Hobie MirageDrive 180

About time, seems pretty cool!

http://www.hobiecat.com/blog/hobie-introduces-miragedrive-180-forward-reverse-system,562/

More:

I'll be ordering mine after September 1st. Anybody else lining up? 

I'll be ordering mine after September 1st. Anybody else lining up? 

Jim - How much?  Will it work only with the newer Glide Drive? 

I'm gonna order a whole new kayak. I don't know what the new 180 drive itself will cost although based upon what I've read I'm guessing around $800. 

Per a post I read somewhere it won't make sense to try to upgrade even a Glide drive to a 180 as there are enough different parts it would be more cost effective to simply buy a 180 drive or wait until you wanna upgrade to a newer model kayak with 180 drive.

I'm gonna order a whole new kayak. I don't know what the new 180 drive itself will cost although based upon what I've read I'm guessing around $800.

Are you sure the new model will come with the 180 drive? Hobie has a habit of introducing cool new gadgets, but not including them as standard equipment until some time later.

From the link above:

"The MirageDrive 180 will be standard with all 2017 model year Mirage kayaks, including the legendary Outback and award-winning Pro Anglers. 2017 model year kayaks are slated to begin shipping in October 2016. The MirageDrive 180 is retrofitable to existing MirageDrive kayaks and is expected to be available as a stand-alone accessory by mid-year 2017."

Looks good.  But, will it have a  rear view camera?

Looks good.  But, will it have a  rear view camera?

Maybe an automatic parallel parking/docking feature too?

From the link above:

"The MirageDrive 180 will be standard with all 2017 model year Mirage kayaks, including the legendary Outback and award-winning Pro Anglers. 2017 model year kayaks are slated to begin shipping in October 2016. The MirageDrive 180 is retrofitable to existing MirageDrive kayaks and is expected to be available as a stand-alone accessory by mid-year 2017."

I am guessing the retrofit kit is around $350, with all the other pedal powered kayaks hitting the market Hobie wants to keep their customers loyal.

Looks good.  But, will it have a  rear view camera?

Backup lights are in the works too.  We are spoiled.

From the link above:

"The MirageDrive 180 will be standard with all 2017 model year Mirage kayaks, including the legendary Outback and award-winning Pro Anglers. 2017 model year kayaks are slated to begin shipping in October 2016. The MirageDrive 180 is retrofitable to existing MirageDrive kayaks and is expected to be available as a stand-alone accessory by mid-year 2017."

I am guessing the retrofit kit is around $350, with all the other pedal powered kayaks hitting the market Hobie wants to keep their customers loyal.

And you would be wrong. According to hobie, there will be no retrofit kit.

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=58329

I think hobie should include a bottle of your favorite lube with every purchase.

From the link above:

 The MirageDrive 180 is retrofitable to existing MirageDrive kayaks and is expected to be available as a stand-alone accessory by mid-year 2017."

Even on my '08 Revo?? 

I'll be ordering mine after September 1st. Anybody else lining up? 

Already stopped by Headwaters Adventure and put my name on a 2017 Outback in camo. 

How is the miragedrive 180 different from the others drives