Must-have grab handles for the Hobie Revo...

[mingle]

Hi,

After moving from my Sport to the Revo, I found it pretty much impossible to lift the yak to enable the cart to be removed/inserted.

The Sport used to have a grab-handle just behind the seat, so I thought I'd add one to the Revo. I also added one between the centre hatch and mirage drive well, to make it easier to lift the yak to insert/remove the drive (on the Sport this wasn't a problem, coz I could just use the front carry handle.)

I used 6mmx20mm s/s screws and 25mm washers, plus a few chunks of trusty nylon cutting-board inside the hull to add a bit of strength. Plus a few dabs of Selley's Glass sealant around the holes.

The front handle was a doddle to fit, since it was right next to the centre hatch. The rear grab handle (behind the seat) was trickier, as it was at the absolute extreme of my reach (someone with longer arms would have no probs!) and I just managed to get the nyloc nuts on.

But now it's done and it makes things so much easier. I highly recommend it to all Revo owners...

Here are a few pics of the handiwork:

Rear one, just behind the seat-well...

Front one between the hatch and drive-well...

Bit of extra strengthening inside the hull...

Both handles - what a difference!

Cheers,

Mike.

[flounderpounder]

great work, looks really good
cheers jake

[Barrabundy]

If you have your hands on the handles how do you get the trolley under the yak?

[kraley]

great idea. The lack of purchase on the bigger unwieldy yaks is sometimes more than a bit frustrating.

Innovative....

[Hilzy45]

Looks good Mingle, i like the way you gave the handles that extra bit of strengthening, might use that idea myself

[mingle]

Thanks guys... I guess I never realised how easy the Sport was to handle and move around. Once I got the Revo, I realised how awkward these damn lumps of plastic can be!

@BarraBundy,

I only use one handle at a time: I use the rear one to lift the back half of the yak to insert/remove the cart... I use the front one to lift the front half of the yak to insert remove the mirage drive (typically) when it's on the cart...

Cheers,

Mike.

[mingle]

@Hilzy45,

I used a couple of spare offcuts of cutting board I had lying around.

I guess I could've made them a bit tidier, but since they're out of view, it's no big deal...

That stuff is so useful: I always use some on the inside of the hull when I'm attaching things like cleats, pulleys, rod-holders, etc. to spread the load of any external forces. It does make a big difference, particularly if you need to fix something to an area of the hull that's thin/flimsy...

Cheers,

Mike.

[WayneD]

A good addition, I just used to open the hatches and lift the yak that way.

[mingle]

Oh yeah, this is where I got the handles from:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0400026843

Bloody bargain, and they came with all fastening hardware (although I did buy some beefier screws myself)

Cheers,

Mike.

[mingle]

@WayneD,

I used that technique too, but it has a couple of drawbacks:

1: When the yak is fully loaded, the inside of that rear hatch is damn sharp!
2: When the waves are crashing around (or it's raining) and there's stuff inside the hull you want to keep dry...



Mike.

[Barrabundy]

@BarraBundy,

I only use one handle at a time: I use the rear one to lift the back half of the yak to insert/remove the cart... I use the front one to lift the front half of the yak to insert remove the mirage drive (typically) when it's on the cart...

Ok, that makes sense.

[haynsie]

Great simple idea Mike. I always end up tipping something out of the yak when I'm trying to get the wheels back in. Not to mention everything inside the centre hatch moving around.

Cheers

Tim

[ausbass]

Great Idea,I use the method WayneD talks about but yes in the surf and rain it can be a pain.

[paddlefisher]

My fishing buddy has a Revo as well, and has the handle behind the seat,

He made a SS rod which fits in the MD slot and can be locked by the cams so creating a handle for cartopping the yak.


PF