The Best Accessories For Hobie Outback Kayaks

1. Kayak Cart 

A kayak cart is an essential accessory for almost every kayak owner. They enable you to get to and from the water with ease and ensure your kayak remains in top condition. Hobie has designed the Outback to accept any of its range of plug-in kayak carts which insert into the scupper holes in the rear cargo deck.

If you’re generally transporting your kayak across paved or relatively firm surfaces Hobie’s Heavy Duty Plug-In Kayak Cart will get the job done for you. For those who need to traverse sand or other soft surfaces, the extra large 30cm wide beach wheels of the Hobie Trax 2-30 Kayak Cart is our go-to recommendation.

3. H-Rail Upgrade for Outback 

The Hobie Outback comes with two short H-Rails as standard, but they’re limited in length and questionably positioned inboard. The addition of the raised upright H-Rails designed for the Lynx will give you back your cockpit space by moving your accessories outboard. The outboard position also provides significantly more real estate to add and position your accessories like rod holders and fish finder mounts exactly where you want them.

The Hobie H-Rail Kit for Lynx in combination with our HWS exclusive H-Rail Track Mount Kit enables seamless mounting of the Lynx H-Rail using the front and rear track mounts on 2019 + Outback kayaks – no drilling required. The Lynx H-Rail kit also features an accessory track on top for even greater mounting versatility.

While Hobie offers a Bolt-on H-Rail Kit for 2019+ Outback, it uses the same inboard mounting position as the standard rails. The vertical orientation makes the cockpit slightly more cramped. Personally, I’d rather go without than use this kit. For some, the inboard mounting position can help them feel more secure and the bolt-on kit is much more suited for use as a grab rail for getting in and out of the seat.

4. Fishing Rod Holder

Most kayak anglers will want at least one good quality fishing rod holder for a convenient and secure spot to jam a rod when fish handling, rigging or transiting between fishing spots. We’ve created a detailed post on choosing the right rod holder for your fishing kayak, but our general recommendation is the Railblaza Rod Holder II.

How you go about mounting your rod holder will depend on whether you followed our H-Rail advice above. If you have the Lynx H-Rail Kit installed you can mount your Rod Holder II with the Railblaza Starport HD Mount for Hobie H-Rail. Otherwise, the best option is to use the Outback’s standard accessory mounting tracks to get the rod holder as far outboard as possible. The Railblaza TracLoader StarPort Mount is compatible with both the standard accessory track and the track built into the Lynx H-Rail.

5. Storage Deck Upgrades

The Outback features a spacious rear storage deck and ample carrying capacity. How you make use of these features will depend on the type of fishing you’re looking to do most regularly.

A storage crate is the most common and best use for general recreational fishing. It not only provides a secure and relatively dry spot to house excess tackle and gear but also provides the perfect opportunity to mount vertical rod holders for additional rod storage. We’re big fans of the YakAttack BlackPak Pro 13×16 for this job on the Outback, though you can also run the larger BlackPak 16 x 16 if you want to fit larger tackle trays like the Plano 3700 or Plano Edge.

For tournament angling or livebait fishing a livewell will be necessary. The Hobie Livewell V2 Kayak Bait Tank is a self-contained unit that will keep a fresh stream of water circulating in the tank. Drawing water through the scupper with its self-contained pump running off the tank’s own battery, this system is plug-and-play with no drilling or wiring required.

6. Fish Finder

One of the Outback’s many stand-out features is the premium Guardian Transducer Shield. This system along with Hobie’s thoughtful design makes installation of your fish finder’s transducer super simple. For the fish finder head unit, we typically recommend one of the RAM Mounts solutions for either the accessory track or H-Rail depending on your setup.

There is a large range of fish finders from brands like Lowrance, Humminbird and Garmin with options to suit your needs and budget. You will also need to consider a battery system to power your fish finder of choice. Because there are so many options and set-up routes, we won’t detail any specifics here. Please get in touch with me or Andrew and we will happily get you set up with a fish finder and electrical system that suits your budget and intended fishing style.

