Hobie launch question.

[hemimike]

I have a revo and a outback and I always put my peddles in and rudder down after clearing the surf zone.

[jorluivil]

I usually launch with my rudder out, as soon as the water is deep enough I pop the drive in and use that and my paddle to get past the waves. Most Hobies are HORRIBLE at tracking and will turn on a dime if the sets are coming in sideways and at short intervals.

[dwntwnall4u]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Most Hobies are HORRIBLE at tracking and will turn on a dime if the sets are coming in sideways and at short intervals.

I can agree with that. Especially in my Revo 11, It's terrible paddling. I've been trying to paddle thru the surf then drop in the mirage drive and rudder down.

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

I usually launch with my rudder out, as soon as the water is deep enough I pop the drive in and use that and my paddle to get past the waves. Most Hobies are HORRIBLE at tracking and will turn on a dime if the sets are coming in sideways and at short intervals.

meant to say....."usually launch with my drive out"

[roadx]

outback and now pa12 peddle out peddle in.

[Mongo Johnson]

Is anyone an advocate of having the drive IN, but clipped up, with flippers racked against the hull? Seems it might be more secure and more easy to get into action. As an alternative to being fully out?

I've launched with mine OUT with rudder up and on coming in, I've clipped the flippers up, and lift the rudder for sure.

Maybe just personal preference. Either way, I leash the drive.

[467echo]

I have always had the peddles in with the bungee on to keep them against the hull. Done this on my revo and now on the PA14. Walk it out to waste deep water, wait for the right time and go for it. Leaving the bungee on til I'm in the safe zone. Same for coming in, put the bungee on before arriving to the RED zone, just in case something goes wrong your drive will go flat on the hull.

My landing technique: I come in with no paddle and head in at a 45 degree angle. If a set starts coming, I can easily turn back out and wait for a better moment. That has worked for both boats and have still not tipped the navy ship yet.

[RedSledTeam]

Originally Posted by 467echo

I have always had the peddles in with the bungee on to keep them against the hull. Done this on my revo and now on the PA14. Walk it out to waste deep water, wait for the right time and go for it. Leaving the bungee on til I'm in the safe zone. Same for coming in, put the bungee on before arriving to the RED zone, just in case something goes wrong your drive will go flat on the hull.

My landing technique: I come in with no paddle and head in at a 45 degree angle. If a set starts coming, I can easily turn back out and wait for a better moment. That has worked for both boats and have still not tipped the navy ship yet.

I use the same process and it works for me, and Roman, and Ruben, and Roxy and Rocco. Just be careful when you surf into shore and the Leopards are in the shallows 1-2 feet. Even though they are only 5 feet long, if you startle them and you are between them and deep water they may knock into you sending you off-balance as they try to swim under your kayak. I had four try to swim under me and knocked me right off into 2 feet of water! When I looked around the water, I saw at least 20 more Leopards trying to flee away from me.

[Pocoloco]

Originally Posted by roadx

outback and now pa12 peddle out peddle in.

X2