What I think of the Adventure so far

I took my Brother in law out for a trip this weekend. He used my outback. As is my luck there was no wind to be had this weekend so I took the island off my adventure and had to go kayak mode.

Right off the bat, you get the feeling that it is a real possibility to roll the adventure. Its definitley not as reasurring as the outback. Reaching behind to get at my rod, net, tackle you have to do it slow and with caution. Maybe im just spoiled from the outback and the adventure will take more fussing than I think but for now Im playing it safe. Luckily the seas were about as flat as a lake so I felt pretty good out there for the most part. I will be hesitant though taking it out in rougher conditions.

Now the speed and the effciency part. It seemed that it was the same effort to peddle at first as the outback and that I wasnt going any faster. But I started noticing my BIL was eating my wake despite him being 10 years my junior and not overweight. He said he had a hard time keeping pace. we got side by side and I did notice my cadence was much slower to his and we were going the same speed.

So up here we have some pretty good current to contend with. Well this weekend was no joke. Current was 4mph! We ended up floating down the coast 8 miles tied up to eachother using a drift sock. We fished all day and waited for the tide to turn to take us back. By that time we had been in the water 8 hours or so and needless to say I was anxious to get back. Still we planned on drifting and fishing and once in awhile peddaling to get back to camp. This time we drifted seperatley with no drift sock. I was practiclly standing still and the outback was moving at a good clip. So the current doesnt have near the effect on the adventure as it does the outback.

I caught a nice 30 pound halibut or so. It kinda of scared me a bit. It was really whipping me around and I was having a hard time getting leverage on him without fear of him tipping me over. I had my BIL swoop in with the net for the assist as I was not confident of getting my net out and extended while holding onto the rod at the same time. If I had hooked that fish in the outback I would have got it solo no problem. My BIL had a much larger halibut on and he was having a much better time handling it.

And I have the big Island rudder on mine. You got to be carefull with that thing. You turn it too hard it lays that kayak right on its side!

So some definite tradeoffs for being fast!

Im gonna mess around with it some more in a lake and see just how much fooling around on it you can do with out tipping over, sitting sidesaddle and the like. I remeber from my canoe days how tippy a canoe felt to me but once I got confortable in it I had confidence

Anyone care to comment how big of seas it will handle?

My Addy is my new favorite lake boat and will work great for summer on the sound for salmon season, but for big waters I'm still a SINK dude. It is a tippy canoe, but she can smoke any other kick boat and most SINKs on the water no doubt about that.

FG can work the Addy in open ocean conditions, he might tell you how its done. But remember he's got a rowers background so the Addy is about twice as wide as his core boat.

Remember, speed kills. But at least you'll have a big smile on your face when you go.

I love the Addy and have no qualms about taking it out in open water. You need to be aware of your movement for sure but I did not feel unsafe landing a 45 pound halibut.
The boat is most unstable when you are pedaling b/c lifting your legs raises your center of gravity. When I am drifting and jigging I generally flip my legs off either side and it makes a huge difference. Also side saddle is no problem and allows for easy access to your tank well.
If you want a little more stability you can add one ama.

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I haven't used my adventure except to sail/troll so I've always had the amas on, so no stability problems. When I am not trolling I sometimes use my revo. I will have to take the adventure to the lake and see what it can do in terms of stability like you suggested matt.
T2

The adventure can handle some rough conditions, for sure.

As for "Tippiness", I would argue its a good thing. It makes it much easier to brace in the surf for instance. What the adventure lacks in primary stability it makes up for in secondary stability. If you really want stability slap on some thigh straps and use the paddle  ...or Amas/Akas or w/e. Plus its a LOT easier to flip back over than the outback.

Yes...there are tradeoffs of course. It really is plenty stable IMO, you just need to get used to it Matt especially coming from the tank-like Outback.

If I can ever get the $$ together an Addy is high on my list of Hobie's to check out.  Got a change to pedal a Revo 13 and an Oasis a few weeks ago at the Lake Sammamish kayak show.  The Hobie crew had an Addy, but as display only . 

What should I expect as far as stability compared to my OK Prowler 13?  I'd expect that speed would vastly improved.

I had a Prowler 13, I think my Adventure is about the same in stability.  It is much faster and much less effort while trolling and covering water.  I can paddle it 0.5 to 1 mph faster than I could the P13, and peddling is 1/3 faster.  I am always having to slow my cadence while trolling or I get going too fast.  I have had my Adventure in some rough conditions and felt safer in that than the P13.  I was able to run for cover much quicker, and it cut the waves, current and wind much easier.  It is a good kayak.  i got it to cover water, and it does that well.

To reach the rear tank well I usually sit side saddle, the front I just shimmy up.  I would not try to kneel or stand like some of the outback guys.  I do prefer the speed and lower paddling/pedaling effort.  It is nice that it can paddle as well as it pedals.  Never know when the mirage drive could fail on the water, and I have to paddle quite a bit in the kelp beds.  While fighting fish I have had no trouble reaching back for the net.  Feels a little weird, but I have not come close to tipping...yet :-)

I also have a Hobie Outfitter and use that with the family, but it is a pig in and out of the water.  I could not imaging having to paddle that beast.  Great stability though.

I feel that the Prowler 13 is more stable than the Addy. Both are excellent big water boats. In rough conditions the Addy is s wetter ride as you tend to cut the waves rather than ride on top of them.
Paddle wise I think the two boats are very close speed wise. Unless you have the drive plug installed, then the Addy is faster.

The mirage drive is simply awesome but you still need your paddle near by for tight maneuvering and back up.

If OK made a P-13 with a hole cut for a mirage drive I would buy one in an instant! 

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