7. Front Hatch Liner

The Forward Hatch Liner for Hobie Outback is a popular upgrade for increasing the utility of the front hatch. The excellent stability of the outback makes the front hatch highly accessible and an ideal area to store any gear you don’t necessarily need close at hand. The hatch liner allows you to store gear in the front hatch neatly and safely without the risk of it being lost or hard to reach in the kayak’s large internal hull space.

Store dry bags, extra clothing/wet weather gear, tackle and tools, food and drink or your freshly caught fish on ice. The Hobie Forward Hatch Liner opens up your options to use the bow storage space however you please.

8. Anchoring Kit

If you’re fishing shallow waters it’s hard to pass up the convenient holding power of a PowerPole Micro Anchor. At the touch of a button, you can instantly pin yourself in place, stopping you from drifting into the structure you’re fishing or over the fish you’re targeting. The 8ft spike is useful in waters up to 1.8m in depth and in my opinion, is one of the most useful tools on any fishing kayak. 

Mounting the PowerPole with the PowerPole Mounting Hardware for Hobie Outback is super simple thanks to the threaded inserts on the stern of 2019+ Outback kayaks. The PowerPole can be powered by a PowerPole Battery Pak (sold separately) making it a self-contained unit, or wired into your kayak’s battery system (see below).

There are also more cost-effective solutions like the YakAttack ParkNPole – an 8-foot or 2.4-meter kayak stake-out pole for shallow water anchoring. If a slow drift is more you’re style the Hobie Kayak Drift Chute will enable you to greatly reduce drift speed. If you’d prefer a more traditional approach, the Hobie Kayak Anchor Kit is a compact and convenient claw anchor suitable for Outback kayaks.

For traditional pole, chute or anchor systems, we highly recommend the addition of an anchor trolley to the majority of our customers. The Trolley allows you to control the position of your anchor line fore and aft, providing much more control of your kayak’s position which is essential for fishing. We recommend the Hobie Kayak Anchor Trolley Kit.

9. Storage Bags

The Hobie Vantage Seat Accessory Bag offers convenient and accessible storage for your gear on the back of the Outback’s Vantage CTW seat. Perfect for storing a jacket, sunscreen, snacks and personal belongings, the seat bag creates out-of-the-way storage that is secure and easy to organise. While not strictly waterproof, the seat bag will resist spray and light rain to keep your gear dry and out of the elements.

Hobie’s insulated kayak fish bags/cooler bags are a great solution for keeping your catch fresh and safe to eat, or your food and drinks cold. The tapered design makes these bags ideal for strapping to the bow, though it will make accessing your bow hatch a little less convenient. Alternatively, you can also strap it to the rear cargo deck so long as you’re not using that space for a crate or bait tank. Available in 4 sizes, the Medium bag is best suited for the Outback and is plenty big enough for most target species in lakes, rivers and estuaries.

10. Steering and Rudder Upgrades

The Berleypro Raised Aluminium Steering Handle is a popular quality-of-life upgrade for Hobie Outback owners. It raises the steering handle off the deck making controlling the rudder more comfortable and efficient by using your hand grip instead of your fingers. It also provides extra leverage which is great for upgraded rudders, operating in rougher waters and minimising fatigue.

Upgrading the Outback’s stock rudder to the BerleyPro Brudder provides enhanced turning and tracking performance. The upgraded rudder is considerably stronger with a shaft made from billet aluminum and added machined adapters to hold the drop-down rudder blade. The aluminium blade is also longer with a larger surface for more responsive steering control, reduced turning circle and increased straight-line tracking performance.

The upgraded rudder retains the ability to raise and lower the rudder for launching and landing from the cockpit. 

11. Power System

If you’re considering adding a fishfinder, lighting or charging for electronics like cameras and phones you will need some form of onboard battery system. The FPV-Power 17.5Ah 12v Lithium kayak battery kit is the ideal tool for the job and comes bundled with a charger and a waterproof pigtail connector to get you started.

