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manual abstract
This owner’s manual is designed to help you get maximum enjoyment from your new Hobie kayak. But more important, it is designed to help you use it safely. The content of this manual covers all inflatable Mirage kayaks. 1 About the Design of your Kayak Hobie Mirage i14t w/ Sail Sit-on-top Cockpit Hobie Mirage kayaks are open-top cockpit designs. This allows the kayaker to enter and exit the kayak easily from the shore, dock or water. Scupper hole(s) make the kayak self-bailing. The design also eliminates the need to perform an “Eskimo roll” (advanced kayak technique). Scupper Hole(s) Drain holes (scuppers) in the cockpit or cargo well will allow any water that enters the cockpit to immediately flow back out. Patented Inflatable Hull Design The Hobie Mirage Inflatable line of kayaks uses a patent pending drop stitch construction to give performance that is comparable to a hard shell kayak. The black material along the bottom is stretched tightly to give you a fair hull shape for maximum performance. It is important to know that the bottom surface creates a bilge area inside the kayak that can collect water if punctured, but the kayak will not sink. See the draining instructions later in this manual. Maneuverability All Inflatable Mirage Kayaks come with the (patented) Twist and Stow rudder system which comes pre-installed by our factory. This new rudder is designed to flip out of the way during land transport. It has an optional larger rudder blade for more turning authority with the kayak sailing option. Durable PVC Construction Hobie Inflatable kayaks are made from a durable PVC to continue Hobie’s tradition of quality, long-lasting products that will give you years of enjoyment. 2 Inflating Your Hobie Mirage Kayak Follow the instructions below for valve operation and correct inflation and deflation procedures. Valve Operation Your kayak is equipped with three different chambers that need to be inflated. All of the valves are located near the rear of the boat. There is one valve on each of the tube sides and one valve on the floor. To close off the valve for inflation, make sure that the center valve pin is in the "up" position. If it is in the "down" position, press down on the valve pin and turn it counterclockwise until it pops up. To open the valve for deflation, press down on the valve pin and turn it clockwise so it locks down. Be careful of any sand or debris around the valve area when deflating as small particles could become airborne with the release of air pressure! Always lock the valve cover over the valve stem when in use. This will prevent accidental air release and entrance of any particles into the air chambers. Kayak Inflation Steps 1. Make sure that all of the valves are in the closed position (valve pin up) so they hold the air inside the tubes. 2. Open up the forward hatch on the firewall. 3. Press the pump nozzle into the valve receptacle. 4. Start pumping air into the kayak chamber by sliding the pump piston in and out. Start by inflating the floor first, then the tube sides. If you can pick up one end of the kayak with the other end on the ground and the kayak does not buckle, the floor is properly inflated. The tube sides should be inflated until all wrinkles are smoothed out of the exterior surfaces. Tip: If the pump piston starts to squeak, apply some spray silicone on the piston shaft. Hold pump here 3 Kayak Deflation Steps 1. Open up the forward hatch on the firewall. 2. Clear any water or debris out of the valve areas. 3. Slowly press down on the valve stem to start letting air out of the kayak. There will be an initial burst of air, but that will slow down very quickly. Once the air flow has slowed down, press the valve stem all the way down and turn it clockwise to lock it into the "open" position. 4. Follow this same procedure with all of the chambers. Inflation Tips and Precautions · The boat can be inflated either with our hand pump or an electric pump. The electric pump can inflate the boat to a moderate pressure and save a lot of time with about 90% of the required air volume. You will need to use your hand pump to inflate the chambers to the correct pressure. · Do not use an air compressor. Damage to your boat caused by over inflation from an air compressor is not covered by your warranty. · After 2 or 3 days there may be a small decrease of pressure due to temperature change. If so, add a few pumps of air to each chamber. · Before undertaking a long trip, inflate the boat for a full 24 hours to be sure all chambers are completely airtight. If you are seeing a consistent decrease in air pressure, follow the instructions for leak detection in the kayak repair section of this manual. · Do not over-inflate the kayak. A pressure of 3-5 PSI is adequate if you have a pressure gauge. The easiest gauge of a good working pressure is to have the chambers inflated to a firm pressure when you press on them. · Do not pump to a high pressure and let the kayak sit out in the sun. If th...