Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 1/11
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 2/11 Welcome in the Hobie Way of Life Thank you for choosing a Hobie Kayak. As a member of the Hobie family, you are now on the road to pure adventure in paddling. This owner s manual is designed to help you get maximum enjoyment from your new Hobie Kayak. But more importantly, it is designed to help you use it safely. The content of this manual covers all Hobie Paddle Kayaks. We wish you the best rides! Hobie Cat Europe
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : /11 Table of content Pages Description 4 Description of your Hobie kayaks 5 Conception and production of your Hobie Kayak 6 Safety 7 Paddling 8 Safety - transport and storage 9 Warranty 10 Your distributor 11 Contact KEEP THIS MANUAL IN A SAFE PLACE AND GIVE IT TO THE NEW OWNER IF YOU SELL YOUR KAYAK
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 4/11 Description of the Hobie Odyssey Length (m) 3,51 Width (m) 0,86 Weight (kg) 27 Capacity (kg) 204 1 1 Carrying handle 2 2 Adjustable foot wells 3 5 4 6 3 Self draining system 4 Mesh pocket 5 Drink holder 7 6 Inspection port (option) 7 Adjustable high back seat 8 8 Paddle holder (double paddle in option) 7 9 Rear storage area with bungies ties down 9 1
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 5/11 About the design of your kayak The Hobie Kayaks are «sit-on-top» You are sitting on your kayak without being locked up inside. Hobie kayaks are open-top cockpit designs. This allows the kayaker to enter and exit the kayak easily from the shore, dock or water and to navigate in safe conditions. Self bailing cockpit Scupper holes make the kayak selfbailing. No longer need to empty water over-board, it is automatically evacuated! Hull decoration Graphics are molded into the kayaks, so they will not peel or flake off for the life of the boat. The Polyethylene Continuing Hobie s tradition of offering the latest in technology at an affordable price, your new kayak is made of rotomolded Polyethylene. Polyethylene offers a major advantage because it is virtually indestructible under normal use. Being somewhat flexible, it gives on impact and derives its stiffness from compound curves. Polyethylene is very abrasion-resistant and repairable. Recycling As a company responsible for the environment, Hobie Cat Europe takes into account in its production the life time of the boats. We have an environmental approach at all steps of the manufacturing process, including the recycling. The Hobie Kayaks are 100 % recyclable.
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 6/11 Safety According to the European regulation concerning the small boats, the Hobie Kona is a beach boat of less than 4 meters long and exclusively powered by human energy. The Hobie Kona is allowed to paddle up to a limit of 300 meters from the shore. Any use beyond 300 meters off the shore is strictly forbidden. The Hobie Kona can be used with one-piece or two-piece double paddles. It is strongly recommended to observe the following safety tips and in particular : Consult your physician prior to beginning paddle/pedal sports Always wear a E.C. approved personal flotation device. Dress appropriately for weather conditions, cold water and / or weather can result in hypothermia Never paddle alone, inform someone on land of your intention to go paddling Always tie a leash to your paddle Do not paddle in flood conditions Care must be made to ensure that the access hatches on your kayak remain closed while on the water. Water can enter a hatch that is left open and possibly flood the hull, making the boat unstable or cause inadequate flotation for the passengers. Be aware of appropriate river water levels, tidal changes, dangerous currents, obstacles in and above the water and weather changes. Hobie kayaks were not designed for fast moving waters. DO NOT use alcohol or mind-altering drugs prior to or while using this product. Before leaving, always check the hull, that the hatches are closed and verify your equipments.
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 7/11 Paddling To start paddling, it is recommended to have a couple of courses in club in order to find the good positions.these guidelines will help you to get started, but in any case they do not replace courses by a professional coach. To start, sit in your kayak. Your backside should be all the way back in the seat and your knees comfortably bent. To find the proper footwell, straighten your legs all the way out and then bring them back one well. If your legs are too outstretched, you may experience strain on your lower back. If your knees are bent too much, you may end up knocking your kneecaps while paddling. For proper hand placement on your paddle, start with your hands about shoulder s width apart and centered. If you place the center of the paddle on top of your head, your elbows should form slightly less than a 90 degree angle. There should be an equal amount of paddle shaft beyond each of your hands. The paddles supplied in option with your kayaks are asymmetrical : they have feathered blades which gives less surface area for the wind to catch as the blade moves forward through the air. have a flattened spot along the paddle shaft that will help keep your control hand in a fixed position. Take the paddles with you hands at the places shown by the red arrows. To learn the process, hold the paddle tight in your right hand and loose in your left. Using the right hand, rotate the paddle blade back and forth; it should spin in your left hand. Now take a stroke on your right, then cock your right wrist back (left hand staying loose and somewhat open) and take a stroke on your left. If using a left-hand control paddle, reverse the process. The left hand stays tight and the right hand loose.
