Thoughts and Impressions of the 07 Hobie Outback Mirage

[slayersmith]

Did you guys get a chance to try the adventure? Its a 16ft boat, with the turbo fins it just flys. I bought an adventure about 4 months ago and love it.
I picked up an older outback off of e-bay about 3 years ago. It is a great boat very stable. I made a rack on the back of it for hoop nets, I can carry 5 nets,with the Scotty trap ezz its a hooping machine. Can't wait only a couple of weeks until the season starts.

Perry, If you try the hobie peddal drive you might not go back to a paddle boat. I love being able to troll and still have a hand free to drink a beer.

Take it easy!

Aaron

[Robert]

Slayersmith,
We didn't try the Adventure. I'll bet that the Adventure hauls butt! For the type of fishing that I do, I am more interested in stability and capacity. The 07 Outback has these issues covered. I am looking forward to some
while trolling!

Robert

[slayersmith]

Robert,

Everything hobie makes is quality. You will be very happy with a hobie, I know I am. They are not cheap but worth it. If you do get one make sure you make a lease for the peddel drive because replacement is $400.00 brand new.
Last year I loaned my hobie outback to a buddy and he lost the peddle drive in the surf during a launch. I had a little luck though and found a peddle drive on e-bay for $200.00 (they never come up) it was an expensive day for my buddy.

Take it easy!

Aaron

[Robert]

Slayersmith,
Good advice my Brother! I got over confident and didn't leash any of my rods
for 3 years. A few months ago I flipped my Tarpon over in the bay, of all places, on a fairly calm day and lost a couple of rods and some gear. I learned my lesson big time! I don't care if I am going out in water 1 ft deep. I put a leash on everything now. When I found out how much those Mirage drives cost I started making plans for a leash right away.

Robert

[slayersmith]

Robert,

Good luck on your purchase!

Take it easy!

Aaron

[greyloon]

From the pictures, it appears the hatch is different on the '07 Outback. The former hatch was concave, the new one more like on the Revolution. If so, that is a good thing, I think. I've peddled both the Outback and Revolution in a short demo pool and could tell a few things about them, especially the speed. And, the Revolution is about the same width as the Hobie Quest, so should paddle about the same. But, has anyone tried paddling the Outback...not peddle, paddle, for any distance. In looking at it, I've wondered how well it does paddle say if the drive breaks or, like I run into here, it gets stuck in a hydrilla mat. I do wish they would make the drive so you can pedlle bacwards too as I like to drift fish that way, keeping my lines in front of me.

[slayersmith]

Greyloon,

The outback sucks to paddle, it sits pretty high off the water, its a short and wide boat. I would not want to paddle it very far. I think the only reason you get a paddle with the boat is to turn around in tight places.

I have found the best way to get thru the surf in the outback is to get in waist deep water (so the peddles dont hit the sand) time the sets and peddle out.

What is a hydrilla mat? Do you mean kelp? If so, the best thing to do in kelp is pull the rudder and peddle drive up and paddle to clear water.

I hope this helps.

Take it easy!

Aaron