Any Hobie Experts?

Trying to get serious and get out of the rivers, I'm committed to finding a good Hobie Revo 13 this year - okay, right after New Year's so next year.

There are model years that had some problems - hull cracks around the mirage drive and problems with the mirage drive itself.  I'm trying to learn what years tended to have issues so I know where to pay special attention when inspecting a used Revo.

(And no, Noah, I am not suggesting you beat up langcod's 2015...     but it's such a deal that it might sell before I'm ready to buy)

Anyone know which model years that might have had some issues?

Trying to get serious and get out of the rivers, I'm committed to finding a good Hobie Revo 13 this year - okay, right after New Year's so next year.

There are model years that had some problems - hull cracks around the mirage drive and problems with the mirage drive itself.  I'm trying to learn what years tended to have issues so I know where to pay special attention when inspecting a used Revo.

(And no, Noah, I am not suggesting you beat up langcod's 2015...     but it's such a deal that it might sell before I'm ready to buy)

Anyone know which model years that might have had some issues?

Cause I totally would

I may not have these totally correct but this is what I recall.

2010-Additional support added in the front to help with cracking near the drive.
2011-No change
2012-Added upgraded handles (non molded)
2013-Add reinforcement to the rear scuppers to prevent cracking
2014-Added transducer puck mount thing on the bottom of the hull
2015-New fancy seat and upgraded drive.

If it were me I'd try and stay 2012+, not the end of the world to get a 2010 but it's starting to get up there in age.

I may not have these totally correct but this is what I recall.

2010-Additional support added in the front to help with cracking near the drive.
2011-No change
2012-Added upgraded handles (non molded)
2013-Add reinforcement to the rear scuppers to prevent cracking
2014-Added transducer puck mount thing on the bottom of the hull
2015-New fancy seat and upgraded drive.

If it were me I'd try and stay 2012+, not the end of the world to get a 2010 but it's starting to get up there in age.
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The transducer pocket was added to the 2013 Revolutions, and in my opinion is a major advantage of 2013 and later Revolutions, because it makes it very easy to mount a transducer in a protected location, and transducers perform well in the transducer pocket.  If you are considering buying a pre-2013 Revolution, think real hard about where you are going to mount a transducer, and the costs and hassles of those options.  If you are considering mounting a transducer inside the hull of a pre-2013 Revolution, talk to people with experience with through-the-hull transducer mounts about the extent to which those mounting systems degrade the performance of a fish finder.

CORRECTION: Noah has pointed out that the transducer pocket was added to the 2014 model Revolutions.  Because I bought my Revolution in the fall of 2013, I had it in my head that it was a 2013 model, but it's actually a 2014 model.

I may not have these totally correct but this is what I recall.

2010-Additional support added in the front to help with cracking near the drive.
2011-No change
2012-Added upgraded handles (non molded)
2013-Add reinforcement to the rear scuppers to prevent cracking
2014-Added transducer puck mount thing on the bottom of the hull
2015-New fancy seat and upgraded drive.

If it were me I'd try and stay 2012+, not the end of the world to get a 2010 but it's starting to get up there in age.

The transducer pocket was added to the 2013 Revolutions, and in my opinion is a major advantage of 2013 and later Revolutions, because it makes it very easy to mount a transducer in a protected location, and transducers perform well in the transducer pocket.  If you are considering buying a pre-2013 Revolution, think real hard about where you are going to mount a transducer, and the costs and hassles of those options.  If you are considering mounting a transducer inside the hull of a pre-2013 Revolution, talk to people with experience with through-the-hull transducer mounts about the extent to which those mounting systems degrade the performance of a fish finder.
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I just confirmed with Mr. Merbear of the Kayak Shed they were added for the 2014 model year, at least for the revos. Is it possible you got a 2014 model in 2013?

Either way, my personal opinion there is not a huge difference between shooting through the hull. I've lined up with buddies with pucks in the water and noticed little to no noticeable difference with my in the hull water puck method. That being said, it is a small pain in the ass to have to fill the puck or worry about it leaking or bouncing water out of the puck.

Didn't someone post a long message about through-the-hull vs. outside-the-hull transducer performance?  I believe it was mostly about performance of CHRIP systems, but I'll have to try to find it.

I'm not against hanging a transducer over the side, in any case, but will watch pre-2014's with transducers for how they're mounted and whether or not the transducer will pee into the hull.

