hobie mirage

Ok, so I just got back to the SJ's and spent 4 days with a client in a Revo.

I'm going to go ahead and say I was wrong. I admit it. That thing hauls a*s. I realized what the revo is; It allows someone to get on the water and fish without spending the 1000 + hours it takes to master (paddle) kayaking.

I still fully believe a sea kayak is a far superior craft for dealing with the salt, and you still need a paddle with the mirage drive, because you can't go backwards, and you can't brace, can't get the same precision maneuvering, etc., etc. BUT. If I were guiding kayak fishing day trips in the San Juans, and wanted anyone who steps off the ferry to be able to do it, I would chose a fleet of Hobie Revo's to make it happen.

Would I take one for a 3 month journey down the inside passage? Hell no. I never would take one to Jones Isl. in a small craft advisory with 3-5ft wind waves fully loaded like I did in my sea kayak Tuesday night (trip report coming soon), but for people with physical challenges, and for someone who only goes out in mild conditions, it is much easier to deal with in wind and current than a traditional SOT for sure.

At one point we were surfing boat wakes. I look to my left and see a 68 year old man riding the same wave and blowing right past me in his 13ft Revo, with me in my 17ft high performance sea kayak specifically designed for the surf............

J

because you can't go backwards

Actually, I discovered last weekend that you can go backwards when I mistakenly put the drive in the wrong way!  Unfortunately, with the rudder down it didn't seem like I would be able to hold place in a river while pulling plugs or back bouncing.

Yeah, but that makes no difference when you are pinned against the rocks sideways by breaking waves with a boulder in front of the bow. A person would be upside down with their head on the rocks by the time you pulled the mirage drive flip around.

Well, yes.  This is true!

I did think overall the revo was better than a SOT w/ paddle for mild to moderate conditions. The ability to push 4kts made long crossings much easier to manage.

Although there were no breaking waves or big boat wakes at the time, the situation did occur, and that is the scenario that played out in my head.

Yeah, but that makes no difference when you are pinned against the rocks sideways by breaking waves with a boulder in front of the bow. A person would be upside down with their head on the rocks by the time you pulled the mirage drive flip around.

 that's why you still have a paddle at hand that works really well to brace, go backwards, and fend off said rocks that you should avoid in the first place. Hobies don't make for good rock gardening.
BTW: if you like the way the Revo handled "moderate conditons", check out an Adventure. But be careful man, or you may be fitting a drive slot on your next baby seal skin on frame baidarka. 

Yeah, but that makes no difference when you are pinned against the rocks sideways by breaking waves with a boulder in front of the bow. A person would be upside down with their head on the rocks by the time you pulled the mirage drive flip around.

 that's why you still have a paddle at hand that works really well to brace, go backwards, and fend off said rocks that you should avoid in the first place. Hobies don't make for good rock gardening.
BTW: if you like the way the Revo handled "moderate conditons", check out an Adventure. But be careful man, or you may be fitting a drive slot on your next baby seal skin on frame baidarka.  

I just went from a Fish and Dive to an Adventure and all I can say is wow!  The adventure is a rocket!  If you had told me I could cover that kind of distance at that speed with so little effort I would have called BS.  The first time I had it out for a shake down run on the willy I was almost laughing out loud I was so excited about what I was able to do.  It will be a fish killing machine!

The first time I had it out for a shake down run... I was almost laughing out loud I was so excited about what I was able to do.  It will be a fish killing machine!

I'm doing circles around my paddling friends and they seem to think they can call me for [choose one/all] net, gaff, scent, assistance....  But I am looking forward to getting to places I couldn't with my paddle.  Fogarty to Depoe and Depoe to Beverly Beach are at the top of the list.

Yeah, but that makes no difference when you are pinned against the rocks sideways by breaking waves with a boulder in front of the bow. A person would be upside down with their head on the rocks by the time you pulled the mirage drive flip around.

 that's why you still have a paddle at hand that works really well to brace, go backwards, and fend off said rocks that you should avoid in the first place. Hobies don't make for good rock gardening.
BTW: if you like the way the Revo handled "moderate conditons", check out an Adventure. But be careful man, or you may be fitting a drive slot on your next baby seal skin on frame baidarka. 

No, I will never personally use one. There is no need. I have already taken the time necessary to master a superior craft for the ocean. The only thing I'm saying is that it would allow me to take people who have never even seen a kayak out on the flat-water salt 400 yds from shore and catch fish without getting blown 10 miles away by the wind and current.

it was fast, but not any faster than me paddling a sea kayak at an easy pace. If I paddled full tilt I would still smoke it, and he had the turbo fins. I'm sure the 15 ft version is faster, but all kayaks top out at 6 or 7kts anyway, no matter how they are propelled.

Also, hobies have zero secondary stability, and without thigh straps made impossible by the pedaling motion, you have no leverage over your rock and roll....but once again, it's like having to flip the mirage drive to go backwards, when you need to brace, you don't always have enough time to unstowe your paddle and bring it into position. Like I said, a sea kayak is made for the sea, and no other kayak is.

Jason

Yeah, but that makes no difference when you are pinned against the rocks sideways by breaking waves with a boulder in front of the bow. A person would be upside down with their head on the rocks by the time you pulled the mirage drive flip around.

 and fend off said rocks that you should avoid in the first place. Hobies don't make for good rock gardening.

That's where the fish are.

Like I said, a sea kayak is made for the sea, and no other kayak is.

I don't know about that.  I have yet to see a salmon shark lying across the lap of someone in a Sea Kayak.

I would say its far superior to any SINK when you compare them strictly for fishing, and thats why were here isn't it .  No one fishes in 4-5ft windwaves or huge swells or 8knt current or 25kt winds, in these conditions a SINK is king but when it comes to trolling for salmon, hovering over deepwater structure for bottomfish, crabbing etc. etc. etc a hobie mirage drive is at the front of the SOT line IMO.  

Like I said, a sea kayak is made for the sea, and no other kayak is.

I don't know about that.  I have yet to see a salmon shark lying across the lap of someone in a Sea Kayak.

or many other fish for that matter .  If a sea kayak was the best platform for "kayak fishing" more folks, especially those hardcore guys currently catching marlin, salmon sharks, tuna, etc. etc. etc out of SOT's, would surely not keeping fishing off SOT'S if there was something better out there.  I know I wouldn't.. 

Like I said, a sea kayak is made for the sea, and no other kayak is.

What's a "sea kayak"?   

-Allen

.......... Like I said, a sea kayak is made for the sea, and no other kayak is.

Jason

What is my "Ocean Kayak" made for, lakes and rivers only?

I know I gave a small amount of ribbing to those that have pedals in the past, but I am looking for ways to afford one of them Hobie Adventures myself.