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kayak chick 
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Joined: 02 Mar 2006
Location: New Zealand
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Posts: 54
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 Topic: Hobi Pedal (Mirage Drive) Kayak
Posted: 03 Nov 2006 at 7:53pm |
After many long months of not being able to use my Tempo due to shoulder injury I finally received delivery of my new Hobi Outback Fisherman with a Mirage Drive pedal system. Took it out yesterday afternoon - what a great kayak. Took me ages to get used to not having a paddle in my hand (was a bit choppy and balancing the thing is a whole different ball game) and steering the rudder with my hand but once that was sorted it was great!
Will try to fish from the thing at the weekend if weather permitting. Keep you posted on the results. What a buzz to be back out on the water though! 
Hubby talked me into buying a sail for the kayak and so he tried that out - he loves it so much he has ordered himself one - a better one than my kayak though - 1.2m longer and a bigger sail and outriggers. He reckons you can stand up and stretch your legs on the kayak with them (I'll have the camera ready for that one!).
For people who are unable to use a paddle for long lengths of time because of injury or any permanent disability i.e. OOS or RSI, this kayak is fantastic (sounds like I work for Hobi in their marketing department huh!).
It's top end in the price department but my only other option is getting a boat to fish from and that's even more expensive and then I would have to take the kids!!
I now have to learn to sail as well! Certainly makes heading back to shore on a windy day a lot easier/interesting!
Will post pics when it is fully rigged!
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Very thankful for an understanding husband!
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Naki man
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Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 03 Nov 2006 at 10:43pm |
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Hey Kayak chick, they use those hobi out back pedal yaks in aussie quite a bit. Check out the Aussie yak site
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The solution to any problem - work, money, love, whatever - is to go fishing - the worse the problem the longer the fishing trip should be.
"I have a lot of very large problems"
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Yellow Duck
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Joined: 18 Aug 2006
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Posted: 06 Nov 2006 at 12:05am |
 awesome review KAYAK CHICK, I have a friend that has a major shoulder injury, and he was a keen kayaker, I will be drawing his attention to your writeup, and hopefully get him back out on the water again, I look forward to hearing more on how it all goes......BLUEDUCK! 
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kayak chick
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Posted: 06 Nov 2006 at 6:31pm |
Well Hobi lost his fishing virginity today.....went out for the maiden (fishing) voyage and it was AWESOME! It was great to be back fishing again. The Kayak was everything I expected and more! It was very easy to handle (quite windy and choppy where we were) and got up to 3.5 miles per hour (yes it has a speedo!) at an easy pace. Will let you know tomorrow how the butt has coped with it as quite hard on the legs but its all good!
YAHOO!
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TX
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Joined: 24 Oct 2005
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Posted: 10 Nov 2006 at 5:31pm |
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Hi Kayak Chick,
Great to hear your back on the water. Is Hobi's mirage drive a robust unit? I'm always paranoid about damaging rudders in the surf, would the mirage drive handle a surf landing? I've never actually been on one of these kayaks to put one to the test or even seen one in the flesh. I've only read about them on the internet and listened to what owners like yourself have to say.
Regards
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kayak chick
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Posted: 10 Nov 2006 at 8:59pm |
Hi Yellow Beard
The mirage drive seems quite robust. I was at the mussel farms the other day and was on top of the ropes and the fins kept banging into the ropes and they didn't get damaged. As for coming in on surf I have yet to try that. The drive is really well secured to the hobie and when you come into shore there is a bungy specifically for holding the fins flat against the hull.
What I really like is the lap hatch is 8 inches wide and you can get almost everything in there. I can get my anchor and rope, my gaff, my rod (i have a 5 foot rod), my chopper flag and light and tackle etc in there so if the thing rolled those things would be safe in the hull (plus my head would be safe as well from a sconing with the anchor!)
I've only really given the thing a good test once. The only thing I will say against the Hobie is the seat was absolutely crap. I've swapped it for my Tempo seat which is far superior. Even though the Hobie seat is really high it didn't have much support and bent in the small of my back. Husband did not find the same problem - in fairness he is slightly more padded than me and probably fits the seat much more 'snugly' than I do!
I caught an octopus on Monday and Jackie warned me about letting the thing stick to the hull of the kayak as she had read about someone who caught one, thought they had got rid of it and the tentacles came up through the scupper holes as they were landing on the beach! My worry was the thing would stick to the hull and clog up the fins so I wouldn't be able to peddle back! Methinks the thing would have got a good gaffing to encourage it to let go!
Also got accused of releasing a perfectly good feed by the EAKFC Sheriff!  Grrrrrr. |
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catchem
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Posted: 11 Nov 2006 at 3:30pm |
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Hi Kayak Chick, I often use a telescopic mast and tri sail on my kayak. Would the mirage drive hinder sailing or might it act like a centre board?
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TX
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Joined: 24 Oct 2005
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Posted: 11 Nov 2006 at 5:28pm |
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Cheers for the feedback Kayak Chick.
Good to see the manufacturers building robustness into these products so they will stand the test of time and not become a warrenty claim after the first time out.
Regards
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kayak chick
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Posted: 11 Nov 2006 at 8:18pm |
Hi catchem
When you have the sail up you need to have the fins in the water like a centreboard. It is very stable with the sail up. It is like a windsurfer sail not a full sail.
Personally I've never sailed in my life and have yet to learn that skill on Hobie! Husband has test-driven the sail though and was impressed.
The new Adventure Island Hobie Mirage Kayak has a full on sail with a centreboard as well as outriggers and goes like the clappers in high winds! Husband has one on order!
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ajst2duk
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Joined: 11 Sep 2006
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Posted: 13 Nov 2006 at 10:18am |
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Hey Kayak Chick, I gave these things a good looking over while I was getting some roof racks fitted on Barry's point road (another chapter in the saga of the kayak money hole) and they look bloody awesome. There is a lot of thought gone into the design. My only observation would be that sand could get into the drive chain easily on beach launches, but I guess it would wash out just as quickly.
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kayak chick
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Posted: 30 Nov 2006 at 12:59pm |
Hi ajtst2duk. Yes sand is a problem in the mirage drive chain. Instructions say to wash thoroughly after using and spray with CRC. Hopefully the smell of the stuff won't chase the fishies away though. And my credit card agrees with you there about the kayak money hole!!! Havent caught enough fish yet to balance it out!!!
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