has been a time & money saver for me for sure. The boondox are nice for sure, but I have seen the hulls crack & fail under the stress.

Thanks! I appreciate your response!

NP

Appreciate it brotha!

Where did u get those eyes

@@titaniumtim18d77 Hobie - Padeye - Screw-In (Uai) - 71116001

@@titaniumtim18d77 westcoastsailing.net/hobie-kayak-screw-in-pad-eye/

There is some real convenience with the boon doxx landing gear. However, I’ve seen multiple with stress fractures from them. But admittedly their kayaks probably had to much stuff on them. I for one have no issues with the sand tires. I know I cannot deploy them while in the water. Which can seemingly be an inconvenience, but I’ve never been accustomed to loading my kayak that way anyways. I’ve always completely removed my kayak from the water. Unfortunately there is no one perfect product to end the debate. It’s all a matter of subjective perspective. Thanks for chiming in.

@@BigShticks The earlier versions has issues with some kayaks, but that was fixed with larger backing plates. I love being able to both retract and deploy the wheels whilst on the water. Saves a lot of hull damage and wet legs 👍🏻

@@steeevo0136 That’s good to know about the backing plates. Do you think it might interfere with the installation of a Hobie AMA? Or can you only have one or the other? I do a bit of ocean crabbing & fishing so I don’t really get much hull damage from the sand, nor do I worry about wet legs because I’m in a wet suit anyways.

@@BigShticks It shouldn't, but I can't say for sure, and you can position the Boon Dox where suits best.

It sounds good in theory. However in practice is another story. Your idea is one that accounts only for flat surfaces & still would require a bit of geometry in order to calculate the kickstand height to create the necessary angle to get the bars to align with the scupper holes. Try doing it at a boat launch on an incline or any uneven surface & you’ll realize the kickstand idea is not so great. I’ve had a C-Tug which comes with a kickstand. One inclined surfaces it falls over & runs away from you. When placed with wheels facing parallel to the water on an incline (to prevent the previous scenario) you have to move the kayak the same direction and lift, however the kayak has to be tipped sideways towards the water to accommodate the angle coming down which is difficult while loaded down & doing so alone.

Thanks! I keep the pin handy in my kayak storage. I still use it when loading & unloading so the cart doesn’t drop out. It’s not like I threw it away. That minor inconvenience prevents me from having the major headache of having to remove everything off of the deck. Including rods, net, drive, fish & crate just to get the cart in. With this set up I never think twice about going alone anymore.

If you just pop off the cap on the bottom of the cart you can untie the bungie that's attached to the pin and replace the cap. If you don't like the mod you can always undo it.

@@jackmackerel4151 😂 too late! I had no idea. I cut it off, but I’m sure that’s useful info for those whom plan to do this cart mod. Thanks!

Any authorized Hobie dealer should carry them. But here’s a link www.mariner-sails.com/hobie-screw-in-pad-eye.html

@@BigShticks Great and thanks for your info.

I have, but within reason. The kayak cannot be in waist deep water. If the nose is on the bank & the rear of the kayak is in knee deep water the answer is absolutely. The nose must be in a position to stay steady. If the rear of the kayak is in to deep of water you’ll have to lift the kayak up to high because the wheels will float preventing the shafts from entering the scupper holes.

It’s an old aluminum jet ski stand. Picked it up at a garage sale for $10.

Thanks! Sometimes it’s best not to overthink things.

Yes it most certainly will. It fits all Hobie carts except those in the itrek series

@@BigShticks Thank you so much. Louis

You can purchase them from any authorized Hobie dealer. I ordered mine from California Canoe & Kayak. Here’s a link with a place that has them in stock currently. westcoastsailing.net/hobie-kayak-screw-in-pad-eye/

I believe you’re talking about the 9in Hobie H-rail. I added that for a sturdy handle that doubles as an accessory mount, a place to clip my crab bag or fish stringer & when the conditions are rough it gives me something to hang onto. It easily handles the weight of large rods & 3-5lb downrigger balls for ocean salmon fishing as well. The plastic stock track mounts can’t handle the stress of that kind of weight. I also thought that if I was to capsize it would make it easier to flip the kayak back over & use it for re-entry. Thanks for stopping by & commenting!

@@BigShticks no, at 5:20 or so, when ya lift the ass end up on the yak, that thing..... attached to the stern.... what is that?

@@missiletm Oooh 😂. That’s the Hobie compass kayak loader. It protects the rudder & the rear hull of the kayak when lifting from the bow for car topping or simply into a truck bed.

@@BigShticks oh, ok, another $75 Hobie accessory I presume or did it come with it? (I have a 2013 PA 14 and a 2015 Outback). The outback didnt even come with a hatch liner or gear bucket. I had to pay extra for those. Still the best money ever spent. I love the quality of the Hobie kayaks.

