2020 HOBIE COMPASS step by step INSTALL & MOD’s! Why I DITCHED the Pelican Catch 110HDii explained..

[@allenuconn]

Thank you so much for making this video! I will absolutely do the upgrades myself! I would not have considered it until I saw how you installed them. Awesome!!!

[@BigShticks]

Thank you! It’s intimidating for sure. Just take your time & don’t rush it. It get less scary with each mod. Before you know it, you’ll be more confident of your abilities to do it.

[@Saltloony]

I should have done my own mods. The dealership was offering free installs with parts purchase and I let them. The holes they made for the thru hull fitting for fish finder were uneven and larger than they supposed be, I had to slap goop all around it to cover the gaps. Sometimes it best to do your own mods. Great video subbed 👍

[@BigShticks]

As the saying goes...There is no such thing as free! Thanks for the support.

[@JohnnyCab]

Nice setup, I just bought the Hobie compass duo and did the same with the rectangular and round hatch. I also put the nine inch h rail on and put the thirty six inch ones on the sides also . Better for holding on and picking up to move it. Now I have a lot more places to add h rail accessories. Now I'm starting t install my new Lowrance Elite. And these seats are very comfortable to sit in all day and fish.

[@BigShticks]

Couldn’t agree with you more!

[@rogertrace4105]

I guess it is kinda off topic but do anyone know a good site to watch newly released movies online ?

[@cainjad9434]

@Roger Trace flixportal :P

[@rogertrace4105]

@Cain Jad Thanks, I signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I appreciate it!

[@cainjad9434]

@Roger Trace No problem :)

[@J.WannaFish]

I agree as much as hobies cost, it should be near perfect. I've heard of people's 180 & 360 drives going out on them. Bent fin rods and all. Oddly, i still want a compass too

[@BigShticks]

Thankfully this comes with the kick up fins & that reduces the likelihood of getting a bent fin rod. As far as the drive itself, I heard stories here & there of issues with some of drives. My take on it is this, we’ll hear far more about those issues from those dissatisfied whom traffic in amplified negativity through every available platform afforded them, than we will from those whom are completely satisfied. There is a reason there are so many Hobie “fanboys”. Despite there being no 1 perfect kayak (they all have at least 1 thing we’ll take issue with individually) most folks agree that Hobie is in a class by itself. I love my compass so far & I’ve only taken it out once for 2 hours. Night & day from any kayak I’ve ever had previous. Thanks for stopping by!

[@blopez468th]

Great video, thx! Have the exact boat but went with the vertical rectangle hatch. Am 5'9" and have no issues with strap length for the seat. It is lighter than my old Revo 13 but the Revo was better balanced and made lifting easier for cartopping. The compass is lighter but seems nose heavy when lifting above your head - even with handles installed on the inside of the seat mounts. Good boat so far. Thx again!

[@BigShticks]

Capt Adobo Thanks for stopping by & commenting. I trust your assessment of the compass vs. the revo meant the dry weight being equally distributed. I can agree with that. It does seem slightly nose heavy for sure. I did receive replacement straps which are at least 12 inches longer overall so I’m good to go in that regard. When you say vertical hatch I assume it’s mounted lengthwise opens from seat towards the drive. I never even knew that one existed 😂. My only issue since was loading the yak without severely damaging the rudder. I’ve since purchased the compass loader which has remedied the issue.

[@slc12312]

2 years on your video, I was wondering if you are still rockin' the Compass. I'm struggling between the "perfect world" and "reality" wanting an Outback simply because it is so well thought out. The reality is I might go fishing once a week at the most, although I would love to go more often if I had someone to fish with. With a roughly $900 price difference between a Compass and an Outback, I'm leaning towards the Compass and adding the mods I feel I need, similar to what you have done. Seems to me to be a nice simple modifiable kayak if one wanted to gear it towards fishing, or just leave it alone for recreation. I was kind of bummed to see the difference in hull thickness though. I don't think Hobie will ever include the upgrades, however for the price of these things, they should. But hey, if people are going to buy upgrades from Hobie as an after market item, I can see why they don't.

