Hello all brand new here Question

Hello all,

Hey I'm brand new. Never had a kayak before. I have a cutom built 20' Motion Marine Jet boat and well to be honest with I'm getting tired of the noise and of course the fuel expense. YUK!

so I've been doing some research and am really interested in Kayak. I have no experenice and my use for one will be mostly the high lakes, ocasionally the Willamette river and when I get experienced enough maybe down at Cape Kiwanda or some ocean fishing.

My question is I've been looking at the Hobie Mirage Outback 08 for $1649 plus accesories and or the Hobie Mirage Adventure Fish. As I'm sure you all know they have that mirage drive system and I was wondering if that is worth getting and sacrifice some room a bit or should I be considering a standard paddle model.

Of course since I'm new stablity is important to me, but I really like the idea of the mirage system so much that I'm considering buying a kayak instead of a drift boat. I like the idea of trolling at times and being able to hole on to the pole and feel the strike. I'am concerned a bit about the comfortablity of these neat little crafts, and also if they have enough stabilty for a guy to stand up in now and then to strectch or cast to a lurking trout.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. One last thing is there any place a guy could go to demo one of these crafts and where can a guy find dealers in the PNW. or should I consider ordering online.

Again any help will be so much appreciated. Thank you all.

Pat

Hey Seaduce,
Welcome. First, congrats on entering the world of kayak fishing!! The madness is the best!

I'll try to make this as simple as possible. Get out and demo a bunch of yaks and figure it out what works best for you. There's a lot of opinions out there and although they all are valid they might not work just right for you. Most kayak shops do have a demo fleet so start by calling local shops.

When it comes to Hobies, I think they measure up to other yaks but the only problem I've ever had w/ them is their price. If you ever get your heart set on one check out the used or demo market first. Most good fishing kayaks are almost half the price of the Hobie. And the only real difference of the Hobie's is that they have the mirage drive.. steep IMO.

Anyway, hope it helps and if you have more questions make sure to use the search box. There's tons of info on the site already.

Z

When it comes to Hobies, I think they measure up to other yaks but the only problem I've ever had w/ them is their price. If you ever get your heart set on one check out the used or demo market first. Most good fishing kayaks are almost half the price of the Hobie. And the only real difference of the Hobie's is that they have the mirage drive.. steep IMO.

Z

Ahh, but you forget , they come with a water bottle..

When it comes to Hobies, I think they measure up to other yaks but the only problem I've ever had w/ them is their price. If you ever get your heart set on one check out the used or demo market first. Most good fishing kayaks are almost half the price of the Hobie. And the only real difference of the Hobie's is that they have the mirage drive.. steep IMO.

Z

Ahh, but you forget , they come with a water bottle..

Mine even came w/ 2!! 

Z

The following are my opinions and worth exactly what you paying for them

 Although I own and love it, the Adventure is a tad tippy.  The Outback is more stable but paddles like a barge (pedals just fine though). You might like that stability at first, but you'll appreciate the speed of a longer hull in a very short time.
What to do? Get a Revolution. It's a little shorter than the Adventure and paddles (and pedals) a lot better than the Outback. I think its worth seeking one out.
BTW you can get amas for the Adventure and even take it sailing, but thats a lot more stuff (and expense) and makes things less simple.

All that said, I think the Hobies are not very good replacements for a drift boat. Different animals. The mirage drive does not go well with rock gardens and standing is marginal at best (some folks do, but I don't). The drive pulls easily and you can paddle through said rock gardens. You can also pull over to a bank to fish. But a drift boat is better suited if thats you main type of fishing. 
Although the Hobies may be marginal as a drift boat, I'd much prefer them over a Clackacraft thorough the surf and in the ocean in general (and in a lake as well).

Check Pacific City Sporting goods in Pacific City. Michelle (?) rents them and often has some good deals on used boats.Hmmm, thats the second (or third) referral. Are they sponsoring this site yet?