We recommend the BerleyPro Mast Mount to mount the FPV battery to the mast receiver tube found inside the front hatch on your Outback. This not only keeps the battery secure and prevents stress on your wiring and connectors, but also keeps the battery up of the bilge where any water is likely to pool. 

Electrical systems can be complex and there are a range of products to get the job done depending on what you’re running and for how long. Reach out to us and we can advise you or put together and install a battery and electrical system to suit your exact needs.

12. Safety and Visibility

As kayak anglers, we’re quite vulnerable to collision with larger craft and this is particularly apparent in low-light or nighttime sessions. The Railblaza Kayak Visibility Kit combines a visibility flag with an AAA battery-powered 360-degree white light on a 1050mm mast to help increase your kayak’s visibility to other boaters. This unit will mount directly to the Outback’s rear accessory tracks for convenient and out of the way installation.

A quality PFD or lifejacket is not just common sense, it’s a legal requirement that anyone aboard a single-person kayak wear a PFD at all times in all NSW waterways. I typically run an inflatable like the Hobie Yoke Manual Inflating PFD  to minimise bulk. Alternatively, a traditional jacket style like the Hobie Outback PFD can provide an extra level of protection in the event you enter the water unconscious.

14. Protective Covers

If you’re planning on storing your Hobie Outback outdoors a kayak cover is a must. Not only will it protect your craft from the extreme degradation caused by UV, but it will also help minimise stains, debris and corrosion from the build-up of dirt, leaves and bird droppings.

The best value-for-money kayak cover for the Outback is the Lovig Deck Kayak Cover Multifit 12-14. For a cover custom-made to suit the Outback you can pick up a genuine Hobie Kayak Cover with premium pricing to match. If it were my money I’d buy the Lovig cover without hesitation. 

The Hobie MirageDrive Storage & Carry Bag is designed to protect your valuable and important pedal drive from damage during transport or storage. In practice, I find it’s also incredibly useful for protecting your car’s fabrics and carpets from damage by the drive’s sharp edges while also going a long way to keeping your car’s interior or boot dry and clean.

15. Comfort Upgrades

The Outback’s Vantage CTW Seat is seriously comfortable out of the box thanks to its 4-way adjustability, breathability, and raised position. The addition of Hobie Kayak Kushion Seat Pads can provide a little extra luxury and padding that I like to have for longer sessions on tournament days. 

EVA Deck Pad Kits for Hobie Outback not only provide luxury comfort underfoot but also enhance traction and sound dampening. They can also really enhance the look of your kayak and add a level of eye-catching personalisation. Available as a Complete Kit or Interior Only in three colourways designed specifically for Outback, the Interior Kit offers the best value for money with essentially the same functionality.

16. Utility Upgrades

Hobie has an excellent range of utility accessories that can greatly enhance your kayak’s capabilities

The Hobie Sidekick AMA Kit is an outrigger arm with an inflatable float that is great for adding stability and peace of mind while out on the water. Simple to install and remove for transport and storage.

The Hobie Kayak Bimini Sunshade provides ultra-lightweight protection from the sun with a UPF 50+ rating. Perfect for summer days out on the water where fishing isn’t your primary concern.

The Hobie Mirage Kayak Sail Kit allows you to rest your legs and utilise the power of the wind. Convenient and easy to set up and deploy, this sail kit is perfect for beginner and experienced sailors alike. 

The Hobie H-Bar Kayak Standing Bar is designed to provide something to hold on to when standing and to assist in raising and lowering yourself into your seat. In practice, I find it gets in the way when fishing, creating more hassle than help. I’ve also seen it provide a false sense of security for standing use. The H-Bar doesn’t make the kayak any more stable, it just means you have something to hold on to if things get rocky. The H-Bar can be a nice upgrade if you struggle with mobility.