[@BigShticks]

Yes I’m still rocking with the compass (I have lynx now too) & haven’t given it a second thought. With either the compass or the outback it comes down to weight for me. They are both very seaworthy kayaks. Nobody will bat an eye that you’re in a compass. When you consider the mods or accessories you’ll add to either kayak it’s all relative. I’ve probably got about $600 in mine (fish finder, nocqua battery, crate, Hobie cart, deep storage bucket, hatch, h-rail & numerous rod holders). TBH you’ll still end up spending on most of those items anyways with an outback just to get started too. But remember, the more you put on it, the more gear you have, the more it weighs. So I try to minimize gear so it doesn’t take me 45mins to an hour to get on the water. Not to mention breaking it all down for the trip home. I literally unload onto the cart, connect my battery & FF, plug in my rod holders & add my 2 poles & tackle then shove off. Sometimes I’ve been fishing almost an hour before my friends make it out to the fishing grounds. It’s all about speed & efficiency for me. But the best part is, when back at wherever we launched my kayak weighing a solid 40lbs less than an outback or 80lbs less than a PA, I have noooo problem making it up the ramp or up the beach while my friends are struggling, stopping to catch their breath & begging for help. If I didn’t fish the ocean or SF bay I would have no problem getting the passport instead. It’s all about getting the right kayak for what you want to accomplish.

[@smokeyvision217]

Everybody moves that hatch and installs the rectangular one. They should just make em like that. I just bought one too. A little annoyed at all the little changes I have to make but should be fun 💪🏼

[@BigShticks]

So true!

[@Robonza]

I think the rectangular hatch is ridiculously heavy. The key to the compass is the light weight so I opted to improve my space without adding weight

[@Cyfi71]

Great vid, my friend! Got my Compass in July. The seat is no problem for me, but my daughter didn't like it either. The one thing I've noticed is you have got to be careful loading to not bend up the rudder. Been a fun yak so far. The hatch upgrade will probably be next!😎

[@BigShticks]

cy fels Thank you! Hobie just sent me the correct seat straps on a warranty claim. So now I’m good to go. As for loading & unloading, do yourself a favor & get a compass loader. It’s a cheap ($30) & effective fix to the design flaw of the compass. Without it, you WILL break the rudder. To remedy the issue for the 2020 compass Hobie made an attachable footing. It’s similar to the one made for the outback but this one is specifically for the compass. Thanks for stopping in & commenting!

[@Cyfi71]

Big Shticks Yeah, I'm still waiting for my loader and the side pockets, accessories have been hard to come by. Been loading stern first at the water

[@BigShticks]

cy fels I couldn’t agree more. I’ve gotten kind of lucky though. I ordered the map pockets on eBay but realized they were without frames after the fact. Told the seller I didn’t want them if they didn’t come with frames & they threw in some frames they had laying around. Got the rectangle storage bucket from a local kayak dealer whom happened to have one laying around when I called. The loader is a funny story. I emailed the seller of my kayak about the straps & in an additional email I inquired about the loader. When they called & told me all they had was straps the same length as mine & they’d like to make it right by doing a warranty claim, someone in the background says “if that’s the guy asking about compass straps, tell him I have a loader we used for a demo video”. “He can have it for $20 bucks but he has to buy it now over the phone & pick it up today”. I said...Done & Done! I do see however that a few retailers still have them in stock if your interested.

[@Cyfi71]

Big Shticks Yea, I got a call in to the dealer to see if he's got the loader in. They were advertising them and then all of a sudden they disappeared. Ditto for the side pockets. Luckily I still have my old cart that works just fine. My kayak buddy in Arizona with the mirage sport got me started on this Hobie obsession so I'm blaming it all on him!😎

[@BigShticks]

cy fels 😂 it seems it’s never ending once it starts! I feel like I’m just going along for the ride.

[@gareygriffith]

Nice set up brother. Been debating on this same kayak. I love the yellow color but the camo looks awesome and the kick up fins are a Definitely a must. I was also looking at the wilderness recon 120hd. Still comparing them to see what one I want. Looks amazing though. Good work man.

[@BigShticks]

Thanks for stopping by giving it look over. I’m sure whichever yak you end up with you’ll be super stoked about it.