@@missiletm No, it was $30 😂. The outback’s come with them since 2018. I don’t think any of Hobie’s kayaks come with hatch liners of any kind. While it would be nice to provide some sort of storage option with purchase, I believe everyone’s interpretation of how they’ll use it varies greatly. So I think they simply offer a variety of workable options to be purchased after the fact while not simultaneously adding the cost of something that might be viewed as useless. The beauty of most Hobie products is that they work with virtually every one of their kayaks.

I have a few buddies that have trailers with similar set ups. None have experienced any stress fractures, warped hulls or damage to my knowledge.

@@BigShticks Awesome, thank you for the quick reply

They do well on most terrains with the exception of very sharp rocky surfaces. I did look into the boonedox landing gear but it seemed to cumbersome to install because I would need access for a backer plate. Being the rectangle hatch is the closest access it didn’t seem feasible.

I'd stay away from the boonedox if you still have a factory warranty. There's a video on youtube where a guys new hobie developed a crack where the wheels mount to the kayak. Voided his warranty too.

Thanks 🙏

Yes of course! I tied a loop on mine & added a carabiner then clip it on my cargo bungee so I don’t lose it

If it’s a Hobie cart I believe so

I got them California Canoe & Kayak in Oakland Ca. But they can be purchased on Amazon and authorized Hobie dealers. Hobie Screw In Pad Eye XL www.amazon.com/dp/B01JKIUCSM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_8S2TEGT0CWQD6CE3X7BH

www.calkayak.com/hobie-padeye-screw-in.html

It’s an aluminum jet ski stand

There is only one size for the round padeye. I know there is another (the XL) which is the same size but has a square head. sportco.com/kayak-screw-in-pad-eye/

I still use it. I tied a small carabiner to the remaining bungee & I clip it onto one of the rear deck padeyes. That way I never misplace it & it’s right there ready to use.

I’ve had no major issues with the compass. It’s been a really nice kayak for ocean, bay, river & lake thus far. It handles about as well as can be expected in the wind & waves due to its revo nose.

@@BigShticks I’m looking to buy one in this upcoming month. Where did you buy yours?

@@erickescobedo4820 Kayak city in Sacramento.

@@BigShticks thanks

The are called Hobie padeye’s. Amazon &/or any authorized dealer of Hobie kayaks should carry them or at least be able to order them for you.

@@BigShticks I'm sorry but I can't find it in size. Could you kindly send me the link to order it?

@@profeta6937 westcoastsailing.net/hobie-kayak-screw-in-pad-eye/

@@profeta6937 Hobie - Padeye - Screw-In (Uai) - 71116001 www.amazon.com/dp/B004CGB0D4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_7MGFH3K8HQ9M1N1Q4SQF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

@@BigShticks perfect!! Thank you very match

Oh man! Sorry to hear that. If the square padeye fits I’m sure it would work too. If however, you are adamant about using the round pad eyes I would contact Hobie & seek their advice on how to attain them. Amazon sells them as well, at least here in the US, AU presents different challenges I’m sure.

@@BigShticks just bought a set of pad eyes from my local hobie store at $14 each a bit set me back $28

@@pa1264 Not sure what the US dollar to AUS dollar exchange rate is. That could be the difference in pricing. Here it’s $9.99 USD now. I’m guessing due to higher manufacturing costs.

They are Hobie round pad eyes & I bought them from my Hobie dealer. www.calkayak.com/hobie-padeye-screw-in.html

Great, thank you!

What size tyres on the cart.

@@pa1264 These are Wheeleez that come on the Hobie Trax 2. They do not have a tire size on them. However, they do measure out at 7 inches wide (edge to edge) & 3 inches tall (rim to outer edge of the tire). Hope this helps

@@BigShticks ok I just bought the same one it has 24 on the side wall I was trying to get the size 30 tyres apparently it doesn't fit the trax2 frame.

I can stand in it & cast smaller baits on a calm lake. I do so every now & again when I’m fishing crappie & a specific area calls for a finesse type of fishing that I might not be able to accomplish seated. In current, chop & swell or while using heavy duty rods with heavy baits & weights it’s not something I’m willing to chance. Doing so causes me to roll my hips & shift my weight from one foot to the other. While the kayak won’t tip, it will lean enough to make it possible I lose my balance & go overboard. I also didn’t purchase the kayak for that capability. In my experience, super stable kayaks that are more suitable casting platforms are also very wide, heavy, slow on the water & are way less maneuverable. So it’s a trade off really. When purchasing this kayak I needed to really narrow down the features that were most important for me to accomplish what I set out to do on a kayak. For me that ease of transportation & land maneuver (weight), agility on the water (can it turn fast), ability to fish a myriad of different water conditions (lake, river & ocean), build quality & function (available accessories & fishability) among other things. The MD180 drive was the cherry on top. I can pedal that thing all day long with minimal fatigue. I can’t tell you in words how important that is when the fishing grounds are a few miles from harbor. If standing is a big part of what you want to do on a kayak. I’ll just say what others probably won’t. It’s not the best choice. Perhaps a Hobie Pro Angler, Native Slayer or Old Town sportsman are more your cup of tea. As for me, if that’s something I feel is necessary for a successful fishing trip I just break out my boat. I hope that answers your questions.

