Okay..Here’s something you never hear about on NWKA: Hobie’s

My plan to purchase a Hobie Outback is back on the drawing board again (surprise!). It didn’t happen last year, so has become a higher priority for soon (I hope) in 2012. I’ve never done a lot of research, as of yet, or even as much as sat in one, or taken one for a test run (peddle). I do have a few specific and very knowledgeable local experts that I plan on asking questions and have for long hours, gazed, felt, smelled and enviously stared at theirs, to include the local Hobie Dealer’s (you know who you are).

At present, and unless some fantastic deal falls in my lap, I plan on buying new, but mainly because demo’s and used don’t happen all that often. At least, not in my world. My question goes out to the Dealers, Factory Reps, local experts as well as the closet Hobie owner, young or old, new to kayaking, or a veteran in the industry.

No comment is too small or to be considered anything but valuable in my decision, so please, feel free to chime in. Don’t want to go public, but still have an opinion? Please send me a pm or an e-mail and thanks to all, in advance.

The question(s) is/are: What is the down side, the short comings, or things you’ve disliked about your Hobie?  Maybe stuff that you’ve gotten used to that you‘ve long ago forgotten, because it wasn‘t that big of deal after all, or, it still is a bother, but you are used to it? Features you fixed to work better, or that were kind of over rated, dependability of the Mirage drive, overall weight, maneuverability, quality of the cables, fitting, rudder....anything? Tell me about the available upgrades to something that was wimpy from the time it left Hobie, or first hit the water. Where are all of the NWKA Forum Engineers & Gearheads?

IT IS NOT my intention, to start a “Hobie Haters” thread. In fact, I have a feeling it will be just the opposite, but I already know many of the positives in most minds and would like to hear feedback from both sides of the spectrum. Maybe with enough replies or information, this could be used by others as a reference for selling and buying a Hobie, or maybe not. Maybe fellow Hobie owners haven't gave something much thought, but your idea is rock solid or stellar, so they adopt it too. Or, perhaps this thread could end up becoming a “sticky” under the Product Discussion section.  One thing's for sure.; If there’s no participation, it won’t go anywhere.

Thanks again to all....Dave 

In my paddle boats I like to lay my net in front of me for quick access when landing fish. Not possible with the mirage drive. The placement of the cup holder on my revo adds a new challenge when I need to shimmy up the hull to my FF, front hatch, or trolling rod holders when I have a water bottle in it. If you fly fish you have to be extra mindful of how you manage your fly line to keep it from tangling around the drive. if you are looking to stop right on top of a piece of structure, drop off, or whatever, you need to have the paddle in your hands ready to go otherwise you will glide right past you target over and over. when in rougher water paddle boats feel a bit more solid since you are essentially bracing with every stroke. The drive is yet another thing to tether/have to deal with in the surf zone. the drive is one more thing to wash and lube everytime you launch in a marine environment.

You cant always have your cake and eat it too. All and all fishing from my revo has been a dream and the pros out weigh the cons by a long shot. I've only been in it since Oct, so I'm sure I will find ways to adapt and overcome.

I haven't owned my Outback all that long, but to me it's 3 things:

1) the ability to paddle the Outback efficiently if I choose to want a paddling experience instead of a peddling one. The Revo isn't as bad, but the Outback is a barge to paddle.

2) Forgetting to bring your flippers up flush with the hull when fighting a fish and having the fish wrap your line around the mirage drive. It's a cluster to say the least.

3) Overshooting your target and not being able to back paddle or even just  needing to "reverse" a few feet for any reason requires you to reach for your paddle as there is no reverse gear on a mirage drive (unless you take the thing out and flip it around everytime. Not happening).

I agree with Rav, pros waaaaay outweigh the cons. But as in anything there are downsides as well.

Paul


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As a revo jockey, I too have found I suffer the same issues.  I have considered buying (or making) some simple hand paddles to alleviate issue number 3.  Has anyone tried them?


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I keep a bright orange collapsible emergency paddle leashed to my milk crate ($14.95 @ Walmart), normally don't carry my Hobie paddle at all. Works great for dock and ramp launches in calm water.

I keep a bright orange collapsible emergency paddle leashed to my milk crate ($14.95 @ Walmart), normally don't carry my Hobie paddle at all. Works great for dock and ramp launches in calm water.

I was thinking, since you have a Tandem Island with big 'ole outrigger ama thingamajigs, is a kayak paddle a good idea ever?  Seems like if your mirage drive failed and there was no wind, a regular paddle like they use on Hawaiian style outrigger canoes would be best.

I came out of an OK T13 and into a Revo.  The cons were few, and overshadowed by the pros of the mirage drive. 

You've all heard it before, but I think the hull plastic is too thin and/or too soft. 

There was no bungee lacing nor pad-eyes on the bow.  This meant it was wasted storage space, so I added both.

