Hobie Outback with Mirage drive for distance paddling?

Hi, I am seriously looking to purchase a Hobie Outback for use as a photographic platform, for duck hunting, and of course for fishing. I want the hands free capability for the benefits it could provide me for each of these pursuits. I currently use a Chesapeake Lightcraft 17' ocean kayak which is great for paddling but not practical for any of the 3 applications I noted above. I want stability while also wanting to be able to paddle good distances (perhaps 7 or 8 miles).  Can I count on the Mirage Drive for this kind of distance? Is this my best boat for these uses? So far it seems like my best solution but I would like any feedback that might help redirect me or even reinforce my current thinking. By the way, I will be selling my Chesapeake if anyone is inteterested. Thanks much in advance.

7-8 miles are easily within reach with a Hobie but how easy it will be depends on which model, water conditions, and your physical fitness. The Outback is stable but you give up distance. I'd recommend you look into the Revolution.

Z

Hi, I am seriously looking to purchase a Hobie Outback for use as a photographic platform, for duck hunting, and of course for fishing. I want the hands free capability for the benefits it could provide me for each of these pursuits. I currently use a Chesapeake Lightcraft 17' ocean kayak which is great for paddling but not practical for any of the 3 applications I noted above. I want stability while also wanting to be able to paddle good distances (perhaps 7 or 8 miles).  Can I count on the Mirage Drive for this kind of distance? Is this my best boat for these uses? So far it seems like my best solution but I would like any feedback that might help redirect me or even reinforce my current thinking. By the way, I will be selling my Chesapeake if anyone is inteterested. Thanks much in advance.

Welcome to NWKA, you found the cure...

i think the Outback or even the Revolution would suit all three activities perfectly. The Outback is the most stable of the two while the Revo, as we call it, is a more speedier ride with slightly less stability.

I have 100's of miles on myMirage  Drive and i am just now getting ready to do some overhaul on it, but nothing major. Very reliable as is the whole Kayak and the Hobie company.

Good luck on your search and enjoy it when you do get it.

Thanks guys for this feedback. This seem like a terrifice web site/forum! I will be using this primarily in fresh water on the Columbia/Willamette and on large lakes and marshes in the Klamath Basin. I would like to try it in the Ocean but will need some pros to go with me and help me get the confidence before I take that on.   Often I will be out paddling by myself in remote places so I really am guided a bit more to stability than I am to speed (understanding that the two variables are generally trade-offs). I just need to know that if I am in committed and in generally good shape, and providing weather conditions are reasonable that I could paddle a good distance.

Regarding weather, how will the Outback perform in wind and chop?

My longest day in the Adventure via GPS was 12 miles and change, trolling for coastal coho offshore.  I am planning a trip from Oregon City to Astoria in the next couple months with the Adventure and have faith that the mirage drive will not let me down.

I just need to know that if I am in committed and in generally good shape, and providing weather conditions are reasonable that I could paddle a good distance.
Regarding weather, how will the Outback perform in wind and chop?

This is where a conversation about a hobie get's a little confusing. Do you mean actually paddle with the paddle? or do you mean pedal?

The out back paddles like a tank with one track sticking, and the sticky alternates between sides... Or maybe i just don't know how to paddle. The mirage drive with turbo fins and the sailing rudder makes the outback come to life. I have spent 99.9% of my time in an Outback so not much to compare but have tried a Revo and could tell it was  much more nimble. A Revo will be my next fishing machine.

The outback handles chop good  and wind ok, turbo fin and sailing rudder upgrades are highly recommended.

Happy Pedaddling !

If you put them in order of how far you can pedal them with the same amount of energy it goes Adventure, Revolution, Outback. The Addy and Revo are similar and then the Outback is a real difference and isn't quite so good breaking through rough conditions or on the long haul. It's shorter than the Addy and a lot wider and squarer than the Revo. While stability is better in the Outback, the Addy and Revo aren't unstable. My ride is the Addy and I use it mostly for salt. Rawkfish is a regular paddler of the Revo so hopefully he'll add on to this conversation.

