Hobie Advice: What to do by this Saturday

[wxman1]

Hi my name is Ken. I'm asking for some serious advice and I believe I have come to the right place.

I need help deciding if a deal I have made is going to be worth my while given the type of fishing that I do.

I met with a guy in northern VA who is selling a 2012 hobie revolution with turbo fins, hobie trolley anchor, Garmin fish finder, rod holder and original fins included, 13 ft model in great condition for 1475.00. That is the amount we agreed on.

Problem is I do more than 50% of my fishing in the middle and upper potomac with shallow and deep pockets, lots of rocks and other structure. Rest of fishing is lower potomac, local reservoirs and lakes. Some of the lakes and occasional trip to the bay the hobie would be perfect. Based on this is it worth it for me to own this hobie? Mirage drive could get damaged in the upper potomac especially.

Either way I'm on the market for a second kayak.

What do you think I should do? I'm torn because this is a great deal.

KW

[Shady]

sounds like a great deal. IMHO, once you get more time in the salt you won't want to go back to the fresh as often...

[Turtle135]

If your percentages for the locations you fish stay the same, with just the occasional trip to the bay, I'm not sure that is the right kayak for you.

During summer low water levels on the upper Potomac either that Mirage Drive will get damaged on the ledges or you will be spending all your time trying to avoid those rocks.

In my opinion, where the pedal propulsion systems really excel is when you need to cover big water (like fishing the bay). When your fishing grounds can be distant or you are doing a lot of trolling or you are attempting to hold position and fish in serious wind conditions.

Me, I mostly fish for bass in Maryland reservoirs that are about 300 acres maximum, the upper Potomac and the Tidal Potomac Creeks. Maybe once or twice a year I am on the bay and I am not a big fan of trolling.

What you really need is two kayaks!

[wxman1]

I currently have a wilderness tarpon 120.

This would be a 2nd kayak. One thought I had was to paddle the hobie in the upper potomac then have the fins on the side when I fish lakes, reservoirs, bay etc. BUT paddling on the upper potomac I don't see the hobie being ideal... Would push more toward a Jackson kilroy or cuda 12 for comfy seat, storage and ability to stand up.

This is tough to decide.

[Memory Maker]

.......... the Revo is the sleekest of the Hobie line and can easily be paddled .......... then you have the mirage drive for the other times ........ you get another kind of yak and you won't even have the pedal option .......... besides you already have a paddle yak ...... why would you want 2 paddle yaks .......

[Mark]

I have a Revo 13 and I would not take it with fins to the upper Potomac due to the rocks.

It's great in the Bay and I've enjoyed it immensely at Trap Pond, DE. I've also had it at Mattawoman but to be honest the heavy vegetation there made the fins less than ideal and I paddled more that day than I have in all other trips combined this year.

You can retract the fins to the hull with your pedals and over time you'll develop a sense of how to keep them out of danger while using them. You can still propel the boat with the fins in the semi-retracted position and that definitely comes in handy along shallow shorelines in the Bay or ponds or near riprap walls. But I think it would be tempting fate to use the fins in the upper Potomac or Susquehanna.

Good luck in your decision.