The dark side(Hobie)

[Tucked In]

All right guys, i've almost made the decision to cross over to the Hobie Revo,
then I was offered a nice deal on a new Native Watercraft propell. I really like the Revo but I hear alot of you talk about a wet back side. If I do go with the Revo is it worth getting the turbo fins. Come on Hobie anglers help me decide.

[jffoley]

Gotta pull the scupper plugs under the seat and water will drain. Surf or Moc tipped me off to the one!

Get the turbo fins AND the sailing rudder. If you have to choose one or the other due to cash flow get the rudder first. Much better boat control in wind and waves with the larger rudder. Good luck with you decision!

[tufnik]

When I was deciding between the Revo and Outback, I heard the Revo was a wet ride. I got the Outback, and it's a very dry ride. One thing I like about the Native is the reverse, which makes it nice when trying to hold position around rocks and pilings. The Mirage drive has only forward.

Ditto on turbos and sailing rudder.

[ictalurus]

I second what John said about the turbo fins and sailing rudder. I put off getting the turbos for a long time, but now I'm never going back. The only down side to them is that my cruising speed now is probably too fast for trolling for stripers.

I found that the seat is wet whether or not the scupper plugs are in. If you leave them in and get hit by a wave, you'll be sitting in a puddle. If you take them out and weigh around 200lbs, you'll be sitting in a puddle. I think Redfish found a good solution by adding a seat pad, though.

[J.A. Veil]

I made a post several months ago asking for opinions on the pros and cons of Hobie Mirage Drive kayaks vs. the Native propellor drive boats. You can see the responses at: http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...tive+propellor.

[CB kayak 02]

The service and quality is definitely worth the hobie investment, like many have posted before if something goes wrong Hobie and its dealers will take care of you for sure!!

[Redfish12]

Which native? The ultimate? Sweet boat but no scuppers means you can't fish the rough stuff. Propel drives can't handle heavy current, where are you planning on fishing? I think for calmer water it would be great, however for big water I think the Hobie is more capable. The natives are probably more comfortable seat-wise though. I definitely sit in water on a rough day. Removing the scuppers and adding a pad definitely helped. I'm 6'1" 200lbs and carry maybe 20lbs of crap with me (water, rods, lead, anchor, battery, etc)


There is a video somewhere that does a comparison of drives, in addition to issues with current (I believe the term is cavitation).

I think it depends on where you intend on fishing, either could be great!

[ronaultmtd]

Like Tufnick, I went with the dry ride of the Outback (I weigh in at 250#) over the slight increase in speed of the Revo...and I went with Turbo Fins and Sailing Rudder at the same time- I didn't see any sense in not going whole hog-better power, better control

[Rockchaser]

A great thing about the Hobie is you can lay the fins up against the hull and get into skinny water. If you hit something with the Native drive it will flip out of the way but you have to rest it.

Tubo fins and sailing rudder area must. I have an Outback and a dry seat most of the time.

[Tucked In]

Thanks for the insight, the other concern I have is I still like to paddle and already owning a big game I dont want another wide boat that is like a tank to paddle such as the marineer, leaning toward a Hobie like my Daddy Surf Dog.

[Memory Maker]

It's only a good deal if it's on the thing you want .......... you'll eventually end with the Hobie ......... good luck with your decision

[HokieDJ]

Get the Hobie. There's a reason why it's the king of the propelled kayaks.

As for the wet seat, if you are a big guy, you will sit in a puddle if you take the seat scuppers off. I carry a sponge and soak it up when a wave hits and floods the seat. Also putting one of those football seat cushions helps elevate you slightly above the water better. Getting wet on a revo is one of the few negatives but not a show stopper.

[ronaultmtd]

If you don't get a Hobie, don't worry- the yak you get will do fine until you decide to get a Hobie later on...

The anti-Hobie crowd eventually come over to the dark side-

[surfdog]

welcome to the dark side my son

im going to get the sailing rudder when i pick up my drive from dennis(replacing damaged chain). the '12 revo models have a lot of the annoying problems fixed

[Pinch]

unlike the Hoie, the propel drive gives you little return at peak effort. the Hobie is less work @cruise speed and has a higher top speed.

Native is very stable/ hobie revo is fairly stable

Native is HEAVY!!!!/ Revo is light

You can stand in a native/ Revo....maybe...good lu