Hobie Adventure

Anyone in line to get one of these? Elric? I put off getting a yak but it looks like this might be it. I'll wait a year and see what you guys think.

Mike

Elric and I were talking about it today.  I think he plans to demo one from Wind Toys in Santa Rosa.  I'm anxious to hear his first impressions too.  It could be the ultimate kayak if can pedal and paddle as good as it looks.

Mike... it's good to see you're still interested in the Hobie.  I think it's been nearly a year and half since I met you at the Rockwall fishing on your friend's boat.

Dude - get SOMETHING!

Yak fishing is where it's at, bro.

I hope to get a yak in 06. I was ready to get one last summer then the striper run got hot and I forgot about it. The good thing about the Adventure coming out is that there should be some good deals on used outbacks.

Mike

I don't sell Hobies, but if i did, this is the one I would be ordering.  Looks like a winner on paper, curious to see one in real life.  Only down side i can see is the cost, otherwise a good looking design for the pedal power people.

Has anyone "pedaled" one of these Hobies? Are they truly fast? It seems a little hokey; I mean, I like paddling; it's why I don't have a motor boat. But I would also like being 3 miles offshore in half an hour too...

Has anyone "pedaled" one of these Hobies? Are they truly fast? It seems a little hokey; I mean, I like paddling; it's why I don't have a motor boat. But I would also like being 3 miles offshore in half an hour too...

I own a Hobie Outback and an OK Prowler 15.  On flat water, they're equally fast considering the Outback is only 12' long/34" wide compared to the Prowler which is 15' long/28" wide.

Unfortunately, the Outback sucks as a paddling kayak, so that's why I got the Prowler.    I always believed that if you could mount a Hobie pedal drive in a kayak like a Prowler 15 or a Tarpon 160, you'd have the best of both worlds and the fastest fishing kayak on the water.  It looks like Hobie may have accomplished this with its new Adventure kayak.  But, there's only one way to find out for sure... I need to demo one for myself.

Check out the specs....   http://www.hobiecat.com/fishing/models_adventurefisherman.html

I just found this review of the Hobie Adventure...
http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/5086057385/m/5581015761

Held off on buying a Hobie until the 2006 models were announced.  My new adventure arrives Thursday, Oct 27th.  Leave for Steinhatchee, Florida next week for some Gulf fishing . . . nice yak site!

I put a call to my closest dealer inquiring the arrival of the BigA. He's gonna call me back with arrival info.
With this yak, I would venture out further (maybe even w/ bluekayak) as it definetly has the propulsion to get you out further in less time.
Also, it's long skinny profile looks less like a bull seal, than my present Hobie Sport.
The price, though expensive would be worth it. Some guys have more than 2 yaks. You would only need this one IMHO.
I'm predicting that this yak will take the market lead away from Ocean Kayak.

Chuck, thanks for the review. See you at the Farallons in April  
Seriously though, I would love to try one of these. My only worry is that it could be less maneuverable than I might like on the tight turns and bugging out of iffy spots fast. My other only worry is about getting debris  caught on the pedal drives. When you launch and beach, do you just remove the pedal drive? Do the pedals get in the way of paddling?

My only worry is that it could be less maneuverable than I might like on the tight turns and bugging out of iffy spots fast.

Actually, getting out of tight spots fast is one of the things I like about my Hobie.  You'll be surprised at how well these things can turn.  I can do tight donuts in my Outback.  

My other only worry is about getting debris caught on the pedal drives. When you launch and beach, do you just remove the pedal drive?

When paddling through kelp, you can either cruise through with the flippers flat against the bottom of the yak... or you can pull out the drive if it's really thick.  For launches and landings, I usually pull them out which only takes a few seconds.

Do the pedals get in the way of paddling?

Nope.  Some guys even like to pedal and paddle at same time for extra speed.

Thanks again Chuck!

Something I can't seem to figure out about the Hobie - How do you operate the rudder? Can you operate it pedaling or paddling?

There is a controller on the right hand side to use the rudder.  You can even raise the rudder with this controller.

Kevin