Just joined the Hobie madness!

Well... I just sprung for a 2013 Hobie Outback, turbo fins, sailing rudder, and Lowrance Mark-4 fishfinder/chartplotter.

My old Scrambler XT that's served me so well over the last 10 years or so will be retired to loaner/beater/backup status. It'll still be my go-to for crabbing with the open deck space and simplicity.

Anyway, I'm just super excited about it and had to share my stoke.

See you guys out there soon!

Hope you enjoy you outback as much as I enjoy mine. The turbo fins and upgraded rudder are a must IMO to get the most out of it.

Welcome to the "Dark Side".

Welcome to the dark side.

I retired my XT for an outback about a month ago. The outback is a little harder to get in and out of, but the pedals are worth it. Can't beat it for trolling.

Now you need a rod holder.

Don

Hope you enjoy you outback as much as I enjoy mine. The turbo fins and upgraded rudder are a must IMO to get the most out of it.

X2 best upgrades you can get for any Hobie!

Dark side my ass! You've finally seen the light! Welcome!

Welcome to the dark side.

I retired my XT for an outback about a month ago. The outback is a little harder to get in and out of, but the pedals are worth it. Can't beat it for trolling.

Now you need a rod holder.

Don

I do need a rod holder, but I'm going to fish with it bare a few times to get an idea of where my FF and rod holders will be mounted. I'm leaning toward installing a Scotty flush mount in front of each moulded in rod holder in front. The left one will have a Scotty/Ram ball adapter, and will hold my FF. The right one will likely hold a Scotty "baitcaster" rod holder with some sort of extender (maybe the Scotty adjustable extender with the "gear head"?). I've got a Ram rod holder on my XT, but the slippage isn't confidence inspiring... I figure with the Scotty flush mounts, I can always adapt it to a Ram ball if I change my mind.

Thoughts?

Welcome to the "Dark Side".

+1

You will not regret your move. 

Congrats on the new kayak!

I demoed an Outback over the weekend and was impressed with it.

You guys aren't kidding about the turbo fin upgrade. I demo'd the outback stock and with Turbos, and it was night and day... I didn't have a chance to demo the sailing rudder, but at only about $25 I went ahead and trusted a the rave reviews.

I'll likely be taking it out to Tomales Bay tomorrow for some "fishing" with my girlfriend and a few buddies, then to Half Moon Bay solo (or with company if any other NCKAs will be out?) on Sunday for some serious fishing.

sooooo excited.

Got my Hobie last fall. It's pretty fun. But I recently got a knockoff Scrambler to use as a backup and in kelp and for the simplicity. So, don't go overboard and dump your old sweetheart. Because there may come a time when you prefer the old girl. 

Congrats!  You're gonna love it man.  For open water fishing, the Hobie is awesome.  When I bought my Hobie Revo 13 last October, it changed the way I fish in the large lakes and the ocean.

Wise move on hanging onto that Scrambler though.  The Mirage Drive is great and all, but there are certain situations where the paddle-yak trumps it.  Crabbing for sure since you don't want those pedals in the way, and also when fishing in kelp beds, shallow waters, mid-sized rivers, and whenever precision movements are needed such as when targeting spawning bass.  And I always get a greater feeling of accomplishment catching fish from a paddle-yak than I do from a Hobie.  Not sure why, I just do  .

Wise move on hanging onto that Scrambler though.  The Mirage Drive is great and all, but there are certain situations where the paddle-yak trumps it.  Crabbing for sure since you don't want those pedals in the way, and also when fishing in kelp beds, shallow waters, mid-sized rivers, and whenever precision movements are needed such as when targeting spawning bass.  And I always get a greater feeling of accomplishment catching fish from a paddle-yak than I do from a Hobie.  Not sure why, I just do  .

My thoughts exactly. Besides, with two fully rigged yaks, now my girlfriend can come fishing, too!

Congrats on the new Outback. I love my outback for fishing deeper waters where there is no kelp. However, I hate my outback when I have to pull up the fins and unleash the paddle. I always pray nothing happens to the mirage drive when I'm a mile out.