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2015 Hobie Outback Fishfinder Install

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Fishfinder Install on 2015 Hobie Outback by Joe Hosler

I recently bought the 2015 Hobie Outback from Delaware Paddlesports in Lewes, Delaware and needed to install a fish finder. Hobie made the install fairly simple. I decided to go with the Lowrance Elite-4 HDI unit because Hobie kayaks come Lowrance ready. They have a transducer mount located on the bottom of the kayak which allows the transducer to actually be exposed to the water. It has a cover the protects the transducer and holds the transducer

in place.

First I removed the plate and installed the transducer with the supplied hardware which comes in the owners pack from Hobie.

Then I pushed the transducer wire through the bottom of the scupper hole, which is covered by the plate itself, and screwed the plate back down.

Flip the kayak over, open the center hatch. You will have to remove the two foam blocks that in front of the pre installed wire grommet. Remove the nut from the bottom of the grommet and pull the grommet out from the top. Hobie supplies wire inserts with the kayak that fit the grommet. Match the inset to the right size wire on the transducer. Fed the wire through the top of the hole in to the hull of the kayak. Slide the rubber washer then the grommet nut on to the wire. Push the rubber washer through the hole so its on the deck of the kayak and install grommet back through top of the kayak. Reinstall the nut on to the grommet.

Next choose a location for the fishfinder. Inside the right and left hand mesh side pockets you'll find another grommet. 

Remove the grommet from whichever side you choose to have your fish finder located. Slide the nut then rubber washer from the grommet on to the transducer wire then fed it through the bottom of the hole. Next you want to feed the power cable through the top side of the hole and through the washer and grommet. (You will need to add extra wire to the power cable because what is supplied is nowhere near long enough. It comes with a in- line fuse which you want to install also. I heat shrink all my connections so they won't corrode from the saltwater) I use a stretched out metal clothes hanger to fish the wire to the back of the kayak.

Attach the wire insert to the wires and install into the grommet. Tighten down the nut. (Be sure to leave enough wire to connect to your fish finder) Reinstall foam blockes that were removed to install wires.

Install mount for your fish finder and you're done. 

Makes for a clean install having the holes and grommets already installed by Hobie!