Hobie Evolve - Worth it?

[FRED driver]

Simple question to Hobie guys that have one--would you buy it again and recommend it? Is there warranty coverage/any maintenance issues?

Very much considering it after some hairy situations I've gotten into. Mirage pedals are perfect once on site to fish but getting there is a PITA sometimes.

[Shady]

I love mine, probably would not have made it through at least a few situations without it. I wasnt looking for a kayak with a motor, but found a killer deal I couldnt pass up. I got my outback with evolve in summer of 2011 and havn't regretted it for a second. The motors are built well so there is minimal maintenance. The only issue is there are very few places around ceritified to do warranty work on Torqueedo motors. The closest is in Richmond. I had a small issue with mine when some mono line go tangled behind the prop, but ended up just fixing it myself.

[Memory Maker]

Love the Evolve on the Outback and the Revo rear mounted on the twist and stow. I personally Hate it on the PA because it is only made for the Mirage drive hole. To me that is not as efficient as a rear mount. Rear mounts steer better. With the PA Evolve, you lose the use of the Mirage drive and you could get stranded because it is difficult to take the Mirage drive too. It could also be dangerous if you are using it around sand or oyster bars if you run up on 1. You could ruin the engine and crack the PA and be in big trouble. Again ...... just my opinion. I know some people here have the mirage mount Evolve and like them.

I LOVE the Torqeedo rear mount on the PA. It steers better, very efficient and will kick up if you hit something. You also have use of the Mirage drive if you want the extra speed and power. Ryan flys when he uses both. Oh and you can use the Hook1 discount to get the Torqeedo. Russ saw mine and he bought 1 and improved on the installation.

Are they worth it ....... yes ...... more expensive but alot of advantages over other systems. Total system weighs 15 lbs, more battery life, battery meter the tells you how much power and time left, a boat type controller, kill switch and the system stops if you turtle too so you won't fall out and have your yak continue on without you. Easy to store and easy and quick to mount and dismount. Also takes less space on the Yak

[sebby]

Memory Maker,
I thought there was no Torqueedo rear mount for the PA, is there a 3rd party one?

[russ498]

There is not a plug and play installation for the PA per se. There is a universal mount which works very well with the Hobie. I completely agree with Rick. The evolve has some serious drawbacks. You cannot use the pedals and the motor at the same time. You have to constantly swap them back and forth. If you should hit something, the Evolve is firmly attached to the hull and could easily cause a catastrophic failure. The rear Mount simply kicks up out of the way. With the rear Mount, you can alternate between pedaling and motoring without making any changes. The installation is pretty straightforward if you are handy with tools. I give it an A+. Also, I have all the tools needed and would be willing to help anyone with their installation. It takes less than two hours.

[Memory Maker]

All Kayak Torqeedo's are rear mounted using a ball. They are standard for all of the Yaks. At first I didn't like the mount and the way it worked but I now have all of the stuff worked out and I LOVE it. It steers literally on a dime. Infinite speed adjustment, easy to mount and dismount and store. Tells you how much battery is left, how far you've gone and how much run time is left. At trolling speeds the battery will kast all day. Total package weighs 15 lbs and has the smallest foot print, has the best kill switch setup so your yak doesn't go on without you. And the install is not bad at all. Especially with the experience of Russ and myself.

It costs more but once you figure in the costs of the extra stuff you have to buy with the others to get close to the Torqeedo it's not that much more and when you figure in the advantages you can't get with the others it's actually a better value ........ at least to me ......... and as I said you can use your Hook1 discount.

BTW, I get nothing for promoting the Torqeedo ........ just like it alot.

[FRED driver]

Awesome thanks for all the input. With the torqeedo (not the evolve) is there any issue with transport and setup/dismount when out of the water? I flip and cartop my outback and want it as clean as possible when driving

[Memory Maker]

Awesome thanks for all the input. With the torqeedo (not the evolve) is there any issue with transport and setup/dismount when out of the water? I flip and cartop my outback and want it as clean as possible when driving

Definitely not. First it comes with it's own carrying bag with a shoulder strap that holds everything including the battery, motor and the controller. You loosen 2 screws to put on or take off and that's it. Easy as Pie. That is the Torqeedo.

If you have an outback you may want the Evolve twist and stow mount. Ryan would probably be the expert on that one.

