Hobie Outback or Pro Angler

 Long time lurker here but have been out of the kayak game for several years due to a pair of rotator cuff surgeries. Not interested in paddling anymore anymore so the mirage drive it is. I've demo'd both the Outback and the Pro Angler and like them both, but it's only going to be one that goes home. A little background: I'm retired, 65, 6'-2", 260 lbs (trying to get it to 240), workout at the gym 5 days a week, usual aches and pains for an old guy. Used to be a decent paddler back in the day. I've got a 4 door full size pickup for a hauler but the yak will have to go in the bed with a hitch extender as my shoulders aren't going to let me put a yak on an overhead rack. Not interested in trailering a yak as then I might as well use my Whaler instead of a yak. I'm tired of the launch ramp dance trying to launch and retrieve the boat and find the ease of getting a yak into and out of the water appealing. For me a yak is going to be used the same as all of my boats have been; just a platform to kill fish on. Usage will be 90+% salmon fishing, and of that percentage 80% will be downrigger trolling the rest mooching and jigging. There will be some east side lake usage but the vast majority of the time it'll be in the salt.
 Now if you've made it thru this novel; what do you recommend? Outback or Pro Angler?

I'd say Pro Angler except for the fact it may be a pain in the a$$ to load in your p/u bed.  You sound as though you're in decent shape so that shouldn't be a problem if your bed is waist high or lower.  The Outback is a sweet ride as well, but not necessarily as stable or comfortable.  I believe Zee has used both and could probably provide a good comparison for you (and he's a tall guy as well).

The Outback is considerably lighter.

Fully assembled, the Pro Angler weighs 138, according to Hobie. I don't think it would be much fun to grunt around, without a trailer.

If I was planning on doing 90+% trolling, I would grab an Adventure. With the long waterline length and the mirage drive, it can cruise.

Long time lurker here but have been out of the kayak game for several years due to a pair of rotator cuff surgeries. Not interested in paddling anymore anymore so the mirage drive it is. I've demo'd both the Outback and the Pro Angler and like them both, but it's only going to be one that goes home. A little background: I'm retired, 65, 6'-2", 260 lbs (trying to get it to 240), workout at the gym 5 days a week, usual aches and pains for an old guy. Used to be a decent paddler back in the day. I've got a 4 door full size pickup for a hauler but the yak will have to go in the bed with a hitch extender as my shoulders aren't going to let me put a yak on an overhead rack. Not interested in trailering a yak as then I might as well use my Whaler instead of a yak. I'm tired of the launch ramp dance trying to launch and retrieve the boat and find the ease of getting a yak into and out of the water appealing. For me a yak is going to be used the same as all of my boats have been; just a platform to kill fish on. Usage will be 90+% salmon fishing, and of that percentage 80% will be downrigger trolling the rest mooching and jigging. There will be some east side lake usage but the vast majority of the time it'll be in the salt.
 Now if you've made it thru this novel; what do you recommend? Outback or Pro Angler?

Welcome back to the cure..

I haven't used a Pro Angler, would love to have one if i had my own personal yak valet to load and unload it. I helped my friend Martin load his into the back of his truck, damn heavy thing, too heavy for loading into the back of a truck on a regular basis, I think the Pro Angler is a trailer boat, IMHO. I couldn't imagine trying to unload/load it on a steep ramp out of the back of the truck.


I own an Outback and i think it's the best all around fishing platform, if you like stability over speed. If your a speed over stability guy, then maybe a revo is for you. The Outback is not super light itself, but much easier to shove in the back of a truck after numerous hours in the saddle.

Even though the Pro Angler is a glorious fishing vessel, i would recommend an Outback for you.

Revo a great boat----it's in between the Adventure and the Outback in terms of both speed and stability (and price).  You'll LOVE the Mirage drive! Have you tried it?  Where in the PNW are you? 

Would Wolverine refer to a stint at the University of Michigan??

