Hobie or keep my Malibu stealth 14

[Iebadboy]

I'm debating on weather to buy a hobie outback or just keep my Malibu stealth 14 I've had for one season? Any suggestions???

[bryguth]

I'm debating on weather to buy a hobie outback or just keep my Malibu stealth 14 I've had for one season? Any suggestions???

Hobie is the way to go if you can afford it... I have had mine for 2 weeks and it is a night and day difference...go see Andy at OEX and go for a test drive.. You will not be disappointed

[Bennyblanco]

Yea what he said.

[Iebadboy]

That's what my boy is telling me that once I get the hobie I will be hooked and my wife tells me I have to many yaks I need to consaledate first. Now it's wether I go new or get a demo to save a couple hundred I can do both. What do u guys think?

[mazilla]

Motorize your stealth, there's nothing better IMO...ask my Hobie friends who I'm always having to wait around for. ;) :D

[sdfishman]

Wait up for me haha.. Your trolling motor will die one day and I will pedal right past you..

Motorize your stealth, there's nothing better IMO...ask my Hobie friends who I'm always having to wait around for. ;) :D

[mazilla]

Wait up for me haha.. Your trolling motor will die one day and I will pedal right past you..

Yeah, it'll be from towing your Hobie around some more! Hahaha

[mrJB]

Which to buy - paddle or pedal?

It's a good question, but seldom answered by those who aren’t sponsored, professional, or a “New-B” buying into the hype.

A mechanical advantage, such as a drive, will be just that, an advantage (in certain areas). In a fishing kayak, this will equate into greater range and greater maintainable speed in getting there. However, there are “no free lunches” in life and there are tradeoffs. Mechanical systems require maintenance and adjustment, and sometimes break at inopportune times.

Dealer/manufacturer support? Not just issues that would be a liability problem for them, but real support, including problems above (and beyond) the waterline. Have a high percentage of brand owners had problems? If you are truly asking for advice rather than re-affirmation of what you may have already decided, ask around, especially those who don’t stand to gain from their opinions, and those who have owned many brands.

Different hull shapes perform differently, especially in less than perfect conditions. Where will the kayak be primarily used – lakes, bays, through the surf, distant fishing grounds? Is storage or transportation a problem? Is deck space an issue? Will this kayak be used for fishing, hooping, other activities?

I guess the bottom line is don’t be fooled by hype, or those who would eventually stand to gain from your decision. Ask around, do your research, demo LOTS of different types, and make your decision based on your needs, not slick marketing.

[JOSER85]

@the above comment

Very well said :luxhello::luxhello::luxhello::luxhello::luxhello: :luxhello::luxhello::luxhello::luxhello::luxhello: :luxhello:

[Siebler]

Wait up for me haha.. Your trolling motor will die one day and I will pedal right past you..

Until you break a drive cable :eek:

Ill stick to paddling thank you :D

If you think paddling is too hard its probably because your paddling a slow boat. If you notice, most of those who say they would rather paddle are on efficient boats like Tarpons, Prowlers, Etc.

[sdfishman]

I'm too big for those tarpons/prowlers :). I have a XFactor when I decided to paddle.


Until you break a drive cable :eek:

Ill stick to paddling thank you :D

If you think paddling is too hard its probably because your paddling a slow boat. If you notice, most of those who say they would rather paddle are on efficient boats like Tarpons, Prowlers, Etc.

[mtnbykr2]

I love a good debate...
consolodate and keep em both if it has been an option.....:reeling:

[Siebler]

I'm too big for those tarpons/prowlers :). I have a XFactor when I decided to paddle.

Bet your not too big for a Prowler Trident 15. Theres a few larger guys paddling this boat and they LOVE it.

If theres a will theres a way :cheers1:

[oneyedeer]

go down to OEX and take couple of the hobie out for a test drive....try the outback and revolution. Paddle and peddle them

you test drive cars test drive your women why not a kayak :)

[ful-rac]

id keep the stealth!!!!!....because I have one too:luxhello:!!! I personally love my stealth 14, it has served me well, and hopefully for many more years to come.

Tony.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u217/pksbshp/Fishing/de0443f2.jpg

[da22y]

I have a Hobie Adventure.
I also purchased Tarpon 160, Malibu stealth14, Trident 13 "AFTER" my Hobie.