[@sunnybhai1904]

Kudos to my pops for encouraging me to find solutions for all of his home renovation mishaps😇

[@BigShticks]

Lol 😂 me too!

[@tanislocke6103]

I have the same kayak and the straps easily adjusted without making the mod for me. I am 6'2" also the ship them now with the camo pads as an extra because of many people having the same reaction

[@BigShticks]

My retailer ended up doing a warranty claim & Hobie sent me new straps in 3 days. Turns out they shipped a bunch of compass seats out with incorrect straps.

[@obwith2.332]

Thanks for sharing. When you are ready to take her out, let me know; I like to join the adventure. I have just gotten a 2020 Outback and I agree that the quality of the material is a bit less rigid than the old Lifetime paddle kayak I still have and the 180 Turbo Fin with kickup has some defect. The seams of the rubber coating on the fin split and cracked on one of the fins; it has been a week already since the dealer has filed a claim with Hobie and I still have not heard anything. Please check your fins on the drive.

[@BigShticks]

Thanks for watching & commenting! I’ll definitely hit you up when I have some time to go out. As for the rigidity of the hull, I must say I was pretty disappointed to say the least. But I have to imagine that for kayak to be it’s weight it’s gonna be sacrificed somewhere. I just wasn’t expecting it’s hull thickness to not be uniform. Thanks for the tip on the fins! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on that for sure. I hope that your fin issue is a one off & gets resolved soon. I would think the vendor would just shoot you some while they work on their end to resolve the claim with Hobie. There doesn’t appear to be any shortage of them around so I can’t see there being a drawn out resolution. But good luck getting an answer soon.

[@BigShticks]

Jason Wei BTW where do you fish out of so I have better idea of when to contact you?

[@obwith2.332]

@@BigShticks I am from Fremont and usually go out as far as an hour and a half; once in a while, I hit Clear lake. Please let me know at least 3 days in advance so that I can request for time off from work. Thanks. The last 4 places I went were HMB, Bolinas, Santa Cruz Harbor and Monterey Bay.

[@obwith2.332]

@@BigShticks Are you planning on going to the Ocean Cove event coming up on the 18th-20th? Thanks 😊.

[@BigShticks]

Jason Wei I don’t even know about that event. Is that a NCKA event?

[@georgefitzhugh6455]

Your right and not trippin. What did shop say from where you bought it? Is Hobie going to replace that strap?

[@BigShticks]

They put in a warranty claim with Hobie. I received the correct straps 3 days later.

[@jimstrickler8959]

You might want to replace the lower screws for the right map pocket with bolts and nuts. Top 2 screws are ok. If you reach your hand inside there you find that the cord to raise and lower the rudder will be rubbing on the screws. I did it to my Compass.

[@BigShticks]

Out of an abundance of caution I went out & checked those screws. Fortunately, my screws don’t protrude through the hull. I can feel a slight a bump, but nothing sharp or rigid. My question to you now is: wouldn’t a cord rubbing on a nut still create the same undesired friction?

[@jimstrickler8959]

@@BigShticks Not really. The sheet metal style screws that came with the map pocket have a pointed tip and more aggressive thread. The nut is a smoother more polished surface

[@CALIBEAR]

Nice upgrade! Hobies are great...but I prefer the Old Town autopilot. Everyone and their mom has a hobie. Still can't wait to see you pull in a 20# salmon.

[@BigShticks]

Cali Bear Not everyone & their mama has a Hobie, they are so cost prohibitive. But in the end, they are the most reliable & proven kayaks on the ocean. Which is why I went with it. Thanks for the words of encouragement & stopping by once again!

[@sunnybhai1904]

Just got my new compasses today. The hole for the fish finder transducer wire used to have that little well where you could drill into. The new compass does not have that little area to drill next to the scupper. You actually have to drill into the wall behind the seat 🤨 it’s just a flat area with a scupper hole.

[@BigShticks]

🤔 I’ll have to check out the new compass. It’s hull design has largely remained unchanged until now it seems. Pretty interesting tidbit!

[@totalnoobfishing1753]

Just got into yak fishing and checking that on the water footage... damn you got ballz of steel.

[@BigShticks]

I’ve done many things in this life that could have cost me my life. But each experience has brought immeasurable learning opportunities with profound effect. I won’t lie though, each has scared the SHI# out of me 😂 in the process!

