Don't forget that Hobie makes good tandem yaks too!

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/500/11.jpg

As They Say "whatever floats your Boat!!! pedal -paddle it all ends up with the same results:reel: hook ups and sleigh rides.....:sifone:H

[QUOTE=herbo;57110]As They Say "whatever floats your Boat!!! pedal -paddle it all ends up with the same results

I say.....any boat, as long as it floats :alberteinstein:

Izor isn't coated, that's one of the things people like about it. PowerPro is coated and it wears/flakes off over time. They all stick to themselves after they get salty.

Revo to T160
 

I just switched from pedal to paddle and love it. IMO, I feel a little more connected with the water when I paddle. I will probably buy another hobie later in life when possible, but for now I just want the basics so I can learn how to kayak fish better.

Hobie does make a strong durable yak, but my Wilderness systems yak impressed me. equal in the craftsmanship.

Dave

Yesterday, I was paddling like the dickens on my x-factor. I saw a school flare up and was just a bit too far. If i had pedals, no doubt i would have gotten there and no doubt I would have been launching that iron as I pulled up to the edge of the school. I can paddle at a decent speed but I still missed that school by literally 20-30 seconds and went home empty handed. The added speed and ability to have my jig stick in hand would have changed that result.

I would love a hobie, but as has been said, too rich for my blood right now. I love my x-factor. Its a great boat and I love how comfortable I feel on it after fishing it for all of this time. But yesterday, it would have been grand to have pedals. But then I ask myself, "How many times has this scenario happened"??? Not enough to justify the purchase for me obviously!! I'll likely keep paddling until someone wants to swap me for their hobie!

All I can think of is

http://advantageserviceltd.com/images/snickers.jpg

:biggrinjester:

I use to have a Hobie. Due to the rude and malicious Hobie rep I dealt with, I will never own one again. I'm aware that some people have had good experiences dealing with Hobie after the sale, but my experience was horrid.

They state that you have hands free (as in plural); frankly you don't due to the need to constantly keep a hand on the rudder control; so it's only one hand free.

I had a lengthy email exchange with the Hobie rep. Franky if anyone ever gets hurt on one of their pedal drive kayaks and they decide to sue Hobie, the emails I have from Hobie will sink them. I simply still can't believe the Hobie rep actually put what he did in writing.

I got rid of the Hobie yak I had, and haven't regretted it.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to hear the details of this.

I second the request. I know a lot of the Hobie guys and have always found them to be very helpful.

Bubblehide, if you have something to say, please say it.

Bob

Global warming is a hoax......
 

And here is the anti hobie science!

http://ftlauderdaleyakfishingclub.or...unplugged.html

btw....I'm in the market for a revo or adventure. Seriously.
Prefer turbo fins and sailing rudder. Send me a pm.

What a interesting article! Hobie and water go together like Ham and Cheese. hahaha Everyone should read that..

I too am curious. Hobie and Fastlane were super helpful to me... they went so far as completely replacing my Revo, and upgrading it to a newer model.

Did you ever try talking with them over the phone or in person? Email can be so impersonal.

X2

LMFAO! Great point im taking my Hobie back and telling them it doesnt self steer.....

I'm a Hobie owner, but I will try to make an unbiased assessment of the article. Marketing hype is just that; HYPE. It is meant to generate interest, and ultimately sales.

It is not that big of a deal if a manufacturers doesn't include hard numbers in their sales pitches. All it says is: that was not a part of their marketing strategy. Besides, you'd be a fool to believe any data provided by a manufacturer without some skepticism. Numbers can be skewed and "facts" can be taken out of context. Ask any politician! Consumers should look to reputable independent reviewers for unbiased empirical data.

In the article, the author also lamblasts Hobies on their poor showing in races against HPB (human powered boats) and for other inefficiencies. Are these numbers skewed? Possibly. What type of vessels were they racing against? Did the competing vessels have the same drag coefficient so you can get a more accurate comparison of the propulsion methods? Looking at these HPB you would expect them to be more efficient in the water due to the fact that they aren't plastic kayaks. The hulls seem to have their roots from racing shells. One thing for sure: those pictured wouldn't make very good fishing platforms!

Pedal or Paddle ...
 

Doctor said I need more lower body exercise. Wife wouldn't accommodate, so bought a pedal-drive kayak. Hec, I bought 2! Now have a Revo (for sale) and Adventure, an OK Trident 15 (also for sale), and have had 3 scupper pros, a Prowler 15 & 13. Also tried & reviewed a number of kayaks a few years back for Canoe & Kayak magazine. Point is that I've a bit of experience w/a variety of yaks, preferring paddling to peddling in general, but having to turn to/add pedals for issues of health. Having viewed this thread, offer following observation: Paddling is simpler - fewer things to go wrong. Also slower and not too easy to pour and drink a hot cup of coffee while searching for bait on a dark, cold morning.

