Outback vs Revolution

[MetroMan]

Nice addition! Congrats!!

[Memory Maker]

Welcome to the darkside young Luke ............ (sinister laugh)

Dang ......... this site is Yakin Hobies !!!!!!!!

[tufnik]

(to Luke) "No, I am your father."

I couldn't wait, Ron. I figure if I got it now, I get to use it several months before Winter.

Tried out the Outback at BB East Side today. Over five hours on the water. It was great morning. Nice wx, light breeze, and small chops.

Launched Ok at G dock., then I went off. It takes some getting use to. Within an hour or so, I got the rhythm down. Adjust rudder, fish, pump, look around, adjust rudder, fish, pump,........I was able to work the pilings fairly well. It was fun.

It's a lot easier to hold position than my electric Trident because the Outback's rudder is at the stern. There's more sensitivity to turning forces. The motor on my Trident was right behind me, so the motor/rudder turns don't result in enough turning forces. The moment arm to turn the yak is better when the rudder is at the end, not mid-yak. If my Trident had the rudder at the stern, it would be just as responsive as the Outback.

The chops were about 1-2 ft today. So, yes, there was hull slapping on the Outback. To me, it's not bad at all. I really focus on the fishing, not the noise.

The tray space is oh so convenient. So much usable room. I like the high sides too - it was sort of protective against the waves. The high sides also were good for resting the paddle without the paddle hitting the water. Doesn't get in the way.

My butt on the entire trip was dry. Thanks to the high sides. I rarely had a dry ride on my Trident.

My body fits a lot better in the Outback than the Revo when I tried them yesterday at Backyard. Somehow the angle of the seat and the location of the drive on the Outback makes for a pretty comfortable fit for me. Today, my butt didn't hurt as much as in the Trident.

The Outback was more manueverable than I expected. With all the talk about it being a hippo wallowing in the waves, I expected it to be bad. Not at all. For it's size, it did very well. Not like my Trident, but I'm happy.

Paddling was also not as bad as I thought. It's no Trident, but it moved fairly well. I wouldn't want to do prolong paddling, but it's does not wallow bad at all.

The standard fins seemed like it was a bit too easy to pump. I felt I could pump faster. After some time, I did get the "touch" on how to use them well. I think the turbo fins will make it just right. Will install them later.

As you saw, I compared it with my Trident (13' 6", 28.5" wide), which is similar to the Revo.

All in all, a very good day on the water. The Outback was fun. Looking forward to the next trip on the Outback

BTW, it was slow. I caught only a blue. No stripers. I watched three boats (two were live lining), and I didn't see them catch stripers. Only a couple blues and maybe perch.

[ronaultmtd]

Good review, Tuf- gives me a bad case of yak envy with both you and Moc going to the Dark side this year.

[tufnik]

It's only a matter of time when the Force will be with you.

[ronaultmtd]

How is loading the Outback on top of your vehicle? It is heavier than your Prowler-

[tufnik]

According to specs: Outback 66#, Trident 56#

Not necessarily because of its weight, Outback is just a bit harder to load because it's wider and more bulky. It's still loadable for me, and I'm only 155 lbs. As I get the technique perfected, it'll become easier. And I load it on a minivan.

[ronaultmtd]

Tuf- 2 years ago I had a major surgery that split me wide open from groin to breastbone to remove eight feet of my intestines- so I have a lifting issue- cannot lift more than 50 pounds- my Prowler is at the limit of my physical limitations, that is why I made the kayak loaders. I don't lift more than about forty pounds of the weight of my kayak now by the technique I use- very concerned with weight issues. 66 pounds of total kayak weight means about 55 pounds of lifting using my technique and loaders.

[tufnik]

Sorry to hear that, Ron. Hopefully you can find a solution should you decide to go with a heavier yak. One solution is the hullavator, but it's pricey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkzGnx7q6AA

Instead of lifting the whole yak like the fellow did, you could lift only the end first and set it on the hook.

[ronaultmtd]

Sorry to hear that, Ron. Hopefully you can find a solution should you decide to go with a heavier yak. One solution is the hullavator, but it's pricey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkzGnx7q6AA

Instead of lifting the whole yak like the fellow did, you could lift only the end first and set it on the hook.

That is exactly the technique I use- I roll mine past where I want the bow, take the boat off the kayak cart, put something under the keel like a coat or a big piece of cloth to protect the keel, install the suction cup loaders on my car's trunk and back glass, then lift the bow on the first loader while holding on to the handle on the side of the kayak, then I walk back while hanging on to the yak, shift hands and grab the rear lifting handle on the yak. At that point I have it licked. I slide the boat forward while lifting the stern off the ground- the loaders guide the hull on to the Land Shark saddles and I finish it off by positioning the kayak on the top of my Focus. Strap it down and pick up all the stuff and go home.

[tufnik]

More notes:

Again, am comparing the Outback to my Trident. Hopefully it gives you a good perspective because the size of the Trident and Revo are similar.

See pics
- Trident is 29" wide, Outback 33", (Revo 28.5")
- See why there is hull slap? Pretty radical looking hull. Pic shows stern end, but shape goes to the bow. Makes for a stable yak though. I have to modify my yak loader wheel width and cart support to accommodate the hull shape.
- Trident is 17" longer at 13' 6" (same as Revo). Sharper nose cuts through the waves.
- Outback is several inches higher on the sides. In pic, Trident is about an inch above ground level.
- Enough room to stick a cooler back there, and then some.

[tufnik]

More pics.

[SoMDYak]

Thanks for the pics! I'm not looking for a Hobie but I'm definitely eyeing that Trident

[ronaultmtd]

Wow- almost a cloverleaf hull design- no wonder it has hull slap- and dead flat on the sides with a center keel would make for some wallowing in a following sea but it should be extremely stable to the point you would almost have to deliberately turtle it to do that...pearling might be a problem with wind driven waves against a running tide- but 95% of the time and under most circumstances that would be a real fishing machine with lots of options for gear and mounting all the accessories- 12 feet long- 33 inch width with 400 pounds of carrying capacity makes it pretty compact yet versitile. The hull is the most unusual I have seen.

[ronaultmtd]

If you compare apples to apples- the weight of the outback is within four pounds of the revolution- that is insignificant to anyone -probably can't put but one on top of a car unless you buy the stack saddles for carrying it on its side, but I only carry one kayak any way-

The more you compare these two kayaks the more you wonder what the big deal is- unless you are going exceptionally long distances of 15-20 miles from launch, you both would arrive within minutes of each other and well within shouting distances- the newer Outbacks have improved hulls that address a lot of the issues Bill had with his- I would consider either and go with whichever yak I got the best deal on- strictly based on price for me-