OCEANSIDE, California (July 11, 2018) – Hobie, the leading manufacturer of premium kayaks and other watersport products, today announced the release of a new, patent-pending, retractable transducer shield, The Guardian. Fishfinder ready and compatible with almost any transducer on the market, The Guardian serves to protect transducers from impact, retracting into the bottom of the kayak for bumps, beaching and storage.  

“Traditionally, transducers have been mounted beneath the boat in a fixed position. With the size of transducers increasing dramatically in recent years, they’re more exposed to impact and at risk for getting jostled in transport,” says Keeton Eoff, Director of Global Strategy and Development at Hobie. “These transducers are too valuable not to properly protect. The Guardian offers a perfect solution to a frustration many anglers have experienced with adaptive mounting systems.”

Not only does the Hobie Guardian protect transducers from impact—it also enhances fishfinder performance with the ability to lower the transducer until it is totally suspended beneath the kayak. From this position, a transducer, such as the Lowrance Totalscan, can perform side scans to capture what’s on either side of the kayak—a feature limited by many transducer mounts. From the deployed position, a patent-pending suspension system absorbs impact and allows the transducer to retract inside the hull for protection. A pulley also allows it to be manually retracted for transport or when launching and landing. 

The Guardian is available in September of this year and will come standard in all 2019 Hobie Mirage Drive Pro Angler models. The new feature is fishfinder ready—preinstalled wire plugs in strategic locations eliminate the need for drilling extra holes and make installing a transducer with The Guardian a no-brainer. 

To see more, watch Hobie’s video about the all new Guardian transducer shield. 

About Hobie:

Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water and quality products. From their headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes and markets an impressive collection of watercraft worldwide. These include an ever-expanding line of recreation and racing sailboats, pedal-driven and paddle sit-on-top kayaks, inflatable kayaks and fishing boats, plus a complementary array of parts and accessories.