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : /11 Saftey - transport & storing How to Perform a Self Rescue If you fall out of your boat, don t panic. Stay with the boat. You should be wearing a life jacket which will keep you afloat. There are many ways to get back up on the boat. If the boat is upside-down, it will need to be turned over. To do this, reach across the bottom of the boat and grab the opposite rail and pull the boat upright. Position yourself so your head is near the cockpit area of the boat and you are facing the boat, positioned between the seat and the footwell areas of the boat. Reach across the boat to the far edge with one hand. Place the other hand on the near-side rail, then kick with your feet, pulling yourself up and onto the boat, so your belly is across the center line of the boat. (Your belly should end up between the footwells and the seat.) Next, roll over onto your backside toward the seat, which should place your backside in the seat. Sit up, swing your feet into the footwells and you re ready to go. The key to this method is to keep your center of gravity low and near the centerline of the boat. Your body and head should stay close to the boat. Transport your kayak The easiest way to transport your Hobie Kayak is to purchase a roof rack for your car. To help prevent distortion, place the kayak, cockpit side down, on top of the rack. Straps can then be laid across the boat and tied to the bars. Be sure to consult the owner s manual for your car and roof rack system to ensure that you comply with all recommendations, precautions and specifications. Storing Your Hobie Kayak to ensure extra years of flexibility and bright colors, avoid storing the boat where it will be exposed to weather or in direct sunlight. Kayaks should be stored upside down on the cockpit rails.if hanging your kayak, make sure that the ropes or straps support most of the weight on the cockpit rails or the side of the boat. A word of caution: hanging by the scupper hole(s) will cause distortion, and hanging from the handles will place undue strain on them and void the warranty. Storing the boat bottom-side down may also cause distortion. Kayak storage systems are available from your distributor. Pad eyes are NOT intended for hanging or for use as tie-downs. To prevent theft of your kayak, simply run a cable through a scupper hole and lock it to something secure.
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 9/11 Limited warranty by Hobie Cat Europe This warranty applies to customers of Hobie Cat Europe. The boat is warranted to the original retail customer for one year from the date of retail purchase against defects in materials and workmanship. The spare parts are warranted for one year. The components coverage applies only to the original retail customer. The warranty is not transferable. In no case, the repairs made will extend the initial date of the warranty, except for any replacement or repaired parts. The Warranty Registration Card is required by law for use in the event of a product problem notification. The warranty is only effective if the boat is sold by an authorised Hobie Cat dealer. What is covered? Replacement parts and labour. According to the decision of Hobie Cat Europe, the dealer will make the repairs himself or through an external contractor, after presentation of an estimate and written agreement from HCE. The dealer will be then reimbursed after presentation of the invoice. The warranty covering these repairs will no longer be at HCE s charge but at the contractor s charge. What is not covered? normal wear and discoloration Transport charges to or from the dealer s shop to the client charges occurred in case of an on-the-spot repair. Damages caused by abuse or failure to perform normal maintenance (see assembly manual), by a defective or abnormal use or by a bad storage. Discoloration, blistering or grazing of gelcoat caused by boat being moored or stored in salt or fresh water. The boat is not covered under warranty if the boats are hired or placed in commercial service. Hobie Cat Europe is not responsible for boat damage as a result of adding additional blocks to the original manufacturer s sheeting arrangement. Any other expenses: CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, OR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. How to obtain warranty performance within 30 days of discovering the defect: Bring your boat to the nearest authorised Hobie Cat Europe dealer (a list of the dealers is available at HCE). Be sure to take proof of date of retail purchase (invoice). All payments for in-warranty expenses shall be made by Hobie Cat Europe to the Hobie Cat Europe dealer and not to the customer. Implied warranties: IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SHALL BE NO LONGER THAN THE DURATION OF THIS EXPRESS WARRANTY. Hobie Cat Europe makes no express warranties in addition to this limited warranty. Hobie Cat Europe s dealers have no authority to make any warranties on behalf of Hobie Cat Europe in addition to or inconsistent with those stated herein. To the extent any provision of this warranty is prohibited by federal, state, or municipal law and cannot be pre-empted, it shall not be applicable. HOW IT WORKS? It is essential that for each sold boat, the warranty card be completely filled in, signed by the dealer and the customer, and that the copy for Hobie Cat Europe be returned to the factory within 8 days of boat delivery. For all claims the warranty department must be contacted. The final decision regarding warranty claims lies with this service. SPECIAL NOTES: All warranty transactions will be handled through the claiming dealership and not directly with the customer. Hobie Cat dealers are responsible for proper diagnosis and completion of all warranty claims. If in doubts about warranty coverage of a particular problem, contact the Warranty department first. Warranty work may be carried out by an authorised dealer other than the original seller of the boat, however for all warranty requests it is mandatory to fax or mail a copy of the completely filled out warranty card which must have been registered immediately following delivery to the customer. As warranty work is registered following the information of the warranty card, it is mandatory that the card be filled out in detail in all the boxes. Failure to cite a hull, sail, or serial numbers on the warranty will make claims impossible to process.
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 10/11 Hobie Cat Europe distributor Distributor s stamp Your dealer is our representative and will bring you all necessary assistance in order to solve problems you may encounter. As soon as you become owner, please date and sign this receipt (below) and give it to your dealer to be covered by our warranty. Please carefully read the warranty conditions written in this manual. Please carefully and thoughroughly read this manual. Keep it in a safe place Give it to the new owner if you resell your kayak.
Ref : MP_KONA Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : 11/11 HOBIE CAT EUROPE ZI Toulon Est, BP 250, 83078 Toulon cedex 9, France Tel +33 (0)494 08 78 78 - Fax +33 (0)494 08 13 99 E-mail : info@hobie-cat.net - site web www.hobie-cat.net Copyright HCE 2012