All is sold but my Hobie stay.
Just can't break my Hobie addiction.
Hobie is not perfect , but I still think it is the best for me.

[Podaker]

I went from a tarpon to a hobie and there will be no going back. It's hands free, less effort, faster, and you can turn on a dime. not as good in the surf and you can't go backwards until you grab your paddle. for me the pros far outwiegh the minor cons. go try one out, if you are in san diego you can test one out at fastlane on mission bay.

[Siebler]

I am not sponsored and have nothing to gain. I have owned 2 Prowlers, 2 Malibus and 1 Hobie. I love my Hobie and it hasn't failed in 7 years. If I were sight seeing, looking at whales or other such recreation, a paddle is great. I love to paddle. When fishing a Hobie rules. I love to have my hands free to set lines or cast or have a sandwich, whatever. When it gets really windy and choppy the Adventure lets me hold position and vertically jig. As for a mechanical failure, if my Adventure drive ever fails my yak magically tranforms into a regular kayak and I just paddle in. Oooooo, dangerous. :D


Opinions from Utah dont count Ed :p

Cant wait to see you and Alan in May, gonna be a blast again!

[bellcon]

Bet your not too big for a Prowler Trident 15. Theres a few larger guys paddling this boat and they LOVE it.

If theres a will theres a way :cheers1:
Yep CJ is right on
6'-4", 250lbs here and been on a Trident 15 for about 5 years
I can keep up with the Hobie guys no problem...

But in the wind? a strong current?, while trying to hold a spot? or when the fish blow up WAY over there?
that's when I hate them same Hobie guys
even more when they peddle past me waving with a beer in one hand and a rod in the other
:the_finger:

Look at the WCW leader board I think everyone with a submission is on a Hobie
well almost everyone :ciao::D


having said that
Looks like the PA is my next ride

[dorado50]

I really don't know why anyone states the real benefits of a hobie:confused:. Yes they are all of the above but when it comes to fishing they have a reel advantage. Instead of the fish taking you into the kelp or into a lobster line you can lead that fish away from said objects,thus increaseing your chances of landing fish. Also a Hobie allows you to have better control of fish by keeping rod to one side of kayak at all times thus eliminating those over the bow swings during different stages of fight,which obviously keeps your rod and spool /line tension consistent throughout the battle. Just two prime examples of why hobies work!

[Salty Dog]

I have a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 and a Hobie Revolution 13.

I got the Tarpon first. I wanted a kayak that was seaworthy and could cover long distances. The first thing I bought after was a carbon fiber paddle. A good paddle can turn any kayak into a better kayak. I have paddled and fished with it from Newport Beach to Laguna Beach and back without too much trouble. I think someone made the crossing to Catalina on one.
Paddling for fish is an art. More skills are required to handle the kayak. I welcome the challenge.

I got the Hobie when I noticed that my my legs were beginning to look like chicken legs while my shoulders were all buffed out. Balance is the key. Great training for hiking or backpacking!!!
Pedaling for fish is fun! No skills required! With paddling I had to stop to have a drink. Now I just keep going and not waste any precious beer drinking time:cheers1:

I better get back on the Tarpon soon. My arms are starting to look like chicken wings.:paddleersmilie:

[Iebadboy]

I want to thank all of you and your recommendations was wanting to know if any one was willing to share photos of your riged hobie's
Thanks

[PapaDave]

Here is a recent pic of my Pro Angler...

[f'nsabiki]

Here is a recent pic of my Pro Angler...
how much are your slip fees???:biggrinjester:

[mtnbykr2]

Here is a recent pic of my Pro Angler...
Show off...:D...:biggrinjester: Hey, where and what is that cool Go Pro mount?

[thefisher]

Hey PapaDCh what sounder is that im in the market and weren't clear on which model to get.

[jorluivil]

Get a Hobie

When your battery dies I'll peddle past you
When you paddle breaks I'll peddle past you
When my peddles break, your battery dies and your paddle breaks I'll paddle past you
When my paddle breaks......I'll call you and ask you how you got in when your motor and your paddle broke.

I've owned both types of kayaks but nothing beats a Hobie.

