Hobie Outback question

[philr21]

Buddy of mine gave me an old Hobie Mirage Outback. It has the old style rudder, not the stow and go.

This is apparantly the old hull style, pre-2007. One thing I noticed is it seems much tippier than my X-Factor. I'm a big guy, 6'5 and 235.

Should I be concerned with the tippiness? How much did the newer hull design change the Outback's stability?

Used it once, broke the rudder. Got a very cool fish from it though, a Biwa Trout, only native to lake Biwa in Japan and it's tributaries. Not a rainbow- knock off, an actual type of trout that spends almost its entire deep.

I included some pics of the Biwa trip so you can see the kayak. Want to fix this thing up and use it since it was a gift, just curious how much of a difference there is in the newer hull style and if I should be concerned about stability.

Thanks.

Phil

[philr21]

The pics....

[roadx]

my brother has the old hobie outback and it has less primary stabilization but has more secondary stabilizability.
the newer haul design and layout seems better to me but the old outback is still usable. the difference in the two are very noticeable.

[spottie slayer]

with exception of the pro angler hobie kayaks arent that stable when compared to a malibu. i wouldn't try and stand up in a outback but i do in a malibu. and the new outback is slightly more stable but not by much.

[JeffB]

I've never been on the old one, but the newer ones are very stable. I have used my buddy's many of times and fell in love with it. I sold my revo in hopes of buying one a while back. It was faster than my revo and I could stand up in it all day. You do sit up a little higher in the outback though. That might be why if feels the way it does. I had to get use to it.

[taggermike]

You can't knock a free hobie, but there's no way an outback will be as stable as an x-factor. Maybe a few more trips in the hobie will help get you use to it. Like roadx said, the outback has good secondary stability so it will feel a bit wobbly but will reach a point where it fghts tipping further. I dont know what the temp of Lake Biwa is right now, but take the kayak out to waist deep water with out any gear and lean until you flip over. Seriouosly, learning the breakpoint of the secondary stability will give you confidence. And like the old comercial said, "no surprise is the best surprise". Nice trout and a beautifull ake too. Mike

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by taggermike

You can't knock a free hobie

I agree....there's nothing like $$FREE.99

I think the issue isn't with the Hobie itself, its just that you're used to being on something else. Take it out a few times, if you're not happy with it sell it and get something that you like.