That all being said, if you can get down to Next Adventure and demo all three and see which one you like best. Sure Ndogg can set you up w/a demo.

Z

Thanks, I put $100 down at the sportsmans show in PDX with Next Adventure. This will hold the "show priicing" and give me a $300 credit towards assecories.  I plan to test a boat next week with them. Maybe I should ask to test a couple of different ones with the Mirage Drive. I'm a middle aged guy with no aspirations of getting too crazy in the ocean etc so a stable fishing/hunting/photo platform is my big desire here. If a boat was a "bit" more sluggish but was stable and would allow me to do these things comfortably in a hand free manner then I would be very satisfied.

Has anyone ever put a lab on the back deck of an Outback? I was just wondering if my hunting buddy would even be feasable on calm water with my Outback.

so a stable fishing/hunting/photo platform is my big desire here. If a boat was a "bit" more sluggish but was stable and would allow me to do these things comfortably in a hand free manner then I would be very satisfied.

Has anyone ever put a lab on the back deck of an Outback? I was just wondering if my hunting buddy would even be feasable on calm water with my Outback.

That describes an Outback perfectly.

Never done the dog thing but seen pics all over the interweb device, the outback would be good for that because of the ridiculous stability, there not actually easy to tip, you gotta work at it

Howdy Daveo. I demo'd both the Outback and Revo and bought the Revo about a year ago. I used the mirage drive to pedal from Mukilteo to almost Browns Bay and back trolling for Silvers last fall. Even with the standard fins I did the long distance with no problem except for fighting wind and chop on the way back. An easy 7-8 miles and I'm a 59 year old geezer. Zee's right. Try to demo them all and see if the Outback will handle your pooch if they let you. I don't think the Revo would handle it. I've never tried and won't with my 105 lb. Malamute/yellow lab.I'd guess if you want your friend along, the Outback
would be the ticket. Once again, test drive them all. Good luck and be safe.

Thanks, I put $100 down at the sportsmans show in PDX with Next Adventure. This will hold the "show priicing" and give me a $300 credit towards assecories.  I plan to test a boat next week with them. Maybe I should ask to test a couple of different ones with the Mirage Drive. I'm a middle aged guy with no aspirations of getting too crazy in the ocean etc so a stable fishing/hunting/photo platform is my big desire here. If a boat was a "bit" more sluggish but was stable and would allow me to do these things comfortably in a hand free manner then I would be very satisfied.

Has anyone ever put a lab on the back deck of an Outback? I was just wondering if my hunting buddy would even be feasable on calm water with my Outback.

Sounds like you might be leaning more to the Outback.  I peddle the Revo and LOVE it.  As Zee mentioned it isn't real tippy, but it just isn't near as solid as the Outback.  I've peddled the Outback and I think it would be a much more capable boat to take your pooch out on.  And you will certainly be able to cover ground pretty well on it too.

As Zee also mentioned, Next Adventure is the place to go if you want to demo Hobies in the PDX area.  You can take them right down to the Willy and cruise around Ross Island to get a good feel for them. 

Daveo, these guy gave you some great advice.  I would call Next Adventure and see if you can demo a Revolution and an Outback.  I haven't been in the paddle shop in a while, but I am pretty sure we have both in our demo fleet.  When you do the demo bring your dog and see what works best for the both of you and then make your decision. 

so a stable fishing/hunting/photo platform is my big desire here. If a boat was a "bit" more sluggish but was stable and would allow me to do these things comfortably in a hand free manner then I would be very satisfied.

Has anyone ever put a lab on the back deck of an Outback? I was just wondering if my hunting buddy would even be feasable on calm water with my Outback.

That describes an Outback perfectly.

Yeah, agreed.

BTW have had the dog on the back of the of the Outback and Addy. Overall I think most SOT's are really stable and can handle dogs.

When you do the demo bring your dog and see what works best for the both of you and then make your decision. 

Now that's service. 

Z

How big of a dog do you have Zee? My guy needs a battleship.

How big of a dog do you have Zee? My guy needs a battleship.

5# chihuahua... just kidding. 70# Husky/G Shepard/wolf

Z