Revolution Mirage test drive

Do the large Wheelez tires fit in the forward hatch?  This would be REALLY nice, and they may, but I didn't think to bring the cart to the demo. 

Revo has a wheel system that works really well. Fat beach tires, the frame two posts slip under the boat up into the scuppers behind the seat when using on land.  Push the Revo into the water until there is some clearance then reach down, pull out the wheel frame, turn it upside down and drop the posts into the same scupper holes right behind the seat.  The Wheels fit nicely behind you and infront of the crate. Also if bungied in you have more flotation in a hullie.

guys, don't expect this to work with the pro aircraft carr... errrr, pro angler.  zee had one of those scupper trolleys at the seattle boat show, and it looked absolutely anemic under the bulk of that boat. i suspect that continued use of a scupper trolley on something that large and heavy will quickly result in broken or cracked scuppers. and, honestly, to transport that PA, the tires are going to have to be much much larger.

if you arent going to be doing a lot of dragging where you need " fat beach tires" i'd suggest the C-Tug.. after getting to the water, it breaks down to store inside the hull. our sponsor, outdoorplay, carries them.

nice points brought up about the differences in the boat models. gives me some things to think about, too.

Good thread, Demonick. Thank you for the helpful suggestions. I'm just setting up my new Revo and have a question about the sidekick package. I am going to have either a milk crate and/or a downrigger mounted behind the seat--how far back can you mount the crossbar for the sidekicks? I'm probably not going to be using it too often while fishing but would like the option if possible.
T2

The wheels fit into the 8" hatch in back.  I stuff the rest up front. (I have the fat tires) (Also the fat belly)  Interestingly, you can pedal off with the wheels under the boat in case you forget to remove them, they float up and stay in place.  Makes it  dog to pedal, tho!!!

I'm just setting up my new Revo and have a question about the sidekick package. I am going to have either a milk crate and/or a downrigger mounted behind the seat--how far back can you mount the crossbar for the sidekicks? I'm probably not going to be using it too often while fishing but would like the option if possible.
T2

I'd do what the manf suggests. Through it's life, that part of the kayak will take some stress.

Z

(I have the fat tires) (Also the fat belly)

I think we all have it to some degree.

So KT, being the Revo pedaler for a few years now, care to share your assessments on the performance of the Revo? Yessnoo, care to share?

Z

I guess you read my article on crabbing in NWS. ChuckE down in NorCal came up w/ that system.

I did, and I paid attention.

When you shimmy up to the front, are you removing the drive system so Pete and the twins don't get bruised?

I just scooted over the pedals without a problem.  Maybe Pete and the twins are bigger than my boys. 

Revo has a wheel system that works really well. Fat beach tires, the frame two posts slip under the boat up into the scuppers behind the seat when using on land. 

Kevin, the guy at Hobie NW who helped me, used this cart (but with hard wheels) to get to the boat launch.  Worked well on the smooth concrete.  I very quickly destroyed a Scupper Pup by dragging my T13 across sand and rocks.  The uppers bent.  Seemed to me if I was bending metal tubes then I was also stressing the scuppers equally.  This is why I picked up a Wheelez. 

Did you dump the Revo and do a self rescue?  A good thing to experience, and is an easy process.

I had planned to, and warned Kevin I was likely to go into the water.  However, it was windy with some chop, and the boat felt pretty much just like my T13 with which I have no problem re-entering, so I passed.  If I get one, I will pracice.
 

Good picture Zee, thanks. It looks like I could put the bar right behind the seat like in the picture and have room for a crate or downrigger behind that. I took the revo out for an initial run this afternoon--great day! I didn't do any fishing as I was just trying to get to know the boat.I have the sailing rudder  which was very responsive but I think I have to tighten the rudder line a bit or adjust the clearance as I was doing the occasional donut even though I had the rudder lever hard over the other way, trying to correct.
One of the other things I was trying to do was envision where I would put my fishfinder, rod mount, etc. Finally, I was  was seeing how the wheeleeze cart worked going down to my local beach from my house. 10 minute walk and I was launching--worked great!!
T2

Well, Bryce, it's been almost 2 years---bought it in July 2008.  Also bought the livewell. 



   First mod after making a DF mount, was to get the sailing rudder and turbo fins---the standard fins did not give enough resistance, the boat felt underpowered and the glide/stroke is substantially increased with the big fins.   I have never shimmied up to access stuff in the front hatch while underway, but it's certainly doable.  The Revo is VErY stable----both initial stability and secondary.  With a length/width ratio of 5.6, it feels a lot faster than the Outback (l/w 4.4)  but not as quick as the Adventure, which has a l/w ratio of 7.  Hull configuration counts, as does length along the waterline.  Old-time hull speed formula gives top speed for a 16 foot (waterline) kayak as 6.2 mph, but we know the Adventure can be pushed over 7 mph, so the formula must be tken with a grain of salt or two.

   I noticed that the secondary stability of the Adventure is about the same as the Revo and  a bit less than the super-stable Outback, but the initial stability of the Revo ("twitchy" or tippy feeling) is higher than the Adventure.  Which is not to say that the Adventure is a tippy feeling boat--it ain't-- just that it feels a little tenderer at rest, or while twisting around in the seat. 

