Water in the yak
 

I have a Hobie Sport and everytime I go out, I get water inside. I'm out in the water for about 6-8 hours. I guess it's less than a half gallon. It doesn't make that much difference in weight when I load it up on my truck. I've checked were the drive goes and the bottom of the yak. I can't see anything. Has anybody had this problem with a Hobie? Thanks.

Yes. Check where the control lines enter the rear of the yak. Also, make sure that the inside end of the control line tube is maintained above the waterline. You may also want to check the rubber seal area where the tube enters the outside surface at the aft end of the yak. Last point, if your yak is less than 2 years old it may still be covered under a mfg warranty so check it out and if so, take it to your dealer for further inspection. He's probably done more than one inspection regarding this issue.

I would also try putting your kayak on some saw horses and filling it with water to see if it's leaking. Small cracks can form in the scupper holes where you can't see them.

Hey Anthony, my Sport only makes water when is real choppy or I got 60lb WSB in the trunk and less than a half gallon. best thing to do is fill it with water & see for leaks or do what the Red Sled Team recommends.

Check your drive well one more time......
Just below the cam knobs where the pins sit (if its pre click and go) for a tiny crack that opens up while pedaling. Found this twice before and its sometimes hard to see....

Good Topic Tony...:)

Como esta el famoso senor pescador? Come esta la pesca?
a pescado yellowtail or hollywoods?

Yeah...I'd like to see a pic of that 60 lb. WSB.

Check the rudder lines first. That is likely your issue.

If not, the water test is the next step.

However, some mirage drive cracks won't leak unless the yak is under a pedaling load so just filling it up with water may not replicate the leak.

Yeah..! ask are friend Chris Lewis " not under" 60lbs :wsb:for your records...

Another thing to look for is leaking at the hatches. I don't have a Hobie but my Tarpon 160 takes on anywhere from a couple of drops to 3/4 gallon when I am out all day. The rougher it is the more leakage. I was watching a video I accidently made while the camera was aimed at the main hatch. I was paddling hard through the swells and could see the water would come over the top of the hatch, then the flexing of the hull would "oil can" and actually suck the water in from around the hatch.

This explains why I don't have much leakage when it is flat out. When the hull doesn't flex, it doesn't suck water in, even if there is water collecting around the hatch.

Lumpy weather will cause some water to enter through the rudder cables.

Place a Home Depot grout sponge in the hull to collect the water, and carry a bilge pump until you get this sorted out.

when people say "less than a gallon" I always suspect seepage at some point. A big enough guy in the Sport will likely have some seepage in the rudder cable entry points.

60lb WSB
 

Maybe one day I'll go to LJ and when you catch that 60lb WSB, we can put it on my yak just to see how much water I take in. Oh, and I'll take the credit for catching it.:D

I think my yak is more than 2 years old. So I'll just have to inspect it again. I want to thank everybody for the response.

A little water is ok, not 3gls.