[mazilla]

Get a Hobie

When your battery dies I'll peddle past you
When you paddle breaks I'll peddle past you
When my peddles break, your battery dies and your paddle breaks I'll paddle past you
When my paddle breaks......I'll call you and ask you how you got in when your motor and your paddle broke.

I've owned both types of kayaks but nothing beats a Hobie.


Ha! You've never owned a luxury liner with a motor...you'd change your tune.

Then again, not too many people have the mechanical ability to design a motor system...so they don't have much of a choice.


When your struggling to get back, I'll motor past you in reverse and ask you what the big deal is...as I clip my toe nails. I can cruise my motorized yak for 7+ hours(haven't run out of battery yet)...how many hours can you peddle before you pass out? HAHAHAHA



;):D

[PapaDave]

how much are your slip fees???:biggrinjester:

Slip fees aren't too bad, it's the ammo that hits the wallet...

[PapaDave]

Show off...:D...:biggrinjester: Hey, where and what is that cool Go Pro mount?

It's a combo of a flexible arm and a motorcycle handle bar mount. Both from the Ram web site. The arm is made of a solid aluminum rod that can bend, but not easliy, so it stays where you put it.

[PapaDave]

Hey PapaDCh what sounder is that im in the market and weren't clear on which model to get.


It's a Lowrance Elite 5, GPS and FF. Works very well. Been thinking of getting a side scanning one though. Not sure if those work on a kayak, but it would be cool.

[PapaDave]

All in all, while it weighs more then other kayaks, the PA is a mighty fine ride. The chair is wonderfully comfortable, lots of storage, lots of room, six internal rod holders and very very stable.

[PapaDave]

Ha! You've never owned a luxury liner with a motor...you'd change your tune.

Then again, not too many people have the mechanical ability to design a motor system...so they don't have much of a choice.


When your struggling to get back, I'll motor past you in reverse and ask you what the big deal is...as I clip my toe nails. I can cruise my motorized yak for 7+ hours(haven't run out of battery yet)...how many hours can you peddle before you pass out? HAHAHAHA



;):D

I'd say about 14 hours... :D isn't that about right Jorluivil?

[Drake]

I recently went from a Stealth 12 to a Hobie Pro Angler. I've found a lot of benifits, mostly listed above. But to be honest, I find myself Kayaking 300% more than I did with the stealth. Just the little things you can do on a hobie make it so much more enjoyable on the water. I hated having to secure my poles, grab the paddle, and move back on top of a good spot.

Maintaining position on the Hobie is so much easier. Point your bow toward where the wind/current is coming from, set the rudder and just slowly peddle, all the while you still have your rod in your hand.

Trolling is another good example. I like trolling with my rod in my hand. I can control the baits better by controlling the rod tip, jerking plastics, feeling hits ect.

Also, when you got caught on the bottom or in some kelp, you know right away. As opposed to when you're paddling and you're already to far to really do your self any favors. In a hobie, you can peddle around whatever you're caught on and are much more likely to free your rig.

I will say this though. I miss the side compartments on my Stealth more than anything, those were the best things to have.

[jorluivil]

I'd say about 14 hours... :D isn't that about right Jorluivil?

Longest I've gone is from about 6am until about 4pm.

I recently went from a Stealth 12 to a Hobie Pro Angler. I've found a lot of benifits, mostly listed above. But to be honest, I find myself Kayaking 300% more than I did with the stealth. Just the little things you can do on a hobie make it so much more enjoyable on the water. I hated having to secure my poles, grab the paddle, and move back on top of a good spot.

Maintaining position on the Hobie is so much easier. Point your bow toward where the wind/current is coming from, set the rudder and just slowly peddle, all the while you still have your rod in your hand.

Trolling is another good example. I like trolling with my rod in my hand. I can control the baits better by controlling the rod tip, jerking plastics, feeling hits ect.

Also, when you got caught on the bottom or in some kelp, you know right away. As opposed to when you're paddling and you're already to far to really do your self any favors. In a hobie, you can peddle around whatever you're caught on and are much more likely to free your rig.

I will say this though. I miss the side compartments on my Stealth more than anything, those were the best things to have.

What ^^^he^^^ said. Especially, the stuff in bold print regarding storage


There's a reason why Hobie is taking over the market. Many of us have been on both types of yaks and so far I haven't met one person that has said, "I'm going back to paddling".