@@BigShticks I mainly plan on standing on it in about 4-6mph wind on rivers near highway 37. Do you think it’ll be stable enough? I also looked into the compass for the same reasons as you, just wanted to see if I can stand on it here and there.

@@erickescobedo4820 I’m a little confused. In your first sentence you say you mainly want to stand up & fish on rivers off of highway 37. Last sentence says stand here & there. Sure you can stand here & there on it. That’s absolutely not gonna be a problem. I do it to stretch my legs, take a leak, & other things. But if your thought is to stand for prolonged periods casting away in a river subject to huge tidal influxes & frequently high wind areas. I can’t say it won’t work, it will. It just won’t be like standing on paddle board. It’s going to give side to side which gives it great secondary stability when the occupants weight is centered low.I fish every creek, river & reclaimed wetlands along 37. There are a few good mornings where wind isn’t a factor but the tide will be ripping & vice versa. Occasionally I’ll just park the yak & fish from otherwise inaccessible shoreline to get my standing casts in.

westcoastsailing.net/hobie-kayak-screw-in-pad-eye/

That cap doubles as storage for the cart retention pin which allows the wheels to remain inserted through the scupper holes & not fall out when lifted off the ground.

@@BigShticks ahhhh! Makes sense! Great mod by the way!

@@pissywilly Thanks!

They’re Hobie padeye’s & can be purchased from any Hobie dealer

@@BigShticks thank you very much Good friend

True. But only if you have the beach tires. If you have the heavy duty tires it’s no problem at all.

Yup! Grew up in vallejo & American Canyon, live in the Green Valley area now.

@@BigShticks hell yeah bro! I'm from vallejo and still live here. Let's get to fishing some time broda. Rockfish maybe? Before season ends?

@@pernamore4224 Sure thing.

westcoastsailing.net/hobie-kayak-screw-in-pad-eye/

Maybe, but I believe the PVC pipe reinforced scupper holes are up to the task. Not one person that I know whom owns a Hobie (that’s quite a few) has had that issue. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but I’m going to say it’s rare compared to other kayaks without the reinforced scupper holes.

@@BigShticks Whatever floats your boat or cracks it for that matter. Those little PVC inserts aren't designed to carry weight. But, Hobie has a warranty. Good luck. Hope it doesn't happen to you. I'd rather have a better cart and not take the chance.

@@briarfox637 The PVC inserts in compass are almost 1/6 inch thick. I don’t think they’ll crack. But again, admittedly I guess it could happen. I do also have a C-Tug but that thing is such a bitch to put on alone on a slope (boat ramp) or uneven surface, let alone using it on a beach that I’m willing to take that risk. I’d rather drag my yak across the sand with no wheels. Out of curiosity, knowing that all Hobie kayak carts are scupper plug inserted & that you are seemingly so opposed to carts of that type…why’d you watch the video?

@@BigShticks I watched it because of the title. Was interested in what he was gonna say, but then it turned out as a promo for scupper carts. And by the way, 1/16, isn't that thick.

@@briarfox637 Well I appreciate you checking out the video regardless. Also, I didn’t say 1/16 I said 1/6 which is slightly less than a 1/4 inch thick. It’s pretty formidable & distributes the stress evenly making it up to the task. Make no mistake, I have experienced the scupper stress fractures you speak of on a lifetime kayak from a plug in kayak cart. But in comparing those two kayaks & their build quality there is no comparison. There is little to no movement of the cart bars in the scuppers which reduces the possibility of pinpoint pressure from an angle which is what split my previous kayak at the scupper holes.

I would say that a 35lb inflatable kayak doesn’t need one. But rather, I don’t recall if the i11s even has scuppers.

@@BigShticks Fully equipped, you need wheels. And I do have a cart; it fits into the two holes under the drive hub. The holes don't go all the way through, however.

@@Causemoi 😂 I was just giving you grief. I know Hobie wouldn’t release a kayak without products that work for it. However, I’m not very familiar with the i11s or it’s accessories & how they work. I just know it’s super light.

At the time they were $5.99 each. Now they are $9.99 each. www.calkayak.com/hobie-padeye-screw-in.html

@@BigShticks well America has some cheap stuff and nice food😁

@@pa1264 Considering the exchange rate my friend I’d say it’s about the same price. 1usd has averaged $1.30 Australian dollars. But the food here can be pretty good. It is a mixture of various influences that when combined is unlike anywhere else 😊

@@BigShticks yes that's true😁

Believe what you want. I never saw anyone else’s video of a similar mod. I placed the padeyes in facing forward because it felt right at the time. I have since done the same mod on the heavy duty cart & put the padeyes in sideways & it doesn’t make any difference.