surf launching / landing with hobie drive

Soooooo ... we bent the pins on the mirage drive in my "surf  launch and landing" lesson today  even though I did what the instructor told me to do.  We were able to straighten it out at his shop and all functions fine now, but it seems like landing with the drive in, even with the fins bungeed back in the "up" position is what caused it.  He instructed me to paddle the boat into the beach which I think is maybe not a good idea with the mirage drive in, even if it is bungeed "up.  We never actually used the drive during the lesson so I only noticed it when I removed it from the boat once we were done.

 It makes me think you should NOT paddle all the way in to the beach with the mirage drive in, but get out of the boat in the shallower water.   I think launching with the drive in is ok but maybe it ought to come out and get secured somehow before a surf landing. --- Any thoughts from those with more experience ?? 

Other than this, it was a great lesson .. spent much of the time in the surf zone .. it was windy but surf was 1'-2' from the south.

Dave   

Yank the drive if there is any chance of it coming in contact with the ground.
(The ground can be underwater too).

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,25956.0.html

This has been discussed here plenty of times.  I learned the hard way to pull out the drives even on nice days on the surf.  I bent my Revo's fin mast last year at EKG.  I put them on off position and waves were pretty mellow but one sneaked up from behind which made me go sideways.  I braced (showed my ass to the beach) and one the fin mast was dragging as I was coming in.  I got a new fin mast for around $17, I straightened the bent one and is now my back up.

Nudling uses the same technique.

@tote  &  @Fishing Addict -- Thanks -- that is a wealth of information and I'm embarrassed that I did NOT do my homework researching the info on this site before going to my "lesson."  There is so much in those two threads that could have helped me.   The drive seems to be working now after we straightened the pins. So ..  Lessons learned about surf launching/landing with the mirage drive:

1. When you practice in the surf zone, keep the drive out.  Put the plug in.
2. Launching with the drive in and "bungeed fins up" is a judgement call based on conditions.
3. Always take the drive out when landing - no exceptions.
4. I need to devise a system to secure the drive (strap it down) when it's out but with me in the yak.

Thanks! -- good stuff.  Will try to devise a Hobie Sport solution that's as good as what I saw.   

dB

I never launch or land with the drive in.  I'm kind of hard on mirage drives without exposing them to that activity.  I have hit submerged rocks and bent a mast and I have had Turbo fins break along the rubber edge where the mast inserts.  I went back to the standard fins and am very satisfied with their performance.  I have a bungie that holds my compass and goes over the front hatch which holds my drive during launches and landings but I also always make sure it is tethered to the yak just in case I get turned over in the surf.  I never use the drive plug.  I have a Revo and have never found it to be necessary except if I'm fishing someplace like Still water South, where the kelp is too heavy to use the mirage drive.  Even then, the plug really isn't necessary.

Martin

Even on a lake it's a good idea to pull it. ( I.E. Shasta lake- rocky shoreline ) or cement boat launch. Just make sure it's leashed.

I've gotta come up with some good "tie down" solution for the little hobie sport.  I've got the small boat.  hmmm ....  I think behind me is not a good option .. hmmmm .... 

launch and land...drive out ALWAYS (and leashed). No need for the plug. I secure mine with a strap over the front hatch (Tote post the pic). But I like fishing addict's use....seriously is that what that bungee on the center hatch is for?

Soooooo ... we bent the pins on the mirage drive in my "surf  launch and landing" lesson today  even though I did what the instructor told me to do.  We were able to straighten it out at his shop and all functions fine now, but it seems like landing with the drive in, even with the fins bungeed back in the "up" position is what caused it.  He instructed me to paddle the boat into the beach which I think is maybe not a good idea with the mirage drive in, even if it is bungeed "up.  We never actually used the drive during the lesson so I only noticed it when I removed it from the boat once we were done.

 It makes me think you should NOT paddle all the way in to the beach with the mirage drive in, but get out of the boat in the shallower water.   I think launching with the drive in is ok but maybe it ought to come out and get secured somehow before a surf landing. --- Any thoughts from those with more experience ?? 

Other than this, it was a great lesson .. spent much of the time in the surf zone .. it was windy but surf was 1'-2' from the south.

Dave   

I alway yank mine before landing and come in under paddle power.

ditto, drive out to save money  and leashed to save even more money

It makes me think you should NOT paddle all the way in to the beach with the mirage drive in, but get out of the boat in the shallower water.   I think launching with the drive in is ok but maybe it ought to come out and get secured somehow before a surf landing. --- Any thoughts from those with more experience ?? 

This is pretty much my philosophy with my Outback.  However I pretty much only use it on the ocean at easy launches/landings.  For the more challenging surf launches I use my X-Factor