yakass

One of the most commonly asked questions asked of kayaking accessories is 'which wheelcart should I get?' Recently I've become aware of how much uncertainty there is about what's available, which when I think about it, is hardly surprising. Its a perfectly good question given how many different models are available - especially when one considers that there have been numerous updates to some of the more popular styles. This article is intended to clear up some of the confusion and take out the guess work of selecting the right cart for your hull. Throughout the article there are numerous mentions of hull shape designs and a great reference for further information on hull shapes can be found here at Topkayaker.net

There's a reason that there are various models to choose from and as usual its all about horses for courses. Some wheelcarts are better for certain applications than others - it all depends on the kayak hull shape and design as well as the usage scenario, ie: where the kayak is being used and carted and how much weight it is carrying. Its also worth being aware that there are basically two types of carts available - plug in carts that are inserted into scupper holes, or sit-on carts, which are strapped onto the hull. The latter are typically more likely to fit a wider range of hull types (kayaks and canoes) and are the only solution for boats that don't have scuppers that can be used for a plug in cart. Lets examine these first.

One of the least expensive and most commonly copied sit-on kayak cart is this folding design, which can typically be found for just over AUD$100. They fold flat when not in use and incorporate a short folding support leg, which allows the cart to self stand. This makes it fairly easy to lift the kayak hull onto the cart, which is then strapped into place. It's fairly rudamentary and generally works reasonably well, but because of the shape of the cart frame where the hull rests on (which has foam padding for protection), it only works well with kayaks or canoes with a soft chine or rounded bottom hull. It does not suit V-shaped hard chine hulls, or Californian hulls with deep rounded keel lines. Boats will hull shapes like these will not be suitably supported by the frame and not only will it be difficult to hold in position when in use, it'll likely deform the base of the hull. This is not a cart you would want to purchase without being sure that it fits your kayak or canoe properly.

A much more versatile version of the sit-on cart is the C-Tug cart made by Johnsons Outdoors. This fully collapsable cart is durable, reliable, works well with a much wider variety of hull shapes (due to it's wide-base pivoting support pads) and can even be modified for use as a camping stool. The wheels roll well over a variety of terrain types and the frame is very strong. At around AUD $179, it's more expensive than the previously mentioned folding cart, but it's definitely the superior product.

Hobie also have a sit-on cart offering and this one is equally as strong as the C-Tug (perhaps more so) and almost as versatile. Due to it's padded supports that run along the length of the hull (instead of across the hull, like the folding cart) it will better fit a wider range of hulls. Unlike the C-Tug, it can't be broken down for in-hull storage and its also more expensive than the C-Tug though, weighing in at around AUD $230. But it certainly looks the toughest option of the lot.

Sit-on carts are really the only option for all canoes and many kayaks but without doubt, a well suited plug-in cart is easier to use if your kayak has scupper holes that can double as plug-in receivers for a wheelcart. This is because not only are they more effective at carting your kayak around without having the hull move around on the cart frame (which is more likely to occur with sit-on carts), they are also simpler and faster to put in and take out. The ability to insert or remove cart quickly can be a big advantage when landing or launching in any kind of wave activity. So if your kayak supports it, I'd generally recommend a plug-in cart. They're not all built equal, however.

At the time of writing there are currently 3 plug-in carts available from hobie - 4 if we include the original Trax wheelcart, which has now been supersceded by the more robust Trax 2 cart. Before going on to discuss the Trax carts, lets first look at the standard wheelcart offered by Hobie, which have been through several updates over the years. The current standard wheelcart (the least expensive of the 3) uses a wide-base stainless steel frame, long posts and rounded end caps (for smoother insertion and less likelyhood of scupper damage), one of which incorporates a locking pin that inserts into a hole near the end cap to lock the wheelcart to the hull. This is actually a pretty handy feature that is useful for lifting the kayak up over steps.

The wheels roll pretty well over most terrain types pretty well, but aren't well suited to most beach sand environments (in these situations it's often better to have 2 people lift the kayak to waters edge, or drag it along the sand). The wheels are stronger than they look, but at the same time aren't really strong enough for the heavier kayaks in Hobie's fleet - especially if heavy loads are ported on the kayak (camping gear, live wells, etc). The standard wheelcarts will fit any kayak within Hobie's range and I'm unsure if they fit any other brands or models.

The Trax 2 cart also uses a wide-base frame as well as a lock-in pin on one of the end caps, also rounded. The original Trax frame (pictured in the custom wheelcart shown in the leading photo) was always stronger than the earlier standard cart frames and although closer in construction, the Trax 2 frames also look to be slightly stronger than the current standard cart frames. If there was a common problem in the first Trax cart, it was in the wheels themselves, which have been updated to be twice as strong. These also clip on and off the frame as easily as the originals. Note that Trax 2 carts are now supplied with collar clamps, which is a plus (more on collar clamps shortly). You'll find Trax 2 carts on offer for just under AUD $200

Far better suited to use on beach sand, the Trax 2 cart is also better suited to some of Hobie's heavier kayaks - from tandems to the Pro Angler. While they should be well suited for use underneath a fully rigged Adventure Island, their weight carrying capacity doesn't quite cut the mustard for a fully rigged tandem Adventure Island, and my initial experiements back that up. No doubt well aware of this, Hobie are about to release the obvious solution - the new Heavy Duty wheelcart, soon to be available at Hobie dealerships everywhere.

The Heavy Duty wheelcart employs the same frame used for the standard cart, wide base in design and also with lock-in pin, rounded end caps and collar clamps. The Heavy Duty cart has a tougher tubed tyre with more aggressive tread. This is the same wheel that has been available as a heavy duty wheel upgrade kit (that only fitted to earlier model frames) and heavy duty universal cart. They're also the same wheels I've been using for some time, and they have been excellent, regardless of how much gear I load onto the kayak. Without question, this cart is the toughest, most reliable cart available through Hobie and is the best choice for the Adventure Islands, Pro Angler and tandem models. Of course, at around AUD $230, it's also the most expensive.

Now is a good time to add that there are other plug-in wheelcarts available that will work on Hobie kayaks.  Tastech industries, for example, manufacturer a very robust looking wide-base cart (with optional rod holders built in) that has been designed to carry kayaks bearing heavy loads. It's also possible to purchase Hobie Trax cart frames seperately and then (with a little customization) put on your own wheels, which is something I've been doing for customers at work for some time. *Update: I've also collaborated with Tastech on a heavy duty wheelcart specifically designed for the Adventure Island. 

The previously mentioned collar clamps were released by Hobie about a year ago and will fit any rendition of their plug-in carts. These are effective at protecting the base of the hull by elevating it off the support bar by way of clamped-on collars, which bear the load onto the scupper hole tubes, which are much more rigid than the base of the hull itself. These are clamped on with a hex-head screw, though I have found that it is difficult to get them tight enough (without stripping the screw) to carry a heavy loaded kayak without slipping down and potentially exposing the base of hull to support bar. The obvious solution is to use spacers between the support bar and collars. An inch or two (depending on kayak hull in question) of tough poly-pipe used as a spacer does the trick nicely, holding the collars exactly where you want them.