[@FishandShipsOfficial]

Mods look good, ive been looking at some more to breathe new life into my 2019 compass. Why did you need the seat to go back so far? Im 5’8” and have never maxed it out

[@BigShticks]

It wasn’t a matter of going back so far. I received a seat with straps that were about 15 inches to short & wouldn’t even allow for the seat back to come upright. Hobie sent me new straps at a later date.

[@FishandShipsOfficial]

@@BigShticks oh wow!! That doesnt sounds like a fun time at all! Good thinking on the fix in the mean time!

[@hanoitripper1809]

14:30 not good to see! Hope the bottom and sides is solid all around. Is it worth putting any sealant under the square & circle hatch when putting them in?

[@BigShticks]

Yeah I was pretty perturbed by the discrepancy in thickness myself. But I guess it’s how the compass is so much lighter than an outback. As for sealant, I’m not sure it would be any good. The hatches are sandwiched between two foam gaskets, so I don’t see it bringing much benefit to the party.

[@jimmyinthaphanh2993]

Had the same kayak. I made the mistake by modding the Compass so much that I could’ve just bought an Outback 😂. So I sold the Compass and bought a 2020 Outback.

[@BigShticks]

Jimmy Inthaphanh I can totally see how that’s possible. But that’s not the case here. I spent $2.2k on this yak & an additional $220 on the mods. That’s about $600-700 less than the outback. But I can see where you lose that savings if you have a dealer do the installs. However, for me the biggest factor was weight. The outbacks extra 23lbs is significant in my mind. Helping my cousin move his around showed me the struggles of moving an outback alone, particularly loaded down with gear.

[@jimmyinthaphanh2993]

Big Shticks yea it’s a good boat. You can definitely feel the extra weight from the Outback. Only reason why I upgraded to the Outback was the seat for the Compass gave me back pains after sitting for 5-6hrs on the water and I wanted more of the bells and whistles the Outback offered.

[@BigShticks]

Jimmy Inthaphanh There is nothing worse than not being comfortable in small spaces, so your decision to move on is wholly justifiable. The outback offers unrivaled “bells & whistles” with so many options that work with every feature. It is the cream de la creme of kayaks made specifically for fishing.

[@ETuss713]

You could pull the map pocket out of the rectangular hatch lid. Same pocket.the hatch pocket is pretty useless to me. The hatch is too unless you buy a bucket. Burley pro makes a great substitute for the Hobie brand bucket and map pockets.

[@BigShticks]

All good points! I never even considered removing the map pocket from the lid. I do use it though to store various items. When I didn’t have the bucket I still stowed my water pump & a dry bag in the space under the seat. Now that I do have a bucket I store just about everything I can fit in it, on the water & off.

[@gregoryrappaport9180]

Are you concerned at all by the uneven flooring around your rectangular hatch? Will it support standing?

[@BigShticks]

No, once I put in the rectangle hatch the deck is completely solid. I feel more stable standing in it now then when the round hatch was there.

[@rickfreeda5845]

Nice job I have the same boat with rails good video 👍

[@BigShticks]

Thanks! It was quite an unnerving task cutting into a $2.7k kayak to say the least 😂

[@carlostiburcio316]

Great videos you be making 👍 when will you be out on the Napa river ? Seeing your videos made me buy a kayak and try my luck out on the River appreciate the advice, tips and in your videos , tight lines 🎣

[@BigShticks]

Carlos Tiburcio I’m hoping to get out tomorrow or Tuesday for a 2 hour session. Thanks for watching & glad I had some small part in bringing someone new into the sport of kayak fishing.

[@harleyharrison9180]

I sold my pelican catch130 hdii for the same reason I fish from rockaway beach Pacifica. I went for a stealth fusion 480. The catch pedal kayaks are good for most things but definitely not for the ocean.

[@BigShticks]

It was just too slow, not very agile & difficult to maneuver in wind & current. Plus, it didn’t feel like a premium kayak, more like a cheap imposter. As soon as I realized the gear tracks couldn’t stand up to the gear I required to use for ocean salmon I got rid of it for something that could.

