Hobie Lynx

Does anybody here own a Hobie Lynx, or ever test drive one? It looks like it would be great for flat water, and maybe even some gentle ocean conditions. If it was modified to lower the seat, it looks like it would be a stable as sitting on a SUP. In any case, the weight (47 lbs) is certainly attractive. The price, not so much...

https://www.hobie.com/kayaks/mirage-lynx/#

There is some good info on the Hobie website, but I thought there would be more:

https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=146

And here's a good YouTube review:

Did Hobie stop making the Revo 16?  That would be a travesty  

Did Hobie stop making the Revo 16?  That would be a travesty

Yes, that seems to be the case:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=93427.0

They also quit making the AI too:

https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=69044

Well that really sucks. The Revo 16 is best all around ocean fishing yak on the market IMO

Do peeps know that Hobie was sold last year ?

https://sgbonline.com/hobie-sold-an-update-from-its-new-chairman-taso-sofikitis/

Does anybody here own a Hobie Lynx, or ever test drive one? It looks like it would be great for flat water, and maybe even some gentle ocean conditions. If it was modified to lower the seat, it looks like it would be a stable as sitting on a SUP. In any case, the weight (47 lbs) is certainly attractive. The price, not so much...

https://www.hobie.com/kayaks/mirage-lynx/#

I've heard a lot of good things from various folks (outside NCKA) planning to test ride one in a few weeks - good second boat

Do peeps know that Hobie was sold last year ?

https://sgbonline.com/hobie-sold-an-update-from-its-new-chairman-taso-sofikitis/

hadn't heard that, but realized they've been owned by private investors outside the family for the past 25 years - hopefully this will be good, or at least not bad

I pre-ordered and got my lynx in September. Great service from CCK oakland. I only kayak fish fresh water and most of my prior kayaking has been in a revo 13, i11, or paddle inflatables. My quick review is:

Pros-
Awesome to carry and load and unload
Great open deck layout for alot of gear, dogs, camping supplies
Can be used as a SUP but needs the rudder for tracking.
Fast with turbo fins and turns in a small circle
Very stable for me (170lbs and 6') and hard to roll
Can stand, sight fish, and SUP paddle in calmer water
Seat is large and comfy with added kushion
The newest arc reversible drive is super smooth
Two Lynx's can stack on top of each other if no permanent rigging is used
Transducer cavity is large and can store extra cable length.

Cons-
The outside shell is thin and fragile and easily scratches compared to rotomold kayaks. I'm very careful and usually carry the lynx instead of dragging. I haven't made a hole yet but I carry waterweld epoxy because it's only a matter of time. I seriously doubt the shell can handle any large rock or dock impacts.
Stock paddle storage location and bungee is crap.
The mid carry handle locations and design is terrible and if hobie had any self respect they would have a recall replacement.
Storage- the three storage options in the manual are OK but the horizontal options take up alot of space. I hang mine against a wall.
Hull slap- noisy hull slap even in calmer water. If hull slap drives u mad don't buy a lynx.
Alot of water over the deck in wind waves taller than 1.5' high. I have to use dry bags.
The rudder up and down  design works OK.

Overall:
Seems really fragile but that's why it's so light. Given the choice I would prefer a heavier less fragile version with the same deck layout.
Rigging options- initially was a con until I did some head scratching and figured out to mount plastic boards to the gear tracks and scotty clamps to the seat tube rails. Now my rigging works really well, paddle storage problem is fixed, kept a fairly open deck (without down rigger), and I can used a downrigger with a 2lb ball.

I don't see the need to modify and have a shorter seat to improve stability. The stock seat is not that tall. Some owners even raise the seat with an aftermarket kit.