[Iebadboy]

:drool5::drool5: well im apart of a new family now!! :reel:!!:reel:

[dsafety]

Most of the comments posted above are valid and reasonable. IMO, the most valuable feature of the Hobie system is the "hands free" factor. You can go where you want to go while still keeping your hand on your rod making it possible to instantly respond to whatever is on the other end of the line.

If this is important to you, then Hobie is the way to go.

That said, many of us are regularly out-fished by folks with better skills on other platforms.

Bob

[jorluivil]

:drool5::drool5: well im apart of a new family now!! :reel:!!:reel:

Don't forget to remove the wrapping before you launch


http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/attachment.php?attachmentid=5655&stc=1&d=1328317207

[Iebadboy]

So that's why it was hard to sit on......

[Drake]

:drool5::drool5: well im apart of a new family now!! :reel:!!:reel:

I carry my PA on my toaster too, its so easy to get it on and off :luxhello:

[bus kid]

:drool5::drool5: well im apart of a new family now!! :reel:!!:reel:

Congrats, on buying a hobie but that was the easy part, now you gotta rig it. :D

[Iebadboy]

Already done!! upgraded to turbo Finns, rudder, got the hobie bait tank already have my brand new hummingbird 597ci with DI, and two custom rod mount extensions.. Set and ready to go :D

[mtnbykr2]

Already done!! upgraded to turbo Finns, rudder, got the hobie bait tank already have my brand new hummingbird 597ci with DI, and two custom rod mount extensions.. Set and ready to go :D
Sounds like you are all set good luck hopefully will get out sometime:reel:

[Fish Taco]

Most of the comments posted above are valid and reasonable. IMO, the most valuable feature of the Hobie system is the "hands free" factor. You can go where you want to go while still keeping your hand on your rod making it possible to instantly respond to whatever is on the other end of the line.

If this is important to you, then Hobie is the way to go.

That said, many of us are regularly out-fished by folks with better skills on other platforms.

Bob
This has been an interesting thread for sure... and the debate continues... but, I have a question for all of you Hobie mirage drive users...

I water tested a Hobie Outback before I made a decision not to go with a Hobie mirage drive system... and this is why... My experience while testing this kayak was that while underway, feet in stirrups and pedaling away... I felt like I almost needed to grab the sides of the kayak seat to get the proper leverage while pedaling. I tried to pedal without grabbing the bars on the sides of the seat (I think there were some sort of bars or handles there, can't remember exactly) but anyway... I wasn't comfortable being totally hands free while pedaling. I felt as if my feet were positioned too high in the air. Now I'm about 5' 8" tall and have somewhat short legs (28" inseam) but still felt as though this shouldn't have been an issue for me. The guys at the kayak place didn't offer any solutions or suggestions when I explained that I felt like I kept wanting to hold on at the side of the seat while paddling... so I just figured that that is the way it is with a Hobie Mirage Drive... and my conclusion at that point was... "What's the point of pedaling if you can't comfortably free up your hands - I mean, isn't that the whole point of the mirage drive?" I wanted a yak that I could fish from more than anything else. Needless to say, I was kinda bummed that it didn't work out for me with the Hobie. Although, my eye was always on the Stealth series from the get-go too, but really wanted to give the Hobie a fair try.

That being said, it wasn't until recently that I heard one Hobie user tell me that all I needed to do was raise the seat up some, and I would have been fine. Hmmm, nobody ever suggested that to me before, not even the owner of the kayak outfitter who was pushing me to buy the same boat he had, the Hobie Outback. I am happy with what I ended up with however, and I purchased a killer Stealth 14 from OEX in Mission Bay from CJ, who helped me rig it just the way I wanted it, complete with a Bassyaks motor & lift kit.

But I do wonder if any of you Hobie users have ever experienced what I did, and the urge or need to want to grab the side of the seat to get leverage while pedaling... or have any of you heard of this, and/or remedied it by raising your seat?

I'm just curious is all. The one thing I DO really like about my Stealth is that I can get into very skinny water without worrying about the mirage drive fins... where I live out here in New York (Long Island's North shore) there is plenty of flats and estuaries to fish from that hold large striped bass feeding on small baitfish, sand eels, grass shrimp, etc. and this yak will be easy to get in skinny water where other boats cannot.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts and experiences with using your Hobies and what you encountered with leverage and pedaling.

