When is less-MORE?

[ronaultmtd]

Notice that the entire kayak fishing world seems to be focused on new, exciting innovations...the latest-the greatest...in Hobie world it is the 360 drive with pop up fins and that is right on the heels of the 180 drive...being “old school” as my kids label me, I sometimes see less is more. Every gadget added is one more thing to mechanically fail...pedal drives already have more moving parts than paddle kayaks and no matter how well designed, manufactured and quality controlled, something is gonna break, gonna wear, gonna need replacing. The tried and proven designs may not be “cutting edge” but the chances of breakdown is less...and being out on the water, peace of mind is pretty important in my book...sometimes going with less is more.

[Mark]

Ron,

I know what you mean. When I saw Hobie’s new 360 drive at the Edison NJ fly fishing show last Friday my initial thought was, “Wow, that’s complex.” In my view, one of the attributes of the original drive was its simplicity and the fact that its key moving parts were few in number and easily accessible and serviceable. Looking at the 360 is kind of like looking under the hood of my car. Lots to see and I don’t know what most of it does.

That said, innovation is good. It led us to the various drive systems we have now from multiple kayak makers. Plus, there are still lightweight paddle kayaks to be had and I think there will always be a niche in the market for them – for kayak anglers starting and for those returning to the basics after their love affairs with the latest technologies have lessened (or their abilities to transport those hefty boats to the water have declined).

Like you, I prefer less complexity in my kayak. In the beginning, my kayak was a packhorse carrying items I might use, rods I might cast, lures and flies I might tie on. Now I view my kayak merely as an extension of my waders. It expands the areas I can fish. I predominantly fish from kayaks the same ways I did on foot while wading. I look for good spots to cast. With the exception of multiple rods which I still carry, I restrict my lures and flies and gear to mostly what I would have carried on foot. I just cover more water now than I did while wading. Less is definitely more for me now.

[Memory Maker]

Did you notice that the 360 came out the same time that their patent expired on the 180. They did that so they can have another patent and keep them 1 step ahead of the market while others came out with their own mirage drives.

[J.A. Veil]

I fished from kayaks more than 120 days last year. All but about 10 of those trips were in paddle kayaks. I still own a Slayer Propel 10 pedal drive kayak, but it is heavier and more cumbersome to move on land and transport. I bring that out when I plan a serious trolling trip. Since most of my trips are 2 to 4 hours, I am content using my paddle kayak. The only add-ons I have on the paddle kayak are 4 rod holders that can be used for trolling or holding rods not in use. I have plenty of space for 1 or 2 tackle trays, a Hawg Trough, FishGrips, pliers, and a bottle of water. The older I get, the more I value simplicity in my activities.

[ronaultmtd]

Words of wisdom, John...When I first started kayak fishing the accessories for rigging a kayak were pretty much non existent...you made your own or did without..You Tube-was your friend and this forum was the “idea factory”...now all that has changed. You can rig a kayak any way you can imagine...just like the big boys bass boats...

[Mark]

Most kayak anglers I've known go through an evolution of simplicity to complexity and then turn back toward simplicity. They rarely go all the way back to where they started (one rod in the boat) but they definitely carry less gear than at the height of their "complexity" stage. I started with a pedal boat, a Revo and I still have one, a newer Revo. Along the way, I added electronics to my original Revo. When I sold it, the electronics went with it because I found the FF cumbersome to deal with and frankly, not helpful for my preferred styles of fishing. Now, I enjoy the pace of paddling more than pedaling. I don't keep count of my outings but I take my lighter, easier to transport paddle boats out much more often than my pedal kayak.

However, I can understand the fascination of electronics with some. I enjoyed using a FF at first. And I get the desire of some to motorize or expand their range with pedals. The good news is that there are enough fish to keep us all occupied -- those who venture far while watching their screens for the orange arches that indicate fish are present and those who stay closer to the launch and use the signs that nature and experience provides to find our catches. The important thing is that we all are enjoying our time on the water via kayaks that give us multiple ways to fish.

[DanMarino]

Nice posts guys. I agree with everything mentioned. I have purchased all of my kayaks used and they are all still working well. This year I'll replace a few grab handles on my Wilderness Tarpon 100 due to the straps breaking from UV exposure (the kayak is stored outside on a rack in the OBX).

If I had more disposable income, I would upgrade to a pedal powered kayak. I really would like to increase my range when fishing in the Currituck Sound (OBX) or in the local reservoirs (Triadelphia / Rocky Gorge). Since wind is every kayak fisher's enemy, I can imagine that pedals would be very helpful in windy conditions. For me, I haven't been able to justify the extra cost of a pedal drive kayak.....yet.

Hopefully some funds will shake free in a year or two.

[CHOC]

Guys, I'm a gear hound. While I agree with the concept of simplicity, a lot of this newer gear makes fishing a lot easier and, at times, more effective. A perfect example is gear tracks. A kayak without them would be kind of useless to me the way that I fish. Additionally, the newer seats make it so I can stay out on the water a lot longer. Yes, gear does break, and yes, the paddle is the least likely propulsion system to have problems. But that's why I bring a paddle. However, it's my least favorite mode of propulsion.