I pre-ordered and got my lynx in September. Great service from CCK oakland. I only kayak fish fresh water and most of my prior kayaking has been in a revo 13, i11, or paddle inflatables. My quick review is:

Overall:
Seems really fragile but that's why it's so light. Given the choice I would prefer a heavier less fragile version with the same deck layout.
Rigging options- initially was a con until I did some head scratching and figured out to mount plastic boards to the gear tracks and scotty clamps to the seat tube rails. Now my rigging works really well, paddle storage problem is fixed, kept a fairly open deck (without down rigger), and I can used a downrigger with a 2lb ball.

I don't see the need to modify and have a shorter seat to improve stability. The stock seat is not that tall. Some owners even raise the seat with an aftermarket kit.

great review - thanks for sharing. I spoke with a Hobie rep at the fishing show, sounds like repair is similar as surfboard repair - depending on how important the appearance is

... sounds like repair is similar as surfboard repair - depending on how important the appearance is

I don't know about the plastic, it may or may not be quite that simple. A surfboard is fiberglass over a foam core – 2 materials. Fiberglass repair is straight forward and easy. The Lynx is the same, except with the addition of plastic over the fiberglass, over the foam core – 3 materials. When I looked at the webpage showing the construction of the Lynx, my first thought was this is just a modified surfboard wrapped in plastic.

If I had the space, I would consider making own. The hardest part would be shaping the foam core. It would be very easy to make a mold from an existing Hobie kayak to make the drop-in for the peddle/paddles, which would have to be bought ($800) from Hobie. Then, just cover it with fiberglass. If the Lynx was finished in fiberglass there is literally no end to the modification that can be done to it. With that thought, if one were to start with a beat up old surfboard, which is fiberglass over a foam core, ...

If I had the space, I would consider making own. ...

Ditto that.

There are a bunch of good YouTube videos on DIY surfboard construction, and I've been considering a similar approach to build custom lightweight (and floating) haka benches for my AI. Many years ago, I did some vacuum bagged carbon/kevlar do-dads, and that seems like it would work great for the haka benches I have in mind.

As for making a fake Lynx, it seems to me that getting the mirage drive insert exactly right would be a major challenge. I think I'd opt for something like the insert used by Baitman in his Santa Cruz Raptor G2:

https://santacruzkayaks.com/raptor-g2/

The insert might even be small enough that it could be done on a 3-d printer...

... sounds like repair is similar as surfboard repair - depending on how important the appearance is

I don't know about the plastic, it may or may not be quite that simple. A surfboard is fiberglass over a foam core – 2 materials. Fiberglass repair is straight forward and easy. The Lynx is the same, except with the addition of plastic over the fiberglass, over the foam core – 3 materials. When I looked at the webpage showing the construction of the Lynx, my first thought was this is just a modified surfboard wrapped in plastic.

...

bondo and paint or no paint

... sounds like repair is similar as surfboard repair - depending on how important the appearance is

I don't know about the plastic, it may or may not be quite that simple. A surfboard is fiberglass over a foam core – 2 materials. Fiberglass repair is straight forward and easy. The Lynx is the same, except with the addition of plastic over the fiberglass, over the foam core – 3 materials. When I looked at the webpage showing the construction of the Lynx, my first thought was this is just a modified surfboard wrapped in plastic.

...

bondo and paint or no paint

On the Hobie forum, they point to this for repairing the Lynx...

https://media.taheoutdoors.com/s/aEoBMGqeRYAGRHA

... sounds like repair is similar as surfboard repair - depending on how important the appearance is

I don't know about the plastic, it may or may not be quite that simple. A surfboard is fiberglass over a foam core – 2 materials. Fiberglass repair is straight forward and easy. The Lynx is the same, except with the addition of plastic over the fiberglass, over the foam core – 3 materials. When I looked at the webpage showing the construction of the Lynx, my first thought was this is just a modified surfboard wrapped in plastic.

...

bondo and paint or no paint

On the Hobie forum, they point to this for repairing the Lynx...

https://media.taheoutdoors.com/s/aEoBMGqeRYAGRHA

yep, expensive Bondo - at least they are both epoxy.