I think Scapoose Bay Kayak rents as well.

In any event, good luck and welcome to the most fun you can have in wet pants   

Howdy Pat and Welcome,

Last year I evolved from a power boat, then to a tandem electric Bobcat hunting/fishing boat, and then to a little Hobie Sport, (the mini-Outback).  Now the other two boats are for sale.  So I have a Hobie bias, so prepare for my friendly little rant here...

As Zeelander said, just try everything. Take your time and have fun gaining the experience with different kayaks.  Everyone has their own preferences, and it depends so much on your size, weight, center of gravity, hip width, fishing methods, etc. so you really should try everything.

My own choice was easy.  I wanted the Hobie because my hands are free for fishing and photography, and I'm a really small guy, plus I like to load a little boat in the back of my pickup so easily.  So the Sport was my choice, and I don't regret it at all.  I let a friend try the Sport and he loved it, but wanted something bigger, so he got the Revolution.  It's longer and narrower than the OutBack, so faster and easier to paddle, yet a little less stable than the shorter, wider OB.  The OB and Revo weigh about the same.  The Revo, Sport and Outback are all popular, but the Outback seems the most popular.

For standing up, some folks with good balance can stand on kayaks, but I recommend  pontoons (an outrigger or two) that they sell for Hobies and other kayaks.  I build my own removable pontoons, and can stand and I CAN'T tip it over, no matter how I try.  I sail my Hobie also, with the pontoons attached.  I love to peddle, paddle, and sail, But mostly I peddle.

Yes they are expensive.  Do look at demo models.  Don't buy one pre-2007 (and some earlier 2006s) because they strengthened the drive-well then.  I paid full new price, but my buddy got a 2007 Revo demo in perfect condition for $1,300.  Also it's good to buy local.  You can always ask for a discount and you should get better, more hassle-free service locally for the warranty, etc..

Also, do take a real kayak safety class and always wear all the right safety gear.

Besides the Hobies, try different models made by Wilderness Systems, Malibu, Ocean Kayak, and Cobra, (and some others, but those seem the most popular).

A couple more things about Hobies; more moving parts, thus more maintenance (but not bad, really), and I love using my legs to power the boat:  Great exercise, (easy to pedal) and it keeps me warm.  But the main thing is, again, hands free fishing! (Just a little touch to the rudder control once in awhile.)

Okay, end of rant.  Good luck and have fun (and boat safe!) 

-Matt

while searching the okuma site for some items, found out they have a yak for sale, too, and it comes with most of the stuff we usually have to buy afterwards...

https://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=M-BK-K-140/422.0.25792.25778.0.0.0

while searching the okuma site for some items, found out they have a yak for sale, too, and it comes with most of the stuff we usually have to buy afterwards...

https://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=M-BK-K-140/422.0.25792.25778.0.0.0

A Cobra, by any other name, would fish as sweet?   

http://www.cobrakayaks.com/pdf/Marauder-XFPR.pdf

LMAO.. i thot the profile looked familiar

After 3-4 months of shopping and demoing last winter/spring, I ended up going with a Hobie Revolution last May for pretty much of the same reasons you lay out. I have to say that for me, it was the right decision. It's really a great fishing platform, though I can't say I'd stand up on it if I didn't want to get wet.

A couple of downsides: First, there's no reverse or brakes! While obvious once it's pointed out, it becomes abundantly clear when you find your bow is in tight with the rocks or another yakker. Not unmanageable because you can just go acoustic and pull out the paddle, but it caught me strangely by surprise the first time it happened.

Secondly, in shallow water the peddles/fins just get in the way. Again, it's easy to just pull out the paddle, but speaking for the Revo at least, it doesn't track well without the rudder and the hand controlled rudder is useless with you're also in manual mode. The Hobie Mirage craft are definitely *not* shallow water boats.