Paddle yaks can go forward and backward. Hobies can't w/out the necessary bring-along paddle. Kelp doesn't like the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/ ...ue><FONT face=Mirage Drive</st1:address></st1:Street> much, and if fishing boiler rocks w/ occasional waves, having a quick reverse is critical. Landing and launching w/out hanging pedals on the beach or serving as unwanted resistance to the push of waves isn't pleasant either, and a front hatch that’s too small to allow stowage of the pedal thing inside causes one to question what the Hobie designers were thinking. Should note also that fishing lines and fish tend to misbehave, i.e., they go where they want at times, and that means into your not-so-"Mirage" Drive and/or rudder system. The Hobie “twist & stow” rudder system is also something I find annoying and unnecessarily complex (over-engineered) - and I'm not referring to its now-"upgraded" dual knob approach for deployment. With pedal drives, there's just more stuff down there, so more vigilance is needed. <O:p

In my case, I figured the Hobie Adventure offered a reasonable mix of options, i.e., its long, narrow, tracks, paddles and pedals well. Down side - its long and narrow and, while fast, is akin to the Scupper Pro, i.e., wet and a tad tippy. Thus far, it seems storage and stowing comparatively sucks in all foot-powered Hobies (pedal drive takes up a lot of internal/central hull space - can't stow rods, nor anything of size like you can in a OK Trident), but it doesn't take an Einstein to recognize that everything's a trade off, and there simply is no "perfect" boat out there. IMHO, the real trick is to look at a lot of boats and how they're rigged, and outfit whatever you have/acquire so that it gets close to meeting your needs. Then, through use, refine the rigging so that its as robust and user-friendly as possible, and fish on it a lot so that reaching for stuff becomes second-nature. <O:p

In the final analysis, the kayaks we're most familiar with are all just pieces of polyethylene, with the thrill of catching a big fish from a pedal or paddle-propelled craft great no matter which is used (Not too long ago, it was the thrill - not the craft - that generated a sense of brotherhood amongst kayak fishermen). Granted, the pedaled craft can go faster and uses less energy to get you most of the places you want to go, but at a price. In my case, I’ve proven that I can/do get backlashes while chucking iron from any platform, and the fish under the birds I've been chasing still seem to head south no matter how – or how fast - I don’t get to them. Indeed, I’ve proven myself able to farm good-grade pescado from every craft I’ve ever fished on.<O:p

Life is full of choices, and whether we like it or not, it is also a moving target. In other words, our needs can/do change over time. The question of pedals versus paddle may be interesting, but in the greater scope of things, rather irrelevant. That said, bringing a thermos and having my hands free to pour and sip something hot as I pedal off to who-knows-where in the frigid pre-dawn hours has, at this time of my life, rather persuasive appeal. <O:p

Avery

All good points Fongman. This thread is starting to remind me of a Shakespeare play. Much Ado About Nothing.

To me it all comes down to this. If you like the Hobie design, buy one. If not, buy something else.

Bob

Sage observations from Brother Avery:sifone:

Sage Advice
 

Andy,

Not sure about the "sage" part, but do know I miss the smell of the traditional victory cigar whafting o'er the waves well before I see you.

LJ's been bery bery good to me lately. Wish you were here!

Avery

i just feel the upper body workout is better than just legs
in fact for weight loss upper body workouts burn more calories since the legs were made for doing repetitive steady work like walking and running upper body is more built for using bursts or energy like lifting or throwing
that being said i would use whatever i can to get out on the water :D

Avery,
That was a great summary. Thanks. The only thing I didn't like was your use of comic sans! Good lord I hate that font.
-Aaron

i want a hobie.

Why not have both? After a couple of 'harrowing' surf entrances where I really wish I had the hobie pedals to haul ass, I am thinking of getting the pro-angler (I am a 'plus' size guy...) and see no reason why you can't use the pedals when you need them (surf launch, chasing boils) but paddle otherwise for the exercise.

Seems to me it's nice to have the drive for those times you need that burst of speed.

I can't wait for summer!!

I would like to try a peddle boat but I cannot see myself wanting nor needing to own one!
I like the upper body work out and the simplicity of a paddle boat.
Mike

Hobie = Prius?
 

No doubt, Hobie's are super cool.

However, there is something within me that boils in my gut as one scoots by.

At first I thought...what's that smell? Jealously? Is that coming from my boat?
Then I realized it. It was the look on the face of the Hobie guy.

It's the same look on the face of the Prius guy as he drives by you in the carpool lane, all by himself;
chin just a little higher...lips slightly curled back into a super self satisfied sneer.

Did he just raise a pinky as he adjusted that rudder!?!