Noah, thank you for the list.  I knew someone could point out improvements across recent years.

pmmpete, didn't you have an over-the-side transducer rigged on one of your hulls?  Do you notice any drag?

pmmpete, didn't you have an over-the-side transducer rigged on one of your hulls?  Do you notice any drag?

No, I didn't ever have an over-the-side transducer on any of my kayaks.  An over-the-side transducer probably has a lot less drag than a downrigger, so I wouldn't expect an over-the-side transducer to create noticeable drag.  There are certainly good reasons to use an over-the-side transducer.  An over-the-side transducer would allow you to assemble a complete fish finder setup which mounts on the gunwale of a kayak and can be easily moved from one kayak to another.  And if you want to buy a fish finder with sidescan sonar, an over-the-side transducer is one of the better ways to mount its transducer below the level of the keel of your kayak.  For me, the down sides of an over-the-side transducer arm are the hassle of pulling it up and putting it down every time you land or launch, the possibility of picking up weeds on it, and it just generally being in the way.  These are the kinds of things you need to consider when deciding how you want to mount a fish finder transducer.  And I think the Hobie transducer pocket is a great way to mount a transducer.

I may not have these totally correct but this is what I recall.

2010-Additional support added in the front to help with cracking near the drive.
2011-No change
2012-Added upgraded handles (non molded)
2013-Add reinforcement to the rear scuppers to prevent cracking
2014-Added transducer puck mount thing on the bottom of the hull
2015-New fancy seat and upgraded drive.

If it were me I'd try and stay 2012+, not the end of the world to get a 2010 but it's starting to get up there in age.

The transducer pocket was added to the 2013 Revolutions, and in my opinion is a major advantage of 2013 and later Revolutions, because it makes it very easy to mount a transducer in a protected location, and transducers perform well in the transducer pocket.  If you are considering buying a pre-2013 Revolution, think real hard about where you are going to mount a transducer, and the costs and hassles of those options.  If you are considering mounting a transducer inside the hull of a pre-2013 Revolution, talk to people with experience with through-the-hull transducer mounts about the extent to which those mounting systems degrade the performance of a fish finder.

I just confirmed with Mr. Merbear of the Kayak Shed they were added for the 2014 model year, at least for the revos. Is it possible you got a 2014 model in 2013?

Either way, my personal opinion there is not a huge difference between shooting through the hull. I've lined up with buddies with pucks in the water and noticed little to no noticeable difference with my in the hull water puck method. That being said, it is a small pain in the ass to have to fill the puck or worry about it leaking or bouncing water out of the puck.
[/quote]
Woops, you're right, Noah, the transducer pocket was added to the 2014 Revolutions.  Because I bought my Revolution in the Fall of 2013, I had it in my head that it was a 2013 model.  I'll add a correction to my initial post.

pmmpete, didn't you have an over-the-side transducer rigged on one of your hulls?  Do you notice any drag?

No, I didn't ever have an over-the-side transducer on any of my kayaks...

Thank you.  All good points to consider.

pmmpete, didn't you have an over-the-side transducer rigged on one of your hulls?  Do you notice any drag?

No, I didn't ever have an over-the-side transducer on any of my kayaks...

Thank you.  All good points to consider.

Google Ram transducer arm. I know Dana aka yaksurf rocks one.

I had a 2013 Revolution 11 but upgraded to a 2015 for the new seat, it does NOT have the transducer pocket yet, so I use the duct seal method for transducer, wish it had the pocket.

I don't have a Hobie (yet) but I do have a transducer over the side, and the drag is real. It slows you down and pulls you to that side.

I had a 2013 Revolution 11 but upgraded to a 2015 for the new seat, it does NOT have the transducer pocket yet, so I use the duct seal method for transducer, wish it had the pocket.

The 2015 revo 13 has the pocket. I don't think the 11 does.

I have a 2013 Revo 13 I am thinking about selling. It does not have the transducer mount. I had the transducer mounted inside in a puddle of Goop. I moved the transducer to my 2015 revo with the transducer mount underneath, and havent noticed much difference. It would only read bottom up to about 100 feet before. Maybe because of being mounted inside. I havent been in over 100 feet yet with the new kayak, so I cant confirm if its improved or not.

I just confirmed with Mr. Merbear

Is that how he is answering the phone there now? If so, that is awesome!