I have to tell you that I am pretty happy with the sidekicks I installed on my Hobie outback. They serve my purposes very well.
I use my yak mostly in the ocean. I have to launch and land in the surf. This is not a fun thing to do with a yak loaded with fishing gear! Despite my practiced attempts to control the yak in the surf the waves more times than not dump me unceremoniously and usually in front of onlookers. (not cool!) I love my outback but this yak was born to roll in the surf! I am sure it is not the only one.
The sidekicks are the great equalizer! My yak has not rolled one time with them on and I have even let it do whatever it wanted when landing and still I have smooth landings! And in 4 foot ocean swells I am much more at ease. I sat on the back of the outback with my feet in the well and my daughter pedaled us a mile down the coast. The stability was great!
I could find no one with experience to advise me before ordering this product. A rep at Hobie was not sure he could recommend them for the ocean surf but they are holding up very well so far. They are made of quality material and seem very sturdy despite a somewhat fragile appearance. Before the sidekicks I bent my rudder bar when the yak rolled in the surf despite the fact that the rudder was up.
When they arrived and I studied the instructions I had not foreseen a potential problem. The installation of the sidekick bar narrowed the width of the storage well behind the seat where I stowed my wheels and minnow bucket. I resolved this dilemma by stowing my wheels under the bungee cords. The minnow bucket fits fine. Just be aware that most fishing crates that barely fit into the well will not fit with the sidekick bar in place.
The flotations are inflatable with just a few breaths. They deflate easily when done and store well. They are very sturdy.
I would think landing at a dock with sidekicks would be a bit challenging since you can not get close enough to pull yourself out. I have not practiced taking off or attaching one of the sidekicks while in the yak but if you could that would solve the dock problem. If someone wants great stability for the outback even if they are not going into the surf the sidekicks will surely provide it.
I might add that I am 56 years old 5’ 3” and weigh 130 pounds. It was suggested that I buy a “sport” instead of the outback because of my size. I’m glad I got the outback for the extra storage space and I understand the sidekicks are not made for the sport. With a little practice I learned to hoist it above my head and set it on top of my truck. I learned to deal with the initial instability in the water.
The Hobie Sidekick is available at the KFS store.