He's not doing it on purpose.
He does it when he's alone too.
He doesn't know he's doing it at all.
Let him be.

As I chug along, burning gas, cursing the guy rigging up his poles as he's going forward into the current...I realize the smell is coming from my boat.

Meh.
Curse you Hobie guy.

Willy

I am just happy to be out on the water fishing off a floating chunk of plastic guys.

Classic post Willy! The smog of the La Jolla's been getting better, but it's being quickly replace by a big cloud of smug!

btw. just bought and adventure, working on the pinky flex.

Kayak fishing?
 

Basically the way I see it, it doesn't matter if you peddle or paddle. I don't care if your kayka is plastic or animal skins.:captain:

When you're kayak is full of fish, I just want to know what you're doing to catch the fish. :reel:

OEX Oceanside, support my good friend Nate, and BWE sponsor...!

http://www.oexoceanside.com/

Fastlane is cool too.

Thanks Chris

I had the same thought when I bought my Revo. I really like paddling a kayak when just out joy riding. I thought I would use the peddles when fishing and leave them at home when going out with one of my paddling friends for a leisurely cruise.

Never happened!

The only time I break out the paddle is when I need to go into the kelp, shift into reverse gear or when launching or landing. Maybe I just got lazy or maybe I am now just too smug to be bothered with paddles. Whatever it is, I am very content to use the peddles just about all the time.

Please don't hate me for this.

Bob

my 2 cents...

I used to paddle until my shoulders were giving me too much trouble. I could either stop/slow my kayak fishing frequency or switch to pedal drive. Easy choice.

First time out in the new hobie I definately noticed a different attitude towards me by paddlers. Basically I got less respect. Big deal, I'm still out there fishing and enjoying myself, even more now.

I thought at first that the exercise level would be better with the pedals (more cardio) but it turns out that is not the case. The hobie is more efficient for propulsion than paddling, and you work less. Lately I've been paddling on my way back in for the extra workout (the Revo is a pretty good paddler when used with the rudder), so I get the best of both worlds.

Fishing performance wise, I don't think there is any measuable difference between pedal or paddle. Each needs to be used with a different technique to maximize potential but in the end its all the same. The only edge I see is that the hobie can move more consistently through all kinds of conditions, and since it takes less work you can go further.

I have a nice paddling kayak, and the Hobie Revo. I use both. Happy with both. I bring one out, I get lower body exercise, the other and I get upper body. I'd use the paddling kayak more if it also had a thru hull transducer. But I'm not inclined to bore a hole in another hull............ for a while :)

I have a Prowler 13 and a Hobie Revo. I use them both. I like the Prowler for the bays. It is easier to fish around the docks. If I am going to go a long distance, I always take the Hobie.

Which board? Who said what? I always love these somebody said something posts.

The gripes I have heard about Hobies is they do not paddle well or stay straight when paddling them in the surf.

I think they have brilliant drives but that drives ability has let Hobie get away with making essentially low performance hulls.

You can tell just by looking at them they are inefficient and would paddle poorly. In fact if you own a hobie and want to see what I'm talking about, I suggest you leave your drive at home one day and just paddle all day and you'll quickly see why some do not like them.

To me it all makes no sense. Hobie could easily put their drives in better hulls and they would be even faster then they are, even better kayaks.

I considered buying one but after checking them out I just bought a drive and I'm going to mount it in better more efficient kayak that will paddle and peddle well.


Just my take..

Jim

Jim, we all know that you are a craftsman and an innovator. I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing whatever you end up mounting your Mirage drive into. I just hope that it is not made of metal.

I love my Revo but what you say is true. The design could be improved but why should Hobie do it if they are selling all they can make. Hobies are kind of like iPhones. The product works well and they have earned a semi-cult following. Baby-steps in improvements are often touted as revolutionary events. You pay a premium price for the unique features offered in iPhones and Hobie kayaks.

As mentioned by someone earlier in this thread, it appears that some of us who are fortunate enough to have a Hobie may have taken on a bit of arrogance, even snobbishness. I hope that is not the case but it certainly could be true. If so, I am sure that it is unintentional.

Maybe if you come up with a game changing design, someone will take notice and run with it. If that happens, we would all win.

Bob

I have a Hobie Adventure. I do take it out sans mirage drive sometimes. It paddles and tracks a million times better than my old eXtreme, or the old ok scrambler I used to rent. Its like a 16 ft dagger. It isn't going to be as efficient as a tarpon 160, but relatively speaking, it paddles better than some other "traditional" kayaks on the market. I also used to have an outback. Exactly like paddling an giant egg...

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...enture_Spe.jpg

I didn't mention the site's name out of respect for them and the site mods/owners. I'm a mod on another site and we have a strict 'no bashing' other sites policy so we refrain from specifically mentioning them when there are criticisms.

However since you asked, PM sent.