Mirage Drive...

[cchobot]

Anybody out there have a Hobie w/ the new Mirage Drive? Your thoughts? Swanny called the shop today and related a story about covering an insane amount of water the other day in his. It inspired the guy at the shop to get online and watch the videos on the hobie site. Those things really appear to HAUL. Any thoughts?

[wdmso]

Seem's cool and all . but for 2000.00 dollars for the fishing model
12 13 and 16 ft models . I have visions of a paddle boat easy
getting out. but hell on the return trip with some wind and chop in your face

[swanny]

The hobies are in big time I'll never go back to paddling again. As far as $$ it isn't as bad as you think, especially if you don't have any equipment to start. You can get the revolution w/out the fishing package - just rig it yourself and save $$, for around $1500. This includes a paddle, rudder and a seat. Most good quality fishing yaks with a rudder come in between $850-$1200. The value of the mirage drive is around $450 so when you take the drive out of the equation it is a very competitively priced kayak. Chris - if your thinking about getting into yak fishing let me know and we can head out one morning - I have an extra tarpon 140 - sorry only one hobie . You can also take the hobie for a spin if you want to test drive one.

[Chigger]

I have the adventure and oasis, and absolutely love them. Must be tried.

Good luck

[sifisto]

Buying the Adventure has been the best thing I've ever bought for myself. Once you apply what you already know about fishing to the kayak, the numbers of your catch will skyrocket;and the game will never be the same again. What you put into it is what you'll get out of it. It's more of an investment into yourself than buying an inanimate object. Best of luck to you.

[fishermanjim]

going to get one at the boat show this year

[FishHawk]

There are problems with the Hobie check out Kayak Fishing Stuff web site under Hobie . You'll see what the owners have to say. Right now I 'm still on the fence about this type of yak. I'm not disputing what Swanny has to say but it's interesting to see what other owners are saying .
FishHawk

[swanny]

Hawk, your right in the sense that they are not perfect, that is for sure. That last post of mine was from june. At that point I had only been fishing the boat a few months. since then my opinion is still the same in the sense that I really wouldn't want to paddle again but there are certainly durability issues with the mirage drive. I've had some mechanical problems as others have mentioned on others sites. With the way I fish I expect to have some problems with it every season. I'm putting together a presentation for the feb SWE show that will discuss some of the benefits and problems with the hobie. Hopefully it will lead to some good dialogue and other hobie owners can relate there expeirence as well. This will be a good chance for people who are on the fence to get an honest, unbiased opinion as to the pros and cons of owning a hobie. Of course not everybody is going to use it for the same application so everyones experience will be slightly different.

[sifisto]

Yes, the mirage drive has seen it's share of problems; but once corrected like tuning an engine it will not fail you. Well worth the investment getting the turbo fins AND sailing rudder. The only drawback I can find is not being able to go in reverse. The hands free operation and the ability to powerdrift are simply magical; your fish numbers will climb exponentially...especially fluking.

As far as oceanside launches I'm a novice in that aspect, but will learn this year. The weight is like a battleship, and will have it's drawbacks. Like anything, practice will correct the issue. MJ.

[Capt. Brian Daley]

I have the Hobbie pursuit & Ocean Pro Scupper and I love to paddle but the
Mirage drive package is unbeliveable, plus I'am eather out front or in every
skinny waters in the back bay sod banks striper fishing. And da wife would
just shoot me if I brough home another Yak