Tight lines!

- Ken

[jorluivil]

This has been an interesting thread for sure... and the debate continues... but, I have a question for all of you Hobie mirage drive users...

I water tested a Hobie Outback before I made a decision not to go with a Hobie mirage drive system... and this is why... My experience while testing this kayak was that while underway, feet in stirrups and pedaling away... I felt like I almost needed to grab the sides of the kayak seat to get the proper leverage while pedaling.


I think this might be a natural human reaction.....I experienced the same thing but only on my first kayak, never with my Outback. The minute your body goes sideways for a split second your first reaction is to hold onto something ......its what we all do regardless of whether we're sitting, standing, walking or running and we start to fall.

I'm thinking that the only reason you don't feel the same way in your Stealth is because your hands are holding onto something(paddle), your mind is telling you its OK because your hands aren't free. If you paddled as fast as possible, drop your paddle and a wake came your way what would be your first reaction? I'm betting the farm that your first reaction would be to grab onto something. Do the same thing but don't lay the paddle down and I guarantee you your first reaction will not be to hold on....why? because you can't.

[PapaDave]

^ what he said ^

While I have a Pro Angler, and it is very stable, I still find myself holding onto the rail when I am peddling. I don't do that when I am fishing though. As for the seat and peddles, the peddles are adjustable and on my PA I raised the seat up about an inch, initially not for comfort though. My hands are large and they kept getting stuck between the seat and the hull whenever I tried to retreive something that fell down there.

[Fish Taco]

I think this might be a natural human reaction.... The minute your body goes sideways for a split second your first reaction is to hold onto something...

I'm thinking that the only reason you don't feel the same way in your Stealth is because your hands are holding onto something(paddle), your mind is telling you its OK because your hands aren't free. If you peddled as fast as possible, drop your paddle and a wake came your way what would be your first reaction? I'm betting the farm that your first reaction would be to grab onto something. Do the same thing but don't lay the paddle down and I guarantee you your first reaction will not be to hold on....why? because you can't.

I do see your point... somewhat... but I'm not convinced my experience was this at all.

First of all, the Outback I water tested was rigged with a Torqueedo Trolling motor... and initially, I tried out the yak with just using the power of the motor. Then I went back to the dock, and asked that they put the mirage drive in, cause I wanted to test the yak just using the mirage drive as well. Upon first putting my feet in the stirrups on the pedals, I immediately realized that my feet were positioned much higher in the air than what I would have expected... in fact, it seemed to me too high. I don't feel that I had the urge to grab onto something because I felt unstable... the Outback felt like a very stable platform to me... it was instead almost as though by grabbing onto something it was giving me better leverage because I felt my legs were angled too high in the air... it was strange and not comfortable. I will say, that when I pedaled hard, that Outback really moved at a nice clip! But never felt like I could pedal comfortably while leaving my hands free... perhaps the pedals being so high is just the design of the mirage drive, and it just takes some getting used to... but initially, I wasn't diggin' it.

Has anyone ever heard of mirage drive users raising their seats to combat the angle of the pedals being so high... or was it just me?

As far as my Stealth... my hands aren't always on a paddle at all... remember... I have a Bassyaks motor installed on my Stealth... so yes, I do paddle sometimes... but certainly not always... and my hands are free and I don't necessarily feel like I always have to grab onto something if I take on a wake.

Not saying you don't have a point, just don't think in my case of what I experienced that was the reason I had the urge to grab a hold of something using the mirage drive. Do your feet feel like they are angled too high in your Hobie? I'm curious is all...

Thanks for your feedback... :)

[Fish Taco]

While I have a Pro Angler, and it is very stable, I still find myself holding onto the rail when I am peddling. I don't do that when I am fishing though. As for the seat and peddles, the peddles are adjustable and on my PA I raised the seat up about an inch, initially not for comfort though. My hands are large and they kept getting stuck between the seat and the hull whenever I tried to retreive something that fell down there.

Hmm... interesting that you mention that your pedals are "adjustable"...

