Hobie PA12 review and info

Those PA s look like they have pretty good speed. What speeds were you hitting for the sprint starts and what could you hold for distance cruising?

Those PA s look like they have pretty good speed. What speeds were you hitting for the sprint starts and what could you hold for distance cruising?

I've fished mine all fall for salmon and have bloodied/enjoyed it over the Adventure for close quarters fishing (12' vers 16'). Being able to stand up and fish made it great for bobber fishing for fall nooks. Plus the seat is great for sitting on anchor fishing qwiks.

Cruising speed is good,similar to a Revo/Adventure/Outback. Sprint speed is way better than an Outback but a tiny bit slower than an Adventure/Revo, BUT the steering and tracking, especially when trolling in moderate + wind or current, drives me crazy.  Take your hand off the rudder control for a second and you are changing direction.

Yes that is my biggest problem with it as well. I was thinking that a longer/deeper rudder might be a solution. If you look at the way the hull sweeps up in the back, alot of the rudder is not even in the water. When I get my hands in it in florida I am going to do a test by somehow attaching a larger home-made rudder temporarily and see if it makes a difference.

I initially thought the rudder lines were loose, but tightening them up made no difference.

Of course, the problem may also be partly or fully due to the absence of any real keel shape on the bottom. Which makes me wonder if a) it should, it's pretty much just flat under there or b) if some insertable skag might help for folks like us who travel several miles in deeper water.

Only simple solution I've come up with is to add another tiller to the right side. That way you can steer with whichever hand is closer to a tiller at any given time.

Those PA s look like they have pretty good speed. What speeds were you hitting for the sprint starts and what could you hold for distance cruising?

Cruising speed is good,similar to a Revo/Adventure/Outback. Sprint speed is way better than an Outback but a tiny bit slower than an Adventure/Revo, BUT the steering and tracking, especially when trolling in moderate + wind or current, drives me crazy.  Take your hand off the rudder control for a second and you are changing direction.

+1
These PA's are amazing. Ron is spot on about the steering. It will change direction fairly quick. It also takes around 3 pedal clicks to get your steering back if you have no speed and have blown off course. In an outback it only takes around 1 pedal click to return on course. Pa's are fast though and cruise well..

Yes that is my biggest problem with it as well. I was thinking that a longer/deeper rudder might be a solution. If you look at the way the hull sweeps up in the back, alot of the rudder is not even in the water. When I get my hands in it in florida I am going to do a test by somehow attaching a larger home-made rudder temporarily and see if it makes a difference.

I initially thought the rudder lines were loose, but tightening them up made no difference.

Of course, the problem may also be partly or fully due to the absence of any real keel shape on the bottom. Which makes me wonder if a) it should, it's pretty much just flat under there or b) if some insertable skag might help for folks like us who travel several miles in deeper water.

Only simple solution I've come up with is to add another tiller to the right side. That way you can steer with whichever hand is closer to a tiller at any given time.

I did the same thing.. Checked the rudder cable tension and thought "oh easy fix" and tightened them up.  Made no difference.  I think you are spot on with the idea that not enough of the rudder is below the hull to be effective.  I put mine up on saw horses and with the rudder down held a long strip of wood level with the bottom of the hull. Less that 1/2 of the rudder was below the lowest plane of the hull, which IMO is not close to enough.  I've considered modding a sailing rudder or a tandem Island size rudder but it doesn't look like there is enough space to retract a bigger rudder up against the hull. Its on my list of winter projects . The lack of any traditional keel is what kills the glide I'm used to with my other kayaks and is IMO the other half of the  poor tracking problem.  That said I do like the PA12 and think its a dang fishy platform that I'm very happy with, but for me to really love it (like my Adventure) the rudder/steering needs improvement.

I don't take my hand off the wheel so I've been able to deal with it. Starting up and then turning takes some getting used to though. I've accidentally rammed a lot of stuff. ;P

Two steering levers sound like a good idea. How about an Adventure daggerboard attached somewhere?

Yes, the steering is something that could use some improvement on that boat.  One cool thing about the steering though is that once it does start turning, it turns with hardly any turning radius! 

Yes, the steering is something that could use some improvement on that boat.  One cool thing about the steering though is that once it does start turning, it turns with hardly any turning radius! 

Very true!! It needs some water moving below to turn, but once your speed is up, it turns on a dime. I also highly agree with Zee's comment about these PA's getting a little beat up on the front end. You'll definitely run into a lot of stuff trying to turn. I know I do!

You may want to try something like this for a rudder mod. 
Notching the new longer one so it can fit up under the hull looks like a novel approach.

http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com/f49/hobie-pro-angler-12-rudder-mod-132780/

Nice, that looks like a pretty solid fix.

Good find Insayn

I'm a Revo guy, but...

Note: this custom rudder was made out of Polycarbonate "Lexan", not Acrylic "Plexiglas". The former has much higher strength in lower temps (water).

Your local plastics shop, or McMaster Carr (online) will have what you need.
Another very high strength/abrasion resistant material would be UHMW Polyethylene. They use this stuff on the bottom of drift boats in the NW.

Well Y'all, food for thought...
 


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I hear guys referring to "similar speed as" ....
What does that correlate to gps'ed mph?


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I hear guys referring to "similar speed as" ....
What does that correlate to gps'ed mph?

Obviously depends on current, etc.  But assuming no current (it happens in FL!) or wind, I can sustain just under 4mph while commuting to the grounds.  Same circumstances on my OB probably in the 3.3 - 3.5mph zone.  Been so long since I've been in my adventure but I'd guess 4.1 or 4.2.  Relative to it's size, the PA12 can really move.  And something about the seat placement makes pedaling alot more efficient.

On the topic of turning radius...you'd think the PA12 would be un-dump-able but the speed (see above) and quick turning radius makes it actually quite easy to dump.  Especially when that seat is in the high position. DAMHIK!
Had some near-huli'd surf landings too.  And on the west coast of FL, there is barely any surf

But Ron's right, as a fishing platform it's in a class of its own.  I'd almost say the seat alone makes it worth the upgrade.  And being able to stand, even when there's a slight chop, adds a new dimension to saltwater kayak fishing (jigging, anyone??). I am actually looking for one now as I think it will be great for sound/san juans fishin. 

And I don't even work for Hobie!

I hear guys referring to "similar speed as" ....
What does that correlate to gps'ed mph?

With no wind or current I could do a decent sprint on my Revo and get around 5.5 mph and a solid cruising speed of around 4.5 to 4.7 mph.  With the PA12 I can get a decent sprint of about 5 mph and a sustained cruising speed of around 4.3 mph.