Revo or Outback for ocean use

Wasn't this just talked about???

No James those are the voices in your head missing the hobie.

If your going to buy new I'd call hobie and ask if plans for built in transducer mount will be available soon. I hate when I spend money and there is an up grade with in the month.

If your going to buy new I'd call hobie and ask if plans for built in transducer mount will be available soon. I hate when I spend money and there is an up grade with in the month.

Both the 2014 outback and revo have this option now. Hopefully the adventure gets it soon

I had Outback and love it. it's super stable and was fast enough for me (of course turbofinns and sailing rudder a must)

I had Outback and love it. it's super stable and was fast enough for me (of course turbofinns and sailing rudder a must)

I have Igor's Outback now and I love it

Very stable (I can stand up -carefully), can smoke most paddlers, keep up with the Revos, lots of storage compared to the Revo. My only complaints would be that it doesn't track very well when paddling to shore, a little tougher to beach launch than the Revo, and that supposed 6 lb weight difference feels like 20 when you're throwing it on your roof rack.

I might upgrade to Revo. I might not. I might just get both 

I'd like to see the OB and Revo on a scale to compare weight. Because the OB sure feels a lot more than 6lbs heavier.

Definitely the Revo for the ocean. I put a ton of miles on my Outback in the ocean and it was great, but I recently switched to a Revo and its much nicer. You will get to your fishing grounds faster, cutting through the waves and chop instead of slamming against it. I also feel much safer knowing i can paddle back to the launch if I have a Mirage failure. There were many times in the outback when I was pedaling back against a strong wind/chop, knowing that if the drive failed, I would not be able to paddle against it for miles (I tried).

The Outback is a great kayak though. I would say its a better overall fishing platform. It doesnt have the performance of the Revo, but sometimes you dont need performance. I traded my Outback for a Revo, but I would really like to have one of each.

This one is going to come down to personal preference.

I demo'd both and went with the Outback. I'm still 100% happy with my purchase after logging quite a bit of ocean time, including numerous 12-18 mile days of trolling for salmon.

It might seem like a minor detail, but the trays along the sides are super helpful, as are the cup holders. For example, when I lift a 1.5 or 2-lb lead ball out of the water, I can simply drop it into my left cup holder while I rig up another bait.

No, it isn't the fastest kayak around, but I find it's PLENTY fast.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/boa/4504502299.html


!!!!!!

Once again is Tony Dungie finding the deals.

I love my outback for the storage and convenience, but in my opinion it is too stable.  There have been several times (windy)when it would not change direction with paddling alone and the rudder up.  In my opinion a rudder failure on an outback is worse than a pedal failure. 

I make a point to paddle almost every time i go out and keep the rudder up to practice for a failure.  There have been several times where i have got into ugly situations because the outback would not change direction without digging in and back paddling.   

You want to test paddle a Revo? Let's meet up and go fishing..you can borrow mine! Elkhorn is just up the road from me. I might be able to find an Outback to try too.

I predict PK is going to sell his Revo and get an AI. 

He already owns an AI.

Definitely the Revo for the ocean. I put a ton of miles on my Outback in the ocean and it was great, but I recently switched to a Revo and its much nicer. You will get to your fishing grounds faster, cutting through the waves and chop instead of slamming against it. I also feel much safer knowing i can paddle back to the launch if I have a Mirage failure. There were many times in the outback when I was pedaling back against a strong wind/chop, knowing that if the drive failed, I would not be able to paddle against it for miles (I tried).

The Outback is a great kayak though. I would say its a better overall fishing platform. It doesnt have the performance of the Revo, but sometimes you dont need performance. I traded my Outback for a Revo, but I would really like to have one of each.

My thinking exactly as 95% of the time I am launching through the surf and paddling in very windy conditions. Out in the ocean I do not need much in the way of tackle or more storage than to have two rod tubes, a net, and sonar, and a couple of adjustable rod holders. The Hobie Gear Bucket will hold all that I need for a day out on the bay. I can see the value of an Outback or a PA for being out on a lake fishing as their is a strong temptation to take a lot more lures out on the water.

I am also very interested in using the boat with the Hobie sail and for this use I would add the ama rig for added stability. The Revo 13, like the AI, seems better suited to this use as well.

I came across a post about a ocean fishing tournament and although the numbers need to be taken as guesstimates the poster estimated that 45% of the boats were outbacks, 40% Revo 13's, and the remainder were PA's. The percentages seemed reasonable to me. When the pro anglers get the free use of a Hobie I have to wonder if they choose the PA for the ocean in part because they are getting the free use of a $3,000 boat and discount the utility of the Outbacks and Revo 13 boats that sell for "only" $2000.

My wife and I were at the Kayak Connection Santa Cruz store this morning planning to demo both boats and buy or order two boats as well. On Friday we were told that both had arrived and on Saturday I was told that it was too busy on the weekend with the renters and to wait until Monday. I told the women that I had been waiting several weeks for both to be in inventory and if one sold over the weekend I would be buying the boats and all the other gear at another store. She could care less.

Today after driving 45 minutes to the Kayak Connection store in Santa Cruz we went in and I was told by the owner, David Girgsby, that the Revo 13 had been sold over the weekend. I related my many phone calls and waiting to have them both available to demo and he told me that their main business was kayak rentals and he could not understand why I would be upset. I can see why his business is primarily in rentals as he sucks at the sales and customer relations side.

David told be that they had a new Revo 13 at the store in Moss Landing. We drove past it on our way home to Elkhorn and I stopped by and went in. I could not see a Revo 13 anywhere so I asked one of the employees that was standing around about it and he said it was still in its packaging up in one of the storage bays. Three people sitting around and no one of them had the initiative to take a new boat and set it up so someone could actually maybe like buy it.

We are heading up to Oakland tomorrow to demo the Outback and Revo 13 boats at California Canoe and Kayak and we will be buying the two boats and sail kits, etc. from them as well. I make an effort to support local merchants whenever possible but Kayak Connection will never be getting a dime from me in the future. Our piddling little $5500 purchase is evidently not worth David's time.

Bummer, hope you find the kayak you're looking for.