 Kallitype. Yup, University of Michigan for my masters. Did my undergrad work at Michigan State. Alls good until the fall football game between the 2. I live in Everett. 5 minutes from the Mukilteo boat launch.
 Since I'm determined to put on, and use a downrigger I need a good amount of stability as I'm not too fond of having to turn sideways of completely around every time that I need to work the rigger so I don't end up upside down. I had enough of falling out of sit inside yaks back in the 70's. Going huli every time that I looked behind me or raised a cheek to pass gas got old!  Went the catamaran sailboat route for several years. Hobie 16, Prindle 18, Sol Cat & Nacra 20's. Lots of fun but damm hard to catch fish from so I went to power boats for nearly 20 years. Now that I'm retired (not tired, just retired from every day work) I'm going back to yaks as they are less hassle to launch & retrieve, maintain, and can get some needed exercise working the Mirage Drive.
 I don't have rails on the roof of my truck so I'd have to put a lumber rack on it if I were to go for the 16' Adventure. Besides, I'd probably do a lot of swimming after getting excited after a fish popped off the rigger and I'd turn around to crank the ball up and end up dumping out of the yak. I also need a yak with a good amount of easily accessible storage as I'm a "lucky" fisherman and need a place to properly store the catch.   

I don't think you're going to have a problem not rolling any of the yaks you mentioned.  You may rock, but you aren't going to roll.  I'd recommend getting a hitch extender for any yak going in your bed... well except for a Mini-x or Caper.  The fish storage problem can be easily solved with a burlap bag in the "trunk" or using an insulated deck bag (they make them up to 40" long).

Do you post as wolverine on other fishing boards and have our paths crossed on those boards.  If so, welcome.  If not, welcome.   

-Allen

Welcome! Cat sailor, eh? Have you thought about a Hobie Adventure Island? Check out yakass.net, an Aussie site featuring a bunch of yak anglers who sail out fishing on their AIs.  You can just use the yak like the plain Adventure model without the sails and outriggers if you want, also.

Polepole, Yup thats me. I use the same handle on all the boards. Glad to be here. Should be a lot of fun.

ConeHeadMuddler, The Adventure Island would be fun but at 4 grand it should be. The older I get the less of a sailor I become here in the northwest. If I lived in Hawaii I'd have one of those bad boys. The Aquahunters forum from Hawaii has some guys who fish AI's. Big water - big fish, fast boat.

Wolverine, welcome to the forum.

I think you should take to heart what Yarjammer said and save the out-rigger for an add-on should you need it.  A sit-on-top is much, much more stable than a sit-inside.  I had absolutely no kayaking experience before starting to fish from my T13 and I've only fallen out once, in Lake Washington, when my line snagged a dock.  The boat did not flip, and in all the re-entries I've practiced it never felt like the boat was close to flipping.  I've never fallen out while crawling all over the boat, nor deploying and retrieving crab pots and/or fishing gear. 

I now have a Revo and I'm south of you around Edmonds. 

I suppose you could roll a Revo if you stood on the gunnel and leaned over, but I routinely sit on the side with my feet hanging over, and have no stability problem.  The Outback is even more stable but is not quite as effortless to pedal.  Whatever Hobie you wind up with, the Turbo fins and sailing rudder are a big improvement over stock fins.  Dan at Hobie Northwest on Lake Wash will be happy to let you try out a boat---no cost, no obligation.  Friend of mine tried out a Revo and wound up buying 2 the same day, one for him and one for his wife!!

I agree with a lot that's been said before especially about going for a yak with a slimmer outline. It's going to help a lot since you'll be downrigging/mooching over larger distances. The Outback and Pro Angler are both really great boats but will dramatically cut down your range. I'd suggest to try out the Revolution and Adventure.

But as with all of this, go with what you feel suits you best. Only you know what that is. Demo, demo, demo and after you're done pimping that yak we'll see you on the water. 

Z