The hatch o-rings suck.  They seal, but have a funky pointed cross-section which causes them to roll in their hatch cover slots.  Keep them clean and juiced up with WD-40.  I am thinking of getting circular cross-section replacements and see it they work better. 

The rear rod holders are worthless as rod holders.

The tank well is too shallow at the stern. 

Get a couple rudder pin replacements.  My Revo came without any spares.  There are storage slots in the hatch covers.

All of the cons are out-weighed by the convenience, durability, and performance of the mirage drive. 

The upgrades I got were turbo fins and a sailing rudder.

I still carry my premium paddle on the side on every trip. 

I'd hate to have to paddle the TI any distance with my rescue paddle. Last year I paddled up a small creek about 1/2 mile and back with my Hobie paddle and amas stowed. I was in no hurry and enjoyed the peace and quiet. I figure with two drives and a sail I'm fine in flat water. Surf is a challenge I've yet to tackle, need to study how others have done it with TIs.

What I like about my Outback:

I find all 4 built in rod holders useful for rod storage - especially with multiple rods bass fishing. I added a few scotty mounts to hold the rods while fishing. Mirage drive and rudder are nice for anchoring, picking up the anchor, slowly moving along while bass fishing, staying on top of a sturgeon while fighting one. Also, you can peddle very slowly and easily move along at a nice clip or put the peddle to the metal. All with little to no skill. Trying to paddle fast takes a lot of talent, peddling fast does not. I like the deck storage. I keep lots of stuff there: pliers, knives, clippers, camera, scent, stretchy thread, coffee thermos. I find the seat to be plenty comfortable: I even adjust it a bit. If I am fishing off the left side of the kayak I over tighten the right strap so that it naturally turns me a little bit. I can fish like that for hours with no twisting discomfort. I really like all the primary stability. Sometimes when bass fishing I will turn completely sideways and let my legs hang over one side while working a bank. Overall, I think that the Outback makes it easy to go fishing and thus makes me a better fisherman.

What I do not like about my Outback:
The peddles hit the sides of the kayak when I have it set to 7 (and I wish it would go to . This varies from yak to yak. I have been in an Outback where this did not happen. Thus, I have to carefully shorten my stroke even more than I want to not damage the kayak. I have not paddled it far, but it is not a great kayak to paddle. The directionality is not very good (perhaps that is operator error so take that with a grain of salt). The plastic is on the soft side. I keep wanting to add some kind of tape the length of the bottom. I wish the storage hatch between my legs was rectangular and a bit longer. It would make it easier to store long items like rods. Similar request on the front hatch. It could easily have been made to be a bit longer. I think that the twist and stow rudder is overly complicated (I worry about it breaking). Also, as pointed out earlier. The drive consumes a huge amount of prime location storage space.

That is all that comes to mind. To be clear, I am being as critical as possible. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the purchase. If it were stolen or swallowed by a giant sturgeon or something like that I would order a new one the next day.

As I am sure you know and everyone will say, I would test drive the outback and the revo and then make the choice. For me the outback was a better choice, but I know the guys with revos love their revos as much as I love my outback. If you do test drive them I would take a fishing rod so that you get a feel for casting, turning around, reaching into the rear well, opening the hatches, etc. Also, paddle them both to feel the difference. Pay attention to how it feels to work a shoreline, hold position, set the hook, etc.

two small things not already mentioned:

1) Using the Hobie supplied liter bottle in the molded-in cup holder. It sticks up too high and gets in the way. However, an aluminum can in a foam sleeve fits just right, has a lower profile and can have better contents. I use the short Minute Maid orange juice bottles that fit in the smaller cup holder for water bottles. Note: I see ravdakot did mention this

2) The rudder lever is right under your leg when you straddle the cockpit. Maybe not a problem a lot of the time, but I have the tandem with dual controls, and invariably sometime during a trip one person straddles the cockpit and prevents the other person from using the rudder lever. Also, the rudder lever covers get worn from legs rolling over them.

I share the complaints about the forward hatch and suspicions about the twist-n-stow rudder. I do think the Mirage drive is priceless, though. I will always have a Hobie.

I'm wondering how hard it would be to engineer a reverse thrust to the Mirage system.  It's one thing that has kept me from looking any more seriously at a Hobie (other than price - even used it very hard to get them for under $1000 and still be worth buying).

I'm wondering how hard it would be to engineer a reverse thrust to the Mirage system.  It's one thing that has kept me from looking any more seriously at a Hobie (other than price - even used it very hard to get them for under $1000 and still be worth buying).

Remove drive, turn it around, seat drive.

A good option to get around option #3 (overshooting your target area) is to look into a paddle available at Backwater Paddling. There are a few options for different uses but its a pretty sturdy hand paddle.



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