Now that I've tasted blood, this wine seems too thin.

I tried out both the PA12 and the Revo 13 at the Chinook Bend campground over the ORC weekend. The PA is a sweet boat but it is simply that...a sweet BOAT. It doesn't feel like a kayak to me. It is very comfortable and I could see myself loving it for lake fishing. The extra room is nice but the lack of speed was bringing me down.

The Revo13 was love at first sight. I hopped aboard that thing and was surprised at how stable it actually was. It felt more like a kayak to me and less like a tank. I love my Outback and it definitely has its advantages...but I need to get my hands on a Revo. I think trading space for speed is a big deal.

I know I have been an Outback advocate on the forum in a few posts but I have been enlightened.
I think having more time on the water and getting more comfortable with less than perfect conditions has increased my confidence in my capabilities and it sort of makes the Outback feel like a set of training wheels. The extra space is great with the Outback but I think it makes me lazy. The  Revo offers less room on deck and I think that would force me to be more efficient with my limited storage...the thought process here is that it would leave me no choice but to become more organized while on the water. How can that be a bad thing?

The Revo just seemed to cut through the water so nicely with very little effort. I know in the Outback I could not pedal against the wind with such ease. It was easy to paddle too! The Revo will be my next kayak purchase. I am not saying the Outback is a shitty boat. I love it and it has put me on some awesome fishing but I think it's time to push my limits a little more and the Revo seems a lot safer to me. I never thought I would say that! I thought I would be a die hard Outback fanatic for life. I can't wait to add a Revo to my fleet.

Hey Chris , have you thought about an Adventure?  I love my revo but the addy is also very tempting.

Hey Chris , have you thought about an Adventure?  I love my revo but the addy is also very tempting.

I don't know. I really liked the Revo. I guess I should try and demo one when I get the chance. What do you like about the adventure vs the Revo?

I haven't demoed one yet but it's longer and a bit fast than the revo. It also has a deeper rear tank well that looks nice. With the extra length it should be an even better ocean boat.

I tried out both the PA12 and the Revo 13 at the Chinook Bend campground over the ORC weekend. The PA is a sweet boat but it is simply that...a sweet BOAT. It doesn't feel like a kayak to me. It is very comfortable and I could see myself loving it for lake fishing. The extra room is nice but the lack of speed was bringing me down.

Hi Chris-

I agree on the PA12 and mine is definitely rigged up as a fishing boat for a variety of lake and river/tidewater conditions but not ocean swells/breakers.  I am curious about speed since the PA12 is my only Mirage drive experience:  when my boat is lightly loaded (me and some gear) and nothing else is in the water, based on my Garmin 450T GPS, at steady pedal rate (that would be easy to maintain for a long long time) is giving me 3mph,  working a little harder and I am at 4mph (I wouldn't want to do this for more than 15 or 20min), and by really pumping hard I can hit 5mph but even there the Mirage drive feels unhappy...what did you find regarding speed?  did it just feel slower compared to other Mirage drive boats?    cheers, roger

Hey Roger, as far as speed is concerned I would say the PA12 was lacking speed and  also responsiveness when trying to make a turn against the wind. While pedaling the PA down river against the wind it was difficult to make headway. I found that I couldn't get the boat to turn the direction I wanted with a strong wind coming at me. If the boat wanted to turn right then that is the way I had to turn. I have never experienced that with my Outback.

With my Outback I can get it up to 5.8 mph or so if I'm really pushing it but that is too much stress on the drive.
I wasn't able to see how fast I was going in the revo but I know I had to be close to my outback's top speed with significantly less effort.

Did I find it to be slower than other mirage drive kayaks? Absolutely.
I'm not knocking the PA. It's awesome but it doesn't fit my needs. It just can't cover ground like I would like it to. It would be a great bass boat but I just don't find lake fishing as exciting as salt fishing.

Like I said before...I'm not bad mouthing the PA or Outback. I just wish I had demoed a couple more kayaks before making a decision. I don't regret my purchase though the outback is great and I feel I was right by not spending the extra cash on a PA. But the Revo is where it's at for me. I NEED one. 

Next Adventure just got a used Revo 11 yesterday afternoon (olive) set up with side kicks, two GS90 tracks, turbo fins, drive leash, game clip pad eye.....  only a couple months old... get it while it's hot

Next Adventure just got a used Revo 11 yesterday afternoon (olive) set up with side kicks, two GS90 tracks, turbo fins, drive leash, game clip pad eye.....  only a couple months old... get it while it's hot

That sounds enticing but the 11 is too small for me. I need the extra weight capacity for myself and for all the fish I catch 

Wait...that wasn't your boat was it??! Wtf man!

Wait...that wasn't your boat was it??! Wtf man!

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=11302.msg126205#msg126205

Phew, I just read that post. I thought you had given up! I'm glad to hear you were able to work it out.

Wait...that wasn't your boat was it??! Wtf man!

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=11302.msg126205#msg126205

Can't wait to see it set up & on the water!

Can't wait to see it set up & on the water!

Well, come down this weekend and we can chase some salmon in Golden Gardens