Hobie Revolution or Outback or ?????

I want a new toy DANG IT!!!

I have decided that my beloved Mini-x is just too much of barge.  Obviously I can catch fish with it but the slow speed is just too much to overcome from a safety point of view. Right now my comfort level is only a mile to 2 miles out as a headwind of just 10knts and current have me battling to just stay even, let alone make headway.  After watching a SINK and a 15 ft prowler in action, and then watching my friend blow by me in a 12ft pereception pescadore, I need and upgrade!

  i was wondering how long it would take you to upgrade.... you asked the right question to the right bunch of people... all of it very good advice....looking at thier replies, i think you have a solid answer too....personally i ususally err on the side of capacity, and there the outback outperforms the revo by a 50 lb greater capacity... knowing how much you love to add gadgets [ i see you joined that club early ] i'd go for the outback, too....  good luck, hopefully the Mrs. understands..

Sounds like the Outback is your ticket to Nirvana. I have a Revo which has been in some sloppy conditions but your needs/wants
point to the Outback. Short of it: more room and stability. Best of luck having buyers remorse

These guys have covered the bases on the different perspectives very well, so I won't touch any contributions they have made.

I will however, make sure you know that I use an Adventure nearly every day guiding folks fishing from kayaks.  AND I am in Ketchikan.  I'd absolutely put you in my Adventure for a demo plus.

Send me a PM if you are interested.

hey thanks!  If I am ever in your neck of the woods I will definitely look you up.  Fortunately for me I have half way decent resources for the time being and kids getting bigger and bigger.  I totally see myself in an adventure at some point...knowing me, sooner than later.  But in these waters, I place too much of a premium on stability. Keep in mind I have only really been doing this for a few months.

One of the areas I'd like to open up with this is the Kenai River on non motorized days or the Kasilof river and a long kayak seems a bit scary. 

I am now almost 75% up to an outback.

We'll see if they can even get them up here at the place I usually shop.

Today I went out to fish but decided after a few hours to see what speeds I could sustain, and play around.  Flat water (0.5'/s) but some gusty wind at times.  Granted it is all relative but I could easily hold 5 to 5.5 mph looping Ross Island.  Should also note that I am a cyclist but the motion is far closer to squats than cycling so it might be conditioning.   Next test was ski boat wakes.  Was able to get my bow below water pushing as hard as I could perpendicular  and did not loose a thing from my deck.  Next was taking the wakes sideways and askew with arms locked so I was top heavy, again nothing lost.  Final test was pulling up near a concrete wall for wave reflection, again nothing lost.  Items on my deck (shallow trays) were kwikfish, gps unit (tethered), cliff bars and some weights.

My guess is that all of the Hobie's can do that.  It probably boils down to some like blonds, some brunettes...  Either way, I bought mine without ever having been in a kayak and maybe it is because I am use to it or just dumb luck but I would not trade it.

On a side note, there use to be a 07:00 ANC to PDX direct and a 19:00 PDX to ANC direct.  The ORC is this weekend and there will probably be every tub there that you would want to take for a test spin, just a thought

I totally see myself in an adventure at some point...knowing me, sooner than later. 

I told you the answer was yes!     

What all of these fellow addicts have neglected to mention is that if you are not very careful, kayaks breed like rabbits in your yard.


(get a trailer)

What all of these fellow addicts have neglected to mention is that if you are not very careful, kayaks breed like rabbits in your yard.


(get a trailer)

Isn't that the truth!

Good luck with your upgrade!

Last weekend I was out in my Revo with turbo fins and sailing rudder.  Where I was on Puget Sound was almost flat and the winds almost calm.  I could make 4.5kts (5.2mph) fairly continuously, 4kts (4.6mph) was continuous cruising speed and I hit 5kts (5.75mph) with some effort.  I am of normal-ish stature weighing in at about 155# naked.

Wind and waves makes a huge difference.  Moderate headwind reduces cruising speed to about 3.5kts.   I find the Revo very stable and have yet to fall out.  Self-rescue is easy too.  The Adventure is faster, longer, and narrower.  Personally, if I were to have to choose between using an Outback or an Adventure as a fishing platform, I choose the Outback.  However, the Revo is a very nice compromise between the two. 

I use Danielson 24x24x12" folding crab traps and it is difficult to get fishing gear and a couple crab traps with line and floats on the Revo at the same time.  I could do it on the OK T13, but the mirage drive cuts down on the useable space on the Revo.   In July I am going to experiment with lashing the crab traps/line/floats on top of the front hatch.  It may be possible to stack them assembled, and use one to hold the floats and line, and the other to hold the catch.

My two cents...I have been fishing out of an adventure the last 2 years and it's been fine.  But I recently got an Outback and I love, love, LOVE it.  It's super stable, super comfortable and very well set up for fishing.  I took my adventure out the other day and realized how much better the outback is (let me qualify...better for ME...some folks definitely prefer the adventure and that's cool too). 

Okay.  I am going to get the outback I think.  It's the "right" step up for me knowing that my 9 and 6 year old kids in a couple of years will hopefully find interest in kayaking freeing "dad" up for another specialty kayak in the future.

Ok for the more experienced folks...  Does Color matter?  I am 100% function over form kinda guy.  Pretty gets zero points in my book.  Functional is everything.  I've heard light colors you can rig a light inside and make the kayak glow with enough usable light.  I suppose some colors are more visible at night and low light conditions and such.

Definitely going to get the turbo fins and sailing rudder upgrade.

Thanks for all the input. 

Paint it black and white in an orca pattern to ward off seals. 

Paint it black and white in an orca pattern to ward off seals.

That's a really really good idea....except can you guarantee me that an aggressive Killer whale won't try to "mate" with my outback??  As much as I hate them, I think I'd rather deal with a curious pinniped than a love struck Killer Whale.

Maybe a separate question...can you really paint the kayaks?  I suppose there is paint for everything but doesn't seem to be the type of surface conducive to a paint job.

....except can you guarantee me that an aggressive Killer whale won't try to "mate" with my outback?? 

That would be bad.

Orca Painting and You:  Turning your kayak into a tupperware blow-up doll!

Just put scupper plugs in the scuppers underneath your seat

You guys crack me up.  At least I hope its humor and not more reality based comments!

But as often is the case, I have factored in the advice I have gotten here and though I am not sure of the available choices, I think I am going to take ivory/white from the bottom to the top of the list with a possible paint project in mind.