[sebby]

Memory maker and Russ,
Do you guys have any pictures of the setup? If I purchase the kit from torqueedo, does it have everything you need or are there extra things that need to be purchased? Btw, sorry to hijack the thread, but I'm really interested in a rear mount motor for my PA.

[Shady]

Taking the evolve off of the outback twist and stow mount is not quick and easy, it's attached with six screws that should be lock tited. I just leave mine on there. Hauling it on top of my vehicle with motor attached is not a problem, but I haul it upright using a thule glide and set rack. Hauling the kayak upside down with thhe motor attached might be a little difficult. With the kayak upright, the motor flips up and lays on top of the kayak the same as the rudder would, but with the kayak upside down, the weight of the motor would probably make it hang down. I just use the rudder bungee to secure the motor to the kayak when it is flipped up, maybe you could come up with something a little stronger that would keep the motor from hanging down.

[Memory Maker]

Memory maker and Russ,
Do you guys have any pictures of the setup? If I purchase the kit from torqueedo, does it have everything you need or are there extra things that need to be purchased? Btw, sorry to hijack the thread, but I'm really interested in a rear mount motor for my PA.

It essentialy comes with everything you need. I added a foam support on the rear handle and a backing board for the mount and that's about all ..although it comes with a backing board but it's hard to reach ...... mine has the nuts mounted in the backing board. .... maybe some extra string. It comes with everything including the battery charger. Russ and I will help you install if you want ...... the Torqeedo that is ..... never worked w/Evolve

Uh ........ my backer board was custom made by Yak Attack and while you don't have to have it, I recommend it. I think Luther would make 1 for you ..... not sure of the cost ...... probably $20 - $30 if you want or you could make your own like Russ did. Not necessary but it gives a sturdier base. It's a simple install

[sebby]

Thanks memory maker,
I'll take you up on the help once I order it. Just to make sure, before I plunk down the money on the torqueedo, it will mount on the pro angler rear and reach the water? I read in some forum where it may not, but that may have been from the guy that builds the bassyaks motors...

[Memory Maker]

Thanks memory maker,
I'll take you up on the help once I order it. Just to make sure, before I plunk down the money on the torqueedo, it will mount on the pro angler rear and reach the water? I read in some forum where it may not, but that may have been from the guy that builds the bassyaks motors...

Well mine hits the water and Russ's hits the water and both ours will run circles around Bassyaks ........ when you order it ..... talk to Chad ....... he's the guy that knows the Torqeedo ......... infact ..... he's the 1 that convinced me

[DOGFISH]

I use an evolve Torqueedo in the drive well of PA and am very satisified with the rig. The one thing that most folks don't consider when purchasing a Torqueedo is that they are not as quiet as a regular trolling motor. They make a noticable whinning sound. I knew that before I purchased my Torqueedo. I do most of my fishing in bay waters, so that is not as much of a consideration. However, if you do mostly freshwater fishing it may matter to you. With that said, the Torqueedo is more powerful. I am not quite as satisified with the battery life and the proprietary nature of the of the battery system as compared with trolling motors. I have used several set ups with trolling motors on kayaks. Considering the 6lb weight of the Torqueedo battery, it appears to be a fair trade off. I carry three Torqueedo batteries when I go out for a day of trolling on the bay. Most of the time I can get by with two, with the third as insurance on the return. I do not want to peddle. I carry my peddle drive as a last ditch back-up. When I am freshwater fishing, I use the Torqueedo to get to my fishing area and then use a paddle to move along the bank casting. Just to temper that statement, I grew up with bass fisherman who were fanatics about being quiet. To their credit, they were very good at what they did, so I just came up with the belief in being quiet when fishing. These are just some of the things that you may want to consider. All in all, I like the Torqueedo.

[Memory Maker]

Don ........ do you have the 2 or the 3. I have the 3 and the batteries seem to last pretty well as long as I'm not running at the top speed. At trolling speed it lasts me all day ....... at least my day that is about 6 hrs or so. But I have 2 batteries and I've never used the second. The 3 has 40% more power. That is another advantage of the rear mount ........ you can use the Mirage drive with out switching .......

Ryan has the 2 Evolve rear mount I think ......... Ryan ..... how is your battery life.