I'd would question the concern over the price. With the Hobie, pretty much everything came with by boat: the peddles/fins,  paddle, rudder, cargo bungi, 3 hatches all with *nice* tight covers, and yes, a water bottle and mini dry bag. After adding everything up, the price was about $250 more for the Hobie over the OK I was considering. Is the peddle power option worth it? For me, absolutely. For anyone else, dunno. I'd just encourage you to look at the apples and apples when you make the cost comparison.

My experiences with my 2006 Outback is quite similar to Wannabe's with his Revolution.  Plus sides are very stable, comfy, great quality and nice components.  I've done 10 mile days pedaling mine around in tidewater.

Down sides are hard to operate in shallow water, doesn't paddle/track very well when using the paddle instead of the drive, and its pretty darn heavy.

I like mine a lot, but as I do a lot of river fishing, it is proving less than ideal for me.  I am actually considering selling mine in favor of something like a Malibu X-Factor or a Cobra Marauder.

I like mine a lot, but as I do a lot of river fishing, it is proving less than ideal for me.  I am actually considering selling mine in favor of something like a Malibu X-Factor or a Cobra Marauder.

Hey 3wt!

Just curious, but why those alternatives? They seem very different from the Hobie. Is it the drive bumping the bottom?   

Yeah,  no reverse gear on the Hobie drive.  Ever tried putting the drive in backwards?
Just kidding.  I really have no trouble in shallow water.  Just do short quick strokes with the drive fins nearly horizontal.  I do it all the time.  I only pull the drive in surf, super shallow water or in kelp.  And no, they don't paddle really well, but they do paddle okay. 

Revo=longer and narrower, a little faster and slightly less stable. OB=shorter and wider, slightly more stable, and some things more in easier reach.  Personally, I love them all!  But the Sport is my baby. Great for smaller folks and kids only four feet tall.  (adjustable seat and pedals). Kids love it, and it will handle six feet tall and 200 lbs.

My friend got the great price at a year end demo sale.  That's when you can get the good deals.  But they are sold on our forums (NWKA and NCKA) and on Craiglist fairly regularly.  The advantage of buying from a dealer is the customer service.

Hobie On!  -Matt  (And no...I'm not a "Hobie Snob")  I greatly respect more traditional paddle SOT and SIT yaks and all the skills involved.  Whatever floats your boat.)

Cheers.

Hey 3wt!

Just curious, but why those alternatives? They seem very different from the Hobie. Is it the drive bumping the bottom?   

Drive bumping bottom, and the abuse that the center "skeg" takes on rocks when using it in rivers.  I used it a bit last summer to trout fish on the Williamson and Wood rivers down in S. Oregon, and found the fins to be a pain.  Running rivers with strong current around riffles and shallow rocks is dicey.  Hanging a fin means the fin taking a lot of torque and abuse, and the boat potentially capsizing when it broadsides in the current.  Leaving the fins out, it wouldn't track very well at all unless the rudder was extended and centered (meaning the rudder then ground on the lava rocks and gravel.)

But I am still a fan of the Hobie.  For trolling on lakes for trout and in tidewater for salmon, it is awesome.

I would like to kayak fish a bit more for sea run cutthroat this year in the coastal rivers, steelhead on the Sandy, and small mouth on the John Day... all of which argues for a short, agile boat like a Scrambler XT.  On the other hand, I also want to try my luck at crabbing via kayak this year, which requires a stable platform that handles well in wind and current.  And my wife now thinks I'm having too much fun in the kayak and wants one of her own.  And add that my best fishing buddy is our 45 pound cow dog.

My ideal solution would be to add a shorter, stable craft that handles rivers fairly well, and that my wife can paddle--I've been eying the OK Sidekick for this.   Then adding a longer, stable craft for flat water use.  Someday I'd also like to try my luck at off-shore fishing for lingcod and such.  It seems like the X-factor, Marauder, and Ride 135 might be better bets for this.

 

i forgot my manners, ...this is uspposed to be a welcome thread....

WECOME, PAT, the madness is catching, and it's a good thing!
Rich