Kayak Reviews

Cobra

Like a mini Boston Whaler! I actually need				stayed COMPLETELY dry. I'm 5'10"/185. It's
to add more gear to make it sit right in the				not for racing, but for fishing...It should
water. You can virtually do a handstand in				be called "Ultimate solo-sportfisher"!
this kayak it's SO stable. I've only had				Suggested Changes: The only thing I can
mine out twice and I've fished standing up,				think of is that the footrests are a little
sitting sideways, sitting in the jumpseat				awkward. Other than adding a built-in
and even sitting in the empty tankwell.				livewell it's pretty much perfection to me!
Launched through 1-3' surf both times and

Review 2

First off I am a bigger guy and this boat				cause her to be somewhat sluggish and slow
has lots of room for me, my beer and my				when the wind or current kicks up. I wish
tackle. The cockpit is roomy and the boat is				she was a little narrower and a little
a friggin caddy! I really like the high dry				longer. 33" wide X 14' Long sounds about
and stable ride. However, her width does				right.. Anyways thats my .02

Hobie

For freshwater fishing and trolling, this				developed a crack in the hull in the slot
boat can't be beat. It's fairly comfortable				where the drive goes after 3-4 uses, and I
for big guys (I'm 6'5", 215lbs) for extended				didn't do anything stupid to it. Same
periods of time (well, up to about 6hrs,				happened to my father's. Hobie's customer
anyway). Pedaling it is pretty fast, and				service is topnotch, though, and they took
I've been able to keep up with longer yaks				care of it right away. I also had trouble
without killing myself. I can usually cover				with the sprocket guards coming loose (they
4-5 miles in an hour (landmark-based				apparently had a bad run with the plastic),
estimate). I usually can maintain my				but again, Hobie took care of it. It would
position fairly well with minor pedal/rudder				be nice if there were more dry storage--all
adjustments. I've had the boat out in				the hatches are pretty small. Camping with
18-24" whitecaps with some larger boat wakes				it would be pretty tough--you would need
thrown in, and I never felt like I was				lots of dry bags. A lot of people ding the
going to capsize. Operation really isn't				boat for the cart that comes with it, but
hands free, though, as the boat doesn't				I've used the cart quite a bit (once with
track all that well. Constant rudder				the boat full of water), and there's no
adjustments are necessary, and tracking is				indication that it's going to break. Even
abysmal with a following sea. Fortunately,				with all my complaints, I would buy another
the boat is maneuverable and tolerates				for the stability, speed-to-length ratio,
leaning for tighter turning; however, it is				and the fishing ease.
a pig to paddle (I need to try a longer				Suggested Changes: Stouter plastic (what's
paddle, though) because of it's rounded hull				a few extra pounds?), tighter tolerances on
and squared off gunwales). The boat is				the drive, better hatches (something like
excellent for fighting fish, and I've landed				the hatches Malibu uses), a slightly longer
some nice stripers on light tackle (wasn't				model would be nice, more of a keel for
expecting the big guys). Build quality could				better tracking, and a longer paddle.
be a little better, though. My first boat

My fishing is confined to inland lakes in IL				while stepping onto a pier, exiting the
and Wisconsin. I purchased this kayak in				Outback. I fish a lot and comfort is
early spring of 2003, with the intention of				important to me. At 6'2", 220lbs, and
using it thru-out the summer. I had				middle-aged, fishing from a canoe is
researched it on the internet and it seemed				miserable. But fishing from the Mirage
like a good fit for me. Its now December and				Outback is remarkably comfortable. One of
the kayak is actually sitting in my				the short-comings that I had read before the
basement, waiting for next spring. I got a				purchase is the lack of hand-holds making
full summer of use out of it, practically				the kayak difficult to handle out of the
every weekend from May thru Sept, putting me				water. For a while I agreed with this
in a good position to give input to				assessment. But at some point mid-way thru
interested buyers. Here goes.....The Outback				the summer that issue went away. Although I
surpassed my expectations. The drive unit				do recommend the wheel option, the handling
is wonderful. Wind has minimal effect. You				issue has a way of resolving itself if you
simply point the nose into the wind and with				use the kayak enough . The drain holes and
very little effort on the pedals, hold your				area where the drive unit sits serve as
position while fishing continuously. The				effective hand-holds when lifting. Like I
only time I paddled, was to move thru very				said, mine is in my basement for the winter.
shallow water or to back off of shore.				I'm looking forward to next spring.
Stability is very good. I routinely stand				Couldn't be happier.