Question for Hobie owners - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dsafety · 10-18-2010, 12:48 PM

I have always noticed this problem, even when my boat was new. I do not think it has anything to do with an adjustment or flaw in the kayak design. These boats are very light. Your path can be easily changed by any number of things such as currents, waves or the most common influence, wind.

On a typical day, the wind is trying to turn you one direction while the current is pushing you another way and the ground swells are coming from a third direction. It is not surprising that you may need to make some steering adjustments with all this going on if you want to stay on a particular heading.

Tuning the rudder will help if your the lines have become too loose causing some play. You can also change the "center point" so you staring handle points where you want it to when in the neutral position.

I have the standard rudder. It would be interesting to know if those with the sailing rudder notice the same problem.

Bob

flydigital · 10-19-2010, 11:40 AM

Yeah it drifts quite a bit on my revo ever since new. Following sea swell or chop nudges the rudder quite a bit. I like to paddle every now and then and I just move my thigh onto the handle to keep it into position. This is with sailing rudder.

805gregg · 10-19-2010, 03:47 PM

That's why you have a rudder. Get the bigger sailing rudder, it helps.

10-18-2010, 12:48 PM	#1
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	I have always noticed this problem, even when my boat was new. I do not think it has anything to do with an adjustment or flaw in the kayak design. These boats are very light. Your path can be easily changed by any number of things such as currents, waves or the most common influence, wind. On a typical day, the wind is trying to turn you one direction while the current is pushing you another way and the ground swells are coming from a third direction. It is not surprising that you may need to make some steering adjustments with all this going on if you want to stay on a particular heading. Tuning the rudder will help if your the lines have become too loose causing some play. You can also change the "center point" so you staring handle points where you want it to when in the neutral position. I have the standard rudder. It would be interesting to know if those with the sailing rudder notice the same problem. Bob Last edited by dsafety; 10-18-2010 at 07:15 PM.

10-19-2010, 11:40 AM	#2
flydigital Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 192	Yeah it drifts quite a bit on my revo ever since new. Following sea swell or chop nudges the rudder quite a bit. I like to paddle every now and then and I just move my thigh onto the handle to keep it into position. This is with sailing rudder.

10-19-2010, 03:47 PM	#3
805gregg Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ojai, Ca Posts: 43	That's why you have a rudder. Get the bigger sailing rudder, it helps.