Mirage Drive 180 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ful-rac · 10-17-2016, 09:20 AM

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.

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

GT Drive

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

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.

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.

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...

! Oh and by the way I did catch a halibut as well if you didn't notice.

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.

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.

Starsky · 10-17-2016, 09:29 AM

Nice review and report Tony! Still killin it!

Iceman · 10-17-2016, 11:25 AM

Mr No BS

great, thorough review!

Quote:

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.

always exceptions for special customers.

TJones · 10-18-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

Mr No BS

great, thorough review!

always exceptions for special customers.

CrazzyGar · 10-17-2016, 11:41 AM

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

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ful-rac · 10-17-2016, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazzyGar

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

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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

Quote:

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.

TheBentRod · 10-17-2016, 12:18 PM

Nice Lobsters!

TJones · 10-18-2016, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBentRod

Nice Lobsters!

if you ain't catching.

. don't worry Stan, we gonna turn these Sewer boys inside out this weekend.

.

makobob · 10-18-2016, 03:28 PM

DREAM BIG, then go out and make it happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJones

if you ain't catching.

. don't worry Stan, we gonna turn these Sewer boys inside out this weekend.

.

CrazzyGar · 10-17-2016, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

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

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

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

makobob · 10-17-2016, 01:37 PM

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.

ful-rac · 10-17-2016, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makobob

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.

SoCalCJ · 10-17-2016, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

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

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!

King Saba · 10-18-2016, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalCJ

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!

blitzburgh · 10-18-2016, 06:26 AM

Nice write-up and critters Tony!

SoCalCJ · 10-18-2016, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Saba

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!

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

paddle man · 10-18-2016, 02:33 PM

O.K. GUYS HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

FOR THE NEW DRIVE

Bigal · 10-20-2016, 09:53 PM

The 180 sounds awesome! If you replace your original with the 180 and want to sell your old one, I am super interested. I left my mirage drive on the beach in LJ during March and did't realize it until my next trip in April. My Revo isn't much fun with a paddle and an open slot between my legs!

GTboosted · 10-17-2016, 12:44 PM

Nice review and lobsters

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazzyGar

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

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why quote his entire post and pictures?

Iceman · 10-17-2016, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTboosted

Nice review and lobsters

Why quote his entire post and pictures?

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

10-17-2016, 09:20 AM	#1
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	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. 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 GT Drive So the 180 is approximately 6 oz heavier than the standard GT drive...it sure feels like it's more but it's not. 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. 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. 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... ! Oh and by the way I did catch a halibut as well if you didn't notice. 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. 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. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

10-17-2016, 09:29 AM	#2
Starsky Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Lancaster Posts: 187	Nice review and report Tony! Still killin it! __________________ Sal

10-17-2016, 11:41 AM	#5
CrazzyGar Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. Posts: 177	Great review...!!! But how does it compare in Speed & thrust. Fin geometry just my question. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Last edited by Iceman; 10-17-2016 at 03:56 PM.

10-17-2016, 12:18 PM	#7
TheBentRod Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Murrieta, CA and Bonney Lake, WA Posts: 424	Nice job. Nice Lobsters!

10-17-2016, 01:37 PM	#11
makobob Baitless on Baja Join Date: May 2013 Location: Vista California, Gonzaga, San Quintin, Asuncion, Mag Bay Posts: 4,250	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. __________________ http://www.mako-ville.com Home 760-630-4470 Cell 760-520-2514 YES YOU CAN

10-18-2016, 06:26 AM	#15
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Nice write-up and critters Tony! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

10-18-2016, 02:33 PM	#17
paddle man Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 81	$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ O.K. GUYS HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEFOR THE NEW DRIVE

10-20-2016, 09:53 PM	#18
Bigal Junior Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Encinitas Posts: 10	Love the 180, Would like the old MD The 180 sounds awesome! If you replace your original with the 180 and want to sell your old one, I am super interested. I left my mirage drive on the beach in LJ during March and did't realize it until my next trip in April. My Revo isn't much fun with a paddle and an open slot between my legs!