Mirage Drive 180
 

So I was lucky enough to get my hands on a new Mirage Drive 180 recently. $$$ Not cheap, but an amazing advantage that I'm willing to bet on. My initial impression of the drive is...that it's kinda goofy looking. The fins are shaped differently and not swept back like the regular drive, the fins are perfectly straight so they can pivot forward and backward. All this leading me to think that there might be some change in the thrust or overall feel while peddling...But after having used them, they are very similar if no different than the GT drive, also smooth and slick like the GT.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...psg6ntbykw.jpg

The new Drive feels much heavier than the regular GT drive. So I decided to weigh them to find out how much heavier.

Mirage Drive 180
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...psrfgiz1pl.jpg

GT Drive
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...pseyktnwo3.jpg

So the 180 is approximately 6 oz heavier than the standard GT drive...it sure feels like it's more but it's not.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...pskt0nmqwy.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...psbnegaszg.jpg

The Shifting mechanism:

Now if there's one thing that feels like it could break on this new drive it's going to be the shift levers. I found that when you pedal, sometimes your foot hits it. I guess time will tell how sturdy the plastic parts are. So far they seem to work just fine...but then again I've only used them for a day.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...psmztvamvi.jpg

As far as shifting from forward to reverse with the new drive, you have to give it a good solid pull in order for it to engage. It doesn't seem possible for the drive to accidentally go into reverse while your peddling. I found that switching from forward to reverse is very difficult while moving faster than 2 knots, probably because the fins have to go sideways for a second, and you have to overcome the resistance of the water against the fins.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...psbdky5udb.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...pssx9epnyn.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...pswrgbz64s.jpg


Fishing with the new Drive.

So while looking for a halibut this weekend I snagged some rope and pulled up a still usable ambush hoop net...I got some cleaning to do...:eek: ! Oh and by the way I did catch a halibut as well if you didn't notice. ;)

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...psn3fijrzn.jpg

The ability to go into reverse is just awesome. You now have an incredible amount of control with the new drive. I knew from the first announcement of the new drive that it would be great for hooping lobster. So on my first lobster trip with the new drive later on that night, I decided to test out that theory...it did not disappoint! With wind and current blowing me around, it just made every operation faster and more efficient. Instead of having to grab my paddle or having to circle around to retrieve, deploy or set my gear, I could just back up quickly easily and hands free. For me, this reason alone justifies the cost of the new drive.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...psnryb6isn.jpg

So not a bad maiden voyage with the new drive. Nice Halibut and a limit of lobster to go along with it...?! Did I need it to catch what I caught..? No...but it sure made it alot easier and alot more fun. So watch out for the new Mirage Drive 180! Available now at your local OEX...but only with the purchase of a new kayak. Otherwise you have to wait until next year to purchase one. :cheers1:

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...psdstgsfxh.jpg

Nice review and report Tony! Still killin it!

Mr No BS :D great, thorough review! :luxhello:

always exceptions for special customers. :D

Great review...!!! But how does it compare in Speed & thrust. Fin geometry just my question.


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The 180 is similar in speed and thrust, if not the same.

Nice job.
 

Nice Lobsters!

Nice review and lobsters



Why quote his entire post and pictures?

Nice...thx.
Wasn't even thinking about the 180 cuz I'm offshore fishing or Hooping KH. Never thought about the advantages for Hooping.


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Tony how hard is it to steer backwards, say straight back 50 feet? Are you still in control? Could you go left or right easily in reverse? BTW you putting one day in is like me doing a week in on the water, you really WORK your gear. That's a good thing, in a month that drive will have gone through a years use for the rest of us. Keep on yaking amigo.

Actually Bob it's not hard at all. You are definitely in control, just like going forward you need a bit of speed or momentum before your steering responds. Going left and right while going backwards is no problem at all. Hobie says full power reverse...that's no exaggeration, I was actually able to go 5 + knots backwards just to see if I could, it was not a problem at all.

TONY, you sold me just called Andy, mine will arrive Friday and be in Baja on Monday. Maybe I can pull a grouper out of the rocks before he gets there. Thank you for taking the time post your review, you get credit for atleast one sale. Tight Lines.

Why in the heck would anyone need to peddle in reverse??:eek:
Seriously?

ME thinks Hobie screwed the pooch here...

Marketing gimmick? If yes, brilliant! :p

Is this standard on all new 2017 kayaks or extra?

John I enjoy casting top water plugs at the boulders and cliffs in Gonzaga. I point my bow at the beach and cast as tight to shore as I can. Cabrilla and snappers sometimes explode on the plugs, corvina too. Being in reverse and ready MIGHT help getting these fish out of their holes. The panga drivers peform this move every day, so it might help me get that bigger cabrilla that keeps stealing my top water plugs. Besides I needed a spare drive as a back up. Hopefull win, win.

