Customer Testimonials roll in for Hobie PA applications of Freedom Launcher kayak landing gear

Scott Beattie is a fly fishing enthusiast and just an all around great person. I had the great opportunity to spend time with Scott and video the install of his first Freedom Launcher on a green Hobie PA 14. Now he installed another Freedom Launcher on his daughter's PA 14 too and posted about it on Facebook in the last 36 hours. THANK YOU SCOTT!!

Some chatter started on Scott's post about the problems with Landing Gear and how it can cause hull cracking. That's a very valid concern.

We used engineering design principles to make the Freedom Launcher attachment system easier on the hulls, especially when going over difficult terrain.

But how is it working in the real world? How about an extreme case? Meet Carlos Guitierrez, a very aggressive Kayak angler and tournament fisherman from Florida to tell you about his experience on his Hobie PA 12. THANK YOU CARLOS!!

(exact quote from FB private post on Hobie Pro Anglers owners group 4/25/2025):

Carlos Gutierrez

Just wanted to chime in since I came across this post. The guy in the sunrise camo Hobie PA in the YouTube video...well, that's me. I can understand concerns over cracks or damage to hulls that someone might have. If the replies already given aren't enough I'll chime in. There probably hasn't been someone that has this landing gear and has put it through rougher terrain than me. Beaches, ramps, grassy trails, gravel trails, and launch sites that are limestone bottom with cracks, crevasses and protussion 6-8 inches tall for 20 yards to reach an opening into the mangroves. I wouldn't recommend the last one. I actually cracked the hub of one of the tires during that expedition but nothing was damaged to the hull. I say all this because most people launch at actual boat ramps so if my hull isn't getting damaged, you probably won't see damage to yours.

If you're against this system I'd like for you to go out, install the Hobie plug in cart and let's see how you remove it. Either go into 3-4' of water and nearly submerged yourself trying to get it out. Or, you'll have to stop short of the water, roll your kayak over and scratch it up to pull the cart out, then drag your kayak into the water and still scratch the bottom more.

I can literally have my rods, tackle box, pfd, and any other gear loaded up at the truck, roll my kayak to the water, push it off to where it floats and stow the landing gear and that's it.

This system makes it to where the hassle of launching and loading is reduced, especially as we get older, and keeps the kayak experience positive to where we go out more often.

The video he is referencing is here:

I so appreciate the user community sharing their experiences with fellow kayak anglers so they can make a better informed decision.

Tight lines, y'all!

David