Hobie Kayaks
Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels
Hobie Kayaks
Anyone tried the new hobie Adventure or the Quest? I have been trying the peddle drive and am impressed but the boats do not track well, wonder if the new model is any better? The boats I have tried are very dry and stable but not very easy to paddle. The drive will move them out very fast and leaves hands free to fish when not adjusting the rudder.
hobie kayak
I agree about simplicity, small, light weight. I have an old suburban and wanted something that would fit inside. Trouble is small is slow and sometimes wet. The hobie drive is impressive. I did not want one because of extra weight and too much complexity. The Quest is a paddle boat with lots of features like storage pouches for lures and a rudder to help follow a grass line. Trouble is, I am getting a bit of tendonitis and may not be able to paddle as comfortably in the future so I tried the peddle model. I may be one of the first to make the plunge and will report information for others who are thinking about a hobie. It is great to peddle and not have to put down a fishing pole to move. Trolling is great. Speed is impressive, too. Tracking on the older models is poor. Now if the price was a little less steep it would be an easier decision. No perfect boat so there are down sides. The drive works like flippers rather than a paddle or prop. Shallow water takes some technique and weedy areas are impossible and have to be paddled.
I have two Hobie pedal (not peddle!) yaks, an Outback for myself, and a Sport for my wife. Both are set up for fishing, cruising, sailing, or whatever, and both are outstanding designs. I mean, what other yak allows you to paddle, pedal, and sail? Sailing is also a blast with these.
I have also pedaled and paddled the Adventure--it will probably revolutionize yak design since, at 16 feet, it is one fast boat, and it also tracks beautifully, plus it has the Mirage drive pedals, paddle, and sailing capability. You can see all these models at the local Hobie dealership, The Wilderness Way on the Woodville Highway just south of the Truck Route in Tally. Here are a few pics:
The Outback:
The Sport:
The Adventure:
The Hobie Quest-a paddle only boat:
And, if you are interested in a tandem, here is the brand new Outfitter, also rigged for fishing, pedaling, paddling, or sailing. It is basically an Outback times two.
I have also pedaled and paddled the Adventure--it will probably revolutionize yak design since, at 16 feet, it is one fast boat, and it also tracks beautifully, plus it has the Mirage drive pedals, paddle, and sailing capability. You can see all these models at the local Hobie dealership, The Wilderness Way on the Woodville Highway just south of the Truck Route in Tally. Here are a few pics:
The Outback:
The Sport:
The Adventure:
The Hobie Quest-a paddle only boat:
And, if you are interested in a tandem, here is the brand new Outfitter, also rigged for fishing, pedaling, paddling, or sailing. It is basically an Outback times two.
hobie kayak pics
Excellent. Thanks for the great pics and the splling lesson. I am going to try the adventure and probably get one if it tracks as well as you say it does. Cool outriggers. Do you need them with the Outback? it seems so wide and stable. I have not tried to stand up in one, though. Are the outriggers any problem when paddling or pedaling?
Hey Chuck,
Welcome to the site! The outriggers aren't essential for most things, but they are nice to have, especially when sailing. The Outback is pretty stable, but especially for folks over about 190-200 lbs. (including gear). This amount of weight puts the OB down on its sponsons, so it does not seem tippy. If a person is under 6 ft tall, and/or under about 200 lbs, then the Sport is probably a better choice, even though you give up some room to carry gear (like a crate AND an ice chest).
If the outriggers are mounted correctly (aft on the OB and forward on the Sport), then they do not interfere with your paddle stroke, and no interference at all with the Mirage drive pedals. However, you rarely even need to use your paddle with the Mirage drive. Once you get used to hands-free trolling, casting, rigging, photography, eating lunch, taking a drink, etc. etc., it is hard to go back to strictly paddling. Also if you like to cover some distance while fishing, it is also nice to be able to shift back and forth between the two methods of locomotion so you don't get so tired. Some folks who like to cover a lot of distance when fishing, actually sail to and from their fishing spots.
And, if you get caught in some weather, and are trying to beat a huge thunderstorm and lightning back to the beach (as I have on occasion), you really come to appreciate the extra speed of the pedal drive as a nice emergency measure as well. Or, if you ever need to tow another yak in an emergency, it can be done with little problem with the Mirage drive, but would be difficult at best using paddles alone. One guy I know actually towed a disabled power boat back to its launch site with his OB and the pedal drive.
Here is another view of the OB looking aft.
And another view of the Sport, also looking aft.
Welcome to the site! The outriggers aren't essential for most things, but they are nice to have, especially when sailing. The Outback is pretty stable, but especially for folks over about 190-200 lbs. (including gear). This amount of weight puts the OB down on its sponsons, so it does not seem tippy. If a person is under 6 ft tall, and/or under about 200 lbs, then the Sport is probably a better choice, even though you give up some room to carry gear (like a crate AND an ice chest).
If the outriggers are mounted correctly (aft on the OB and forward on the Sport), then they do not interfere with your paddle stroke, and no interference at all with the Mirage drive pedals. However, you rarely even need to use your paddle with the Mirage drive. Once you get used to hands-free trolling, casting, rigging, photography, eating lunch, taking a drink, etc. etc., it is hard to go back to strictly paddling. Also if you like to cover some distance while fishing, it is also nice to be able to shift back and forth between the two methods of locomotion so you don't get so tired. Some folks who like to cover a lot of distance when fishing, actually sail to and from their fishing spots.
And, if you get caught in some weather, and are trying to beat a huge thunderstorm and lightning back to the beach (as I have on occasion), you really come to appreciate the extra speed of the pedal drive as a nice emergency measure as well. Or, if you ever need to tow another yak in an emergency, it can be done with little problem with the Mirage drive, but would be difficult at best using paddles alone. One guy I know actually towed a disabled power boat back to its launch site with his OB and the pedal drive.
Here is another view of the OB looking aft.
And another view of the Sport, also looking aft.