I'm pretty sure that they are, perfect time to upgrade Pino! :luxhello:

Reverse is not necessary but...it sure is nice!

blame that on the "quote" button in the lower right corner, I edited it.

All 2017 come with the 180, turbo fins are only stock on the camo Outback and the Pro Anglers, everything else comes with the slightly shorter ST fins.

Separate drives (I am only selling drives that came with my preseason order kayaks)and replacement fins and parts are yet to be released, I have been told that if there is an issue with a drive Hobie will send me parts off the production line.

Nice.....
 

Catch...mighty fine dinner...

Great review of the new drive! Having purchased a new camo OB, I have noticed that the new 180 drive is much faster in speed and thrust than the previous drive. A new OB with the 180 will go faster than a Revo with the previous drive at the same RPM. I know some will call bs, but we tested it on opening night! Hobie hit it out of the park on this one!

BS! I need to get me one of these 180s then! I can't imagine the speed you will gain on a revo. 10kts just might be a possibility on a revo 16!

Nice write-up and critters Tony!

This was vs a REVO 13....... not the 16.

So Hobie has been selling "turbo" fin upgrades for years. But these odd looking strait fins are just as fast. And the Hobie kayaks were fine w/o reverse until several competitors came out with reversal peddle drives.
Mike

You obviously don't fish because if you did then you would see many reasons to use reverse like if the wind is pushing you towards weeds or a rock or dock. Before you would have to get the paddle out- now you just flip it in reverse. There's so many incidences where reverse is very helpful. If you have the wind at your back and you want to do a slow drift or stay in one spot- REVERSE
I use it all the time, I like it

I get his point though.

It is almost like Apple. They are leaders in their market and are obviously aware of all advancements. But they need to keep changes small so every year they have something to entice buyers to upgrade. Everyone has been asking for reverse and a skeg for years. Why did they add them in separate years?

I am happy to have got into it with reverse and vantage seat. More than likely though I will be pissed next year for the 2018 model to have something that they could've added for 2017....

You don't invent something and throw it on the market the next day. It takes years and years of R&D and then you have to test it over and over before releasing a new product. For instance when you se a new model car- that was 10+ years prior of R&D and testing before it's released. Reverse drive is no different. Takes a lot of time. A bike pedal with a chain or belt drive to a propeller is not rocket science. Mirage drive is a lot more complex and unique.

Mikes too nice of a guy to comment back. He's been yak finishing LJ for almost 20 years. The roof on his car is almost completely rusted threw because of the amounts of days he puts int. I been in the riper currents and wind with him. Mikes one of the best guys out there.

Right. How much extra speed did the new OB have over the previous year model Revo?

I didn't notice any extra speed on the PA, as compared to the GT drive. Both are pretty smooth...I'll pay more attention on the next trip.

Hey you Hobie guys can do J turns now. Cause donuts are sooo 2015. :p

Thanks Bob-
I get it now...having the option to go in reverse makes sense.
I can see the benefits. :cool:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
 

O.K. GUYS HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE:paddleersmilie:FOR THE NEW DRIVE

RETAIL should be about $750.00 YOU did change that name to PEDDLE MAN right?????

[QUOTE=makobob;270756]RETAIL should be about $750.00 YOU did change that name to PEDDLE MAN right?????[/QUOT


NOT YET BUT WILL THANKS BOB FOR PRICEING:)

I'm an industrial designer and he is correct. Companies are not holding back on things to screw the customer, it's a matter of development time and resource implementation. For example building an injection molding tool of moderate complexity takes about 6-10 weeks, followed by sampling usually 2 weeks to dial the tool in, followed by any needed redesign a week usually, then tooling rework 2-4 weeks then at least 6 months of field, UV, cycle and materials testing each of which can yield another design change and start the whole cycle over again. Then you have to schedule production and assemble. Now imagine this for every single new component of any product and things can still fail in unusual usage or with poor maintenance. Then the current and old products have to be serviced and maintained by the engineering team so they don't have as much time to develop new product.
Just a quick glimpse into how it works and that doesn't even include the concept, design, prototype and approval phases which can be significantly longer than the build phase.

does not justify the price .
 

if you ain't catching. :biggrinjester: . don't worry Stan, we gonna turn these Sewer boys inside out this weekend. :wsb:.:sifone:.

good share Tony.
 

:cheers1:

DREAM BIG, then go out and make it happen.

Amen
 

:luxhello:. one day i will catch a 65 lb tanker, but since it has been awhile since the sweet white flesh has rolled off my tongue, a barely legal will be sufficient. this weekend i am gonna make it happen.

So 20 years of kayak fishing and he has never needed to back up? lol I've only been kayak fishing for 2 weeks and I already saw the need right away. It just seemed an arrogant response from him..... at least that's how I read it.