Does that mean in height or in the distance (length) between the pedals and the foot of the kayaker? If it is in the height, that would explain why I felt like they were too high in the air for me.

If they were adjustable on the 2011 Outback like the one I was testing, then shame on the owner of the store for not bringing the "adjustment option" to my attention - as he just lost a sale and a customer! :mad: I won't mention any names, but suffice it to say, he's basically the only major fishing kayak dealer on Long Island here in NY.

[PapaDave]

Hmm... interesting that you mention that your pedals are "adjustable"...

Does that mean in height or in the distance (length) between the pedals and the foot of the kayaker? If it is in the height, that would explain why I felt like they were too high in the air for me.

If they were adjustable on the 2011 Outback like the one I was testing, then shame on the owner of the store for not bringing the "adjustment option" to my attention - as he just lost a sale and a customer! :mad: I won't mention any names, but suffice it to say, he's basically the only major fishing kayak dealer on Long Island here in NY.

The peddles are adjustable in the X direction but that inadvertantly affects the Y as well. After raising the seat in the PA I noticed it was much more comfortable and easier to peddle. Note that I am refering to a Hobie Pro Angler and not an Outback. The PA has a regular seat in it.

[Podaker]

you should have had a rod in one hand and a beer in the other:cheers1:

[Mr Fishback]

The Outback has two sets of holes to choose from when attaching the seat. You can play around with those to see how they affect your posture. The seat straps can also be adjusted for comfort.

I have a friend who uses an inflatable seat cushion when he goes out in his Outback, but I don't think it elevates him all that much. Aside from that there isn't a built in way of raising the seat. All you have is what PapaDCh said, peddles have a length adjustment.

[WahooUSMA]

Had 'em all - Malibu, Tarpon, Ocean Kayak (inc the torque), multiple Hobies - revos - had 3 of them, PA - 2 of 'em, and 1 big waste of money Hobie Adventure Islander that I thought I could fish off of. Now I paddle a 30ft SeaRay, which by the way I damn near had to paddle home from Catalina on Saturday due to bad gas in Avalon.

Seriously, get a Hobie - Sorry paddler's. But when the wind kicks up or you have long distances to travel or need both hands, NOTHING beats a Hobie, especially a PA.

I will be in the market again for a yak, but I do not have space on the boat for a PA, so I'll be checkin' the 'for sale' section on BWE for a used Revo shortly. Hey Echo467 (Eric), you still thinking about selling my old Revo?

[driftwood]

Had 'em all - Malibu, Tarpon, Ocean Kayak (inc the torque), multiple Hobies - revos - had 3 of them, PA - 2 of 'em, and 1 big waste of money Hobie Adventure Islander that I thought I could fish off of. Now I paddle a 30ft SeaRay, which by the way I damn near had to paddle home from Catalina on Saturday due to bad gas in Avalon.

Seriously, get a Hobie - Sorry paddler's. But when the wind kicks up or you have long distances to travel or need both hands, NOTHING beats a Hobie, especially a PA.

I will be in the market again for a yak, but I do not have space on the boat for a PA, so I'll be checkin' the 'for sale' section on BWE for a used Revo shortly. Hey Echo467 (Eric), you still thinking about selling my old Revo?

WOW!! you are a pioneer of kayaks!!! That is an impressive inventory! :gnorsi::gnorsi:

[Billy V]

you should have had a rod in one hand and a beer in the other:cheers1:

Hobie offers a Run and Gun service plan that will tow you to breaking fish.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1d920b3127ccefdd7b107040e00000030O00AbMmzFizcN2 IPbz4M/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

[Drake]

This has been an interesting thread for sure... and the debate continues... but, I have a question for all of you Hobie mirage drive users...

I water tested a Hobie Outback before I made a decision not to go with a Hobie mirage drive system... and this is why... My experience while testing this kayak was that while underway, feet in stirrups and pedaling away... I felt like I almost needed to grab the sides of the kayak seat to get the proper leverage while pedaling. I tried to pedal without grabbing the bars on the sides of the seat (I think there were some sort of bars or handles there, can't remember exactly) but anyway... I wasn't comfortable being totally hands free while pedaling.
- Ken
I ride my PA with a beer in one hand, and the other on the rudder. No need to hold the bars. :cheers1: