hobie outback owners

[deepdvr]

I have a revo and an outback. I will only fish LJ on the revo. The outback is my choice for skinny water or goofing around with my family. Either way you will be fine. It really becomes a speed/tracking vs. stability/storage debate. If I couldn't have both, I'd have a revo first.

[FishFeeder]

OK, you've compared them for yourself, so I'm not sure I can add a lot. I have an Outback, and I got it as my first fishing kayak. a perfect choice because it is stable as ^*() and spacious. it does not paddle well, though, and it would not be my choice for La Jolla, where surf launch and distances favor Revo. I have been out in ocean swell alongside a Revo, I'd estimate the Revo paddler and I were around the same weight (180 or so). I stayed bone dry, while he took several over the bow and was wet up past his knees. same water, same load roughly, same pace, and the Outback was drier, but also probably noisier if that bothers you. personally, staying dry is not a high priority to me (because I can dress for that, and I don't expect to stay dry while fishing in a kayak anyway...). You mentioned 'faster': I don't view the speed difference as being very important because the OUtback does pretty well, I don't tire over fairly long distances while peddling it. With turbo fins on the outback, it hauls just fine IMHO. To me, the key factor is where you will use it: if you'll be launching or landing through surf--> Revo, no question. Bays or inland waters, Outback is better to me: I like having the extra accessible working space, it's easier on casual users / borrowers, and I'd only favor Revo if you expect to cover long distances, or maybe for the ability to paddle better, which I do sometimes just for fun and exercise in the Outback. I did not spend much time paddling the Revo (just a test run when I bought the Outback), but I'll wager it tracks a lot better when paddled.

MikeS

[ericko]

I also was in your same shoes what to get I tested both and felt that the outback was just the better choice for me, i dont see myself fishing LJ that much cause of my location HB. I've taken my outback out to Dana, New Port,and some lakes and love it .I also have an X-FACTOR and anything is faster than that .the stability in my x-factor and outback is the one thing i like most about both of my yaks,the revo was not as stable when i tested it.....

dont no if this helps but good luck

[Three3Divine]

Revo all the way, faster, easier threw surf, Not as much hull slap and yeah revo all the way bud! if you going to fish la jolla but if your looking for a lot of weight capacity then maybe the outback is your choice and if you want hoop net then the outback but my choice is the Revo!

[Hobie-Pedaller]

Three3Divine summed it up well.

Outback is VERY stable & dry. But is a tank PADDLING thru surf launches/landings.

[roadx]

thanks for the opinions, it is appreciated. is the outback that bad launching/landing through the surf?

with all the revo lovers, it's not making this easier LOL

It really becomes a speed/tracking vs. stability/storage debate

dont no if this helps but good luck

yes it does and thanks!

[Hobie-Pedaller]

no real problem LAUNCHING. it is slow & bulky, but just point the nose straight into the waves and forge ahead. Not much problem with flipping over here for me.

but for me, LANDING is always an adventure, in anything bigger than 2.5 - 3 ft waves.

to land in surf (dry & safe & upright), you need to time the waves, and follow one in right behind it, and then paddle hard & fast, to stay ahead of next wave coming up your rear.

this is near impossible for me in my Outback. i pedal 99% of the time I'm on the water, and thus I am a terrible paddler anyways. but my deficiency really shows up in the surf zone.

When surf landing, I seldom outrun the trailing wave, and I almost always get "caught" by the trailing wave, when I'm about half way in. If the waves are over 2-3 ft, I usually end up riding the wave in sideways, leaning HARD into wave to prevent flipping, all the way to the beach.

I haven't flipped since 2004, the first year I started yakking. But I frequently come close, on many landings. Definitely gets the adrenaline going for me everytime the waves are 3 ft plus.

I love everything about my Outback, except using it in surf landings.

If you are physically strong in upper body & a good paddler (which I am not), you will likely be fine in the surf landings. Otherwise, if you fish A LOT in ocean (surf launch/land) the Revo is possibly the better option.