   Paddled the 3 boats on the same day on Lake Washington (thanks Dan) .  All 3 had the standard, smaller fins.  The effort required for a given distance was highest for the Outback, less for the Revo, still less for the Adventure.  As one would expect, given the varying beam and length ratios.  My last sit-in yak was a Current designs Extreme, with length/width ratio of 10.6, a real rocket, but tippy as hell---you'd have to do a low brace just to look around behind you! And my cruising speed in the revo is pretty damn close to the Extreme, with none of the disadvantages.   And I'll bet that most folks paddle or pedal at around 2.5 to 3.5 knots, and there just ain't that much difference at trolling or loafing- along speeds.  It's when you're really pushing it that the longer, narrower boats shine.  If I were 1500 yards offshore and the lightning was starting to hit the water, I'd sure as hell want the fastest boat around.  But for fishing in most conditions, I'd be happy in any of the 3.  I picked the Revo as the best compromise among the variables of  capacity, stability and speed.  Everyone who has pedaled it has been overcome with Hobielust---my wife found a month-old Revo  on Craigslist for $1300 with a whole slew of new accessories.  Let's face it, your quads are a hell of a lot stronger than your deltoids, and it's REALLY nice to have your hands free.  It takes a pretty good paddler with excellent technique to get the most out of a paddling boat, but any beginner can pedal a Hobie right off the bat.  And they don't have the disadvantage of slowing between paddle strokes, because one fin is always driving the boat forward.  And the underwater fins are much quieter than paddling---at least the sloppy, splashy way I paddle! 
   I find that the fat little inflatable tires fit in the rear hatch, and the cart fits just fine up front.  I once pedaled off from the beach and the bpat felt like something was holding it back---it was the cart, I'd forgotten to lift the boat and pull it out, and it just floated up into the scupper holes, making an awful drag!!
    Most of the places I launch from are sandy or gravel beaches, so the pneumatic tires really are helpful.  Long as I remember to pull them out from under!!

   The mast hole is a good place for one of the fishfinder Ram mounts, I made the one in the pic, but later bought one that tightens down in the mast hole, and.  Here's the fishfinder that I'm going to send YAKNITUP as soon as I get my ass in gear:  Having the FF that far forward means big screen. I little one just is too small for good visibility, and you've got to lurch up there to turn it on, zoom it, etc etc.




   One thing that the newer boats have over the 2007 models is better seat lockdown----if I slump my butt forward to take a nap, the seat pegs usually pop out.
   I found that I needed to put in some gunnel pad eyes with cord handles in the front, to aid unloading the boat from my truck canopy, there just aren't enough grabbing places as it comes from the dealer.
I got a nice spring-loaded collapsible crab pot this past summer, it worked really well during our vacation on Orcas. I'll take some pix in a new topic in the gear review section....
   I love the Revo, it's a wonderful boat.  But there is lust in my heart for the Adventure, for the sheer speed of it!!!  Not enough to pull the trigger, though, retirement has tamed my impetuous spending.

 

I have the sailing rudder  which was very responsive but I think I have to tighten the rudder line a bit or adjust the clearance as I was doing the occasional donut even though I had the rudder lever hard over the other way, trying to correct.
T2

I had this same problem on the Revo sail rudder when I purchased. There is a link on the Hobie site that talks about solving rudder problems.  One big help was using the momentum of the rudder from its resting spot on the deck as it swings into the water by pulling on the down handle and at the same time turning the steering lever so that you increase the rudder momentum going into the water. This took a little practice and solved the issue once I had the lines properly tightened.
holt

Very nice write-up, KT. Thanks! Your Revo looks about right!
Last Fall, a good paddler gave me a few tidbits of paddling instruction regarding my forward stroke. I'd never really had anyone critique my paddling before.
He said I was using too much shoulder and arms. He showed me how to use my torso (and legs) for power when executing a forward stroke, and just use my arms and shoulders to hold and guide the paddle. He'd seen me trolling slowly, holding the paddle up and using mainly my arms and shoulders to move the boat very slowly.
Since then I have been working on more proper technique. I'm producing a good power stroke with no splash...smooth entry and exit of the blade from the water, and really getting a good lower torso workout.

I'm pinching pennies already, saving for a new Adventure Island one of these days!

yes, nice write up Kalitype.  I too popped out of the Revo seat pegs during my test drive.  The 2010 seats have lock-down expanding pegs to prevent it.  Kind of like a removable well nut. 

Really glad to see this as I'm in the market.  I was supposed to do a test drive last Sat up at Hobie NW but came down with a head cold.  I'm rescheduling for next Saturday (Feb 27).

Having a real bad lower back is the only question I have with the drive system.  I have difficulty pedaling a mountain bike up hills after one or two so the concern is pedaling four or five hours in the Adventure.  Can anyone comment on that?

Thanks

Greg

FishSniffer..
   I have a Revo, and lower back fusion(burst fracture of L3), carbon fiber lower leg, brace on other lower leg/ankle,
    For me the drive as well as paddling helps my back.. I do a local lake peddle if i'm not fishing just to keep the  back tuned up.. Can't say it will or won't work for you, just try one ,, first hour is getting used to it like anything different but after that you will know.. The reclined seat helps a lot..
   Royg

RevoRoy

Sounds like it's benefiting your back.  Perhaps it's going to be good therapy.  I wonder if they'll let me test drive it for an hour?  Guess we'll see.

You do any of the California halibut fishing down there inside the jaws?

Fishsnifer.
  Two  years ago they were here,, Salmon guys got them in the bay, did'nt hear of any this year though, Brookings does well on them sometimes.
Royg