Mirage Drive Turbo fins VS. kelp

Thinking about getting a Hobie Revolution but have been told they have trouble going through kelp. If so, how well do they paddle with the fins folded up? Do you pull the MD when launching and landing? Thanks for the advice.

I thought your post was about freediving fin selection, you might want to include Mirage Drive in your title, that will probably get you better info. 

I have a Revo with turbo fins but have never been in the kelp.  The drive can be stowed in the front hatch and the plug can be put in the slot.  It wouldn't be too difficult to take out the plug and put the drive back in at any time as long as you're not in really rough water.  Stability would be the only limiting factor.  Paddling with the fins in the up position seems to work fairly well.  I have paddled in the shallow water and grass at the Delta but that is probably different from kelp in the Ocean.  It has worked fine for me but I have only done it for short distances to get free from the grass and into deeper water.

The MD doesn't work well in the kelp whether you have turbo fins or not. If it's kind of higher tide you can just tuck the fins up but if the kelp is sticking out pulling the drive is a good idea. I think that the Revo and Adventure paddle well w/o the drives and when the kelp is thick I normally pull it. Give it a test paddle yourself and you'll know how it works for you.

Z

Paddling through super thick kelp is difficult.  Doing so with a mirage drive disrupting the smooth curves of your hull is just brutal.  Like Z said, you really want to stow that sucker in heavy kelp - it gets hung up all the time.  You dont really have to plug the drivewell with a cartridge afterward, though water will slosh around pretty good.

Anybody actually stowed the MD in their hatch while on the water?  Heck, for me it is a pain doing it on dry land, I can't imagine doing it while on the ocean.  Even having a buddy do it would be a challenge, I'd think.

Michael

seems like a lot of the socal guys pull out the drive and stow it on top of their hatches under the bungees for launch and landing.  if you choose to do that you may want to leash it as well.

seems like a lot of the socal guys pull out the drive and stow it on top of their hatches under the bungees for launch and landing.  if you choose to do that you may want to leash it as well.

Yeah, I've seen that.  Actually saw a really slick setup awhile back and forgot to bookmark the page.   I'll figure something out and yes, definitely leash the thing.

Michael

Pull the drive if going over any kelp on the surface.
I put two eyelets to the sides of the front hatch and then made a tank strap to clip to the eyelets.
The MD fins lay flat on the hatch and the tank strap goes over them to keep them in place.
I also have a bungee cord leash attached to the MD.
This way it stows very easy and can be deployed in a second.
I think I would have better luck trying to do a Rubik's Cube OTW than trying to stow the MD in the hatch.

Looks like a great solution.  I think I'll forget about trying to stow the drive in the hatch.  Thanks for the pics!

Darn Mike, what don't you come up with?  Great ingenuity!  You're an engineer aren't you?

Michael

Anybody actually stowed the MD in their hatch while on the water?

I do it all the time w/ rockfishing on my Adventure. All you do is put the pedals in the most forward position and then shimmy to the front and work it in fins first. I put the fins towards the center of the yak and let the fins go on either side of the sail mount. It takes a few tries to figure out how to finesse it in there but once you figure it out it's not too bad OTW.

Z

Thanks Z.  I'll have to give it a try while fooling around in freshwater first.

Michael

Thanks Z.  I'll have to give it a try while fooling around in freshwater first.
Michael

No problem. And if it feels a little iffy don't be afraid to leash it while trying as well.

Z

What's wrong with just leaving the MD pulled out but just laying down at the bottom of where your feet are? Does it get in the way of resting your feet? jim