[@BigShticks]

I forgot to mention you got the MooMoo mobile 😂

[@lancevoorhees7318]

Im on my second compass, I also lengthened the two seat connections on the sides! I love the simplicity of the compass and lighter weight! My son has my first compass! It is great for fishing hands free most of the time! It can glide up to fish on beds, with no motor noise! I’ve gone to areas where big bass boats leave noisily, then catch fish! I love it for shallow water! Good video, good luck fishing!

[@BigShticks]

I to love the compass. It’s a good kayak. I love how light it is compared to the outback & I won’t even talk about the PA 😂

[@hanslenders]

Really enjoyed your video! How does the Compas handle the ocean conditions and swells up to 5 foot (any higher and I don't go out)? I am in doubt between a Compass and Outback for the fishing here in Panama (country).

[@BigShticks]

The compass can handle swells with the best of kayaks. Really it has everything to do with the period between swells. For instance, a 5ft swell every 10 seconds is relatively mild ocean conditions. If the frequency is every 5 seconds at 5ft then it’s gonna be a rough day. It also helps if you keep your head inside of the kayak if you lean out in the same direction of the waves energy you will tip. Honestly though, being out in the ocean & swell isn’t what really worries me. Surf launching & landing is my biggest issue.

[@hanslenders]

@@BigShticks Thanks!

[@hunterrwilson]

Got the same kayak with the same mods. Have you had any issues with that front hatch leaking?

[@BigShticks]

Hunter Wilson I water tested it the next day & had a little water enter. I subsequently put a good bead of silicone around the hatch & it’s been good to go since.

[@scorpiontube712]

What up bro our kayak looks totally like a twin haha. I got my kayak less than a year and did a few change also. In a couple of week imma add outrigger on my kayak. Nice video always Tight Line🎣👊🏽

[@BigShticks]

scorpiontube712 Thanks for checking it out! I see you out there slayin’ them rockies. We should connect sometime.

[@j.rdirtyfivethirty1673]

I now have Kayak envy 👍🐟✌

[@BigShticks]

Skamper Camper 😂 been there, done that

[@nicgreenisen1399]

Don't be afraid to add some epoxy to your screw holes to increase your water-proofing.

[@BigShticks]

Epoxy makes it sound like forever 😂. I did a few dabs of silicone for good measure. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@stephentalbot3256]

You got that right good money should be perfect

[@Shokenryu]

The price just right and it's perfect for me .

[@BigShticks]

I feel exactly the same way! The weight was another component in my decision.

[@Shokenryu]

The wieght was my main component. Plus, I do not need to worry about waves crashing into the front well like the outback does.

[@timleng4404]

Make sure you mod the eyelid hooks where the seat strap goes to. I’ve striped the thread my the 3rd time out.

[@BigShticks]

Are you talking about the screw in padeyes? What’s the mod?

[@timleng4404]

@@BigShticks yes, the padeyes thread will strip if you lean hard on the seat. The padeye is hollow on the inside. Since you have not stripped yours I would fill it with an epoxy. I hope that make sense.

[@BigShticks]

@@timleng4404 What does filling the inside of the padeye with epoxy do for the threads on the outside?

[@timleng4404]

I THINK it will help to support the thread to not give in. I am going on a different path by cutting the hook out and go with the stainless steel ring bolt on. Look up some of the videos.

[@BigShticks]

@@timleng4404 Maybe this is a silly question, but why didn’t you warranty it? Also, I watched the video where the guy cuts off the eyelet of the padeye & drills a hole to put in a metal eye bolt. I believe his problem was the padeye broke on him & not that the thread stripped. Not to be downer but I don’t see how this will solve your problem unless you plan to drill into the kayak & nut, washer, washer, bolt, sandwiching the kayak hull in between.

[@NorCalFishermen]

upgrade!!!!!! lol!!! that pelican was dope!!

[@BigShticks]

It was, but it wasn’t suited for the style of fishing I’m setting out to accomplish.

[@thesmokinsalmon]

Take that thing to the deep water channel in sac. Around October and u will for sure get into a big red salmon

[@BigShticks]

The Smokin’ Salmon Oh yes my friend I am planning on it!

[@bradencap8388]

What mount is this for the garmin striker 4

[@BigShticks]

It’s ram mount with 1 inch ball

[@ormonddude]

You want to put Sealant around that hatch before securing it

[@BigShticks]

It sounds good in theory. I’m sure it would provide additional water tightness. But it’s difficult to accomplish when using the foam gaskets that go on both sides of the deck before inserting the hatch. Plus, Hobie didn’t see fit to apply any to the exist factory installed hatch.

[@HookAh-snookfishing]

I think it's good.....

[@akoonko]

Great vid, subscribed. I just bought the exact same yak and my pedals look different (thinner foam w/black grip pads) and my seat straps reached. No shade to Kayak City, but that's interesting...

[@BigShticks]

Alice Koonko I appreciate the support! Thanks for stopping by & commenting. Im going to go out on a limb & say that because they are the largest online kayak retailer coupled with them also having the largest inventory in the country that somehow they got confused & attached the wrong straps to my seat. I contacted Hobie & they said to contact Kayak City & have them send me the correct straps. Interesting that yours didn’t come with the camo colored foot grips. Is yours a 2020? As long as it performs the same would be my take. But if I was a stickler about appearances I’d definitely bring it up. Either way I’m hoping you are enjoying your new kayak as much as I am! It’s a huge difference from every kayak I’ve ever owned.

[@akoonko]

@@BigShticks yeah 2020, just got it maybe two weeks ago from my local, smaller dealer, WindToys in Santa Rosa. I'm sure it performs the same, just got me wondering if maybe I somehow got the different one lol. Just aesthetics either way. It's a great boat! You got me thinking about this small H-rails, I always think I thought all the mods out, then I see something else I want LOL.

[@BigShticks]

Alice Koonko It’s never ending 😂. I almost ordered from WindToys but I was skeptical it was a malicious site. I’m scared of .net sites.

[@NorCalFishermen]

semper fi my cousin served over seas in 2008

[@BigShticks]

Ooh rah! We all have to serve overseas my friend. It’s their way of breaking us from the idea of being close to home. So we get used to the idea that we could be pulled away from everything we hold dear at a moment’s notice. To get used to putting everything on hold & put the Corp’s & Country first, because without it, our families & our way of life ceases to exist. Give your cousin my best!

[@NorCalFishermen]

Will do sir he took an ied drivin a mrap after 2 weeks of deployment and lost his leg..best dude/angler i know he in 1 of my bass vids..great humor we do drinking games with his artificial more of a man than ill ever be and a hell of a father too!! Thankyou for your service brotha glad to see ur in the yak game now go get some ocean chrome!!!

[@BigShticks]

Nor Cal Fishermen Right on man!

[@jeffdavenport4939]

I use a Deeper Sonar.. no wires or drilling.. and using old android tablet to view 9" screen

[@BigShticks]

Interesting 🤔, your not worried about water getting in the tablet

[@jeffdavenport4939]

@@BigShticks Got a water proof case..keep it under the seat otherwise I set it on top of the hatch hole between my legs also can pass it to the front passenger so they can view it too

[@BigShticks]

@@jeffdavenport4939 OMG I can’t believe the waterproof case never crossed my mind as an option 😂. Hey sometimes the best solutions come through reuse of our seemingly outdated things we supposedly have no more use for.

[@HookAh-snookfishing]

Alitl trippy maby

[@damianwestcott8885]

Take your chair back bro have the same yak straps on my chair are long as..

[@BigShticks]

Damian Westcott Yeah I emailed Hobie, they said to contact kayak city & they can send new straps. Problem is they are only open Wednesday thru Friday 11-5 due to CoVid & I work every Wed-Fri in the hospital. There’s no answering machine so I can’t leave a message. But I plan to get it addressed because it’s just unacceptable

[@damianwestcott8885]

What anchor system are u using..?

[@BigShticks]

Damian Westcott Right now I’m going to use an 8lb mushroom, 80ft of line with a pot float & loop on the end that goes on a quick release line that’s affixed to the rear of the kayak & runs to a clam cleat by my side.

[@damianwestcott8885]

I noticed on your old kayak u had a winding system next tour seat

[@BigShticks]

Damian Westcott That’s a downrigger bro