Is The Mirage Drive a Shark Attractor ?

It's just something I'm asking myself. The mirage drive has kind of a swimming action more like the way a sea lion uses it's flippers than a paddling action. What do you think?

My buddy and I were paddling at Shelter Cove many years ago. We were towing his surfboard. It was flat as glass. We were about a mile out. The surfboard was doing this bip bip on the water as we towed it along. The landlord came over in our direction. Huge rent taker. It turned our way and dove. We expected it to strike the surfboard but it never did. Later we found out from one of our friends who worked at the marine lab in bodega that is pretty much how they try to attract them when doing their studies, not with a surfboard but more sea lion sized deal towed behind a boat.

I think its a possibility  I wondered this too. as several attacks have been on hobies. Yet I cant say for certain bro, wish i could  Not going to stop me from buying my hobie though. 

Can't beat the Hobie "sharkbite" warranty! 

I'd say no. I think being in the ocean on something roughly the size of an elephant seal is what attracts them.

I think the Mirage Drive's action gets the Landlords attention, then the Elephant Seal shape triggers an attack...sort of like a chatter bait...

i have always believed that it does attract sharks but i bought one anyway. Nobody really knows for sure. Maybe time will tell.

I was watching shark week last year and they did a little segment on kayak attacks. They were saying the "swoosh" sound of the paddle is a attractant. could not imagine that the mirage is much different. Just add bloody fish on a game clip and you are a giant lure. mmmm

I guess I'll find out soon enough! band aids..check, bilge pump..check

lets just say the mirage drive is not a deterrent   

I have to admit that while peddling my Adventure, I try not to push the peddles "all the way" in either direction. Doing so causes a noticeable and repeated thump/smack sound as the peddles contact the end of their range of motion.  As we all know sound travels faster and futher underwater.  This effect can be dampened by not allowing the peddles to contact the end of their range of motion.  It may not make much real difference, but it makes me feel less (as str8fishin put it) like a chatter bait.

 

I guess I'll find out soon enough! band aids..check, bilge pump..check

... you might need more than a few bandaids.

If you have swam underneath one or even watch those hobie promo videos with underwater shots, how can you not see how it can be an attractant for predators.  It is pretty different even versus a paddle as a paddle enters the water for a short period and then is not visible again for 5-10'.  Even at poor visibility, that constant underwater flapping has to be a lot closer to a seal or sea lions movement/vibrations.  Personally, I think the GWS are pretty selective in what they go after and the few attacks that have happened are a rarity.  It just gets blown out of proportion due to our fears of what we do not understand.  Just compare the odds of getting killed while driving to the spot where you are going to go kayak fishing versus the odds that a GWS is going to attack you.

I guess I'll find out soon enough! band aids..check, bilge pump..check

... you might need more than a few bandaids.

 Ok I will go to costco and buy it in bulk

 

  Lately those odds are not good.  Of the 3 attacks I can recall at this moment (I'm sure I'm forgetting some), Dan, Adam, and the recent one in Capitola, 2 of hulls were Hobies! 

Personally, I think the GWS are pretty selective in what they go after and the few attacks that have happened are a rarity.  It just gets blown out of proportion due to our fears of what we do not understand.  Just compare the odds of getting killed while driving to the spot where you are going to go kayak fishing versus the odds that a GWS is going to attack you.

I think that logic is faulty.  You compare the car accident rate and the GWS attack rate to the same overall population.  Fact is, there are millions of people that drive a car every day, and only a few hundreds/thousands that out on kayaks for the same given period.  According to NTSB there are over 30,000 traffic fatalities every year with a total population of over 300,000,000 (not including non-citizens residing in) the US.  Most American drive every day.  Comparatively, there are nowhere near as many surfers and kayakers, so the total overall number is much lower, further, most of this target population does not kayak or surf every day.  I bet if you accounted for the actual target population, and adjusted for exposure time, the risk is much higher than you think.  Fortunately, they don't seem to care for the taste of plastic, and let go after scaring the bejesus out of kayakers.  Surfers sometimes taste good and don't fair as well in their encounters.  Which I suppose means they fare better than us, according to the sharks.