[JP Coutanche]

I'm at work and showing a colleague how the Mirage drive works on my Kayak. I was out on the weekend for the first proper session with my mate Mark. We started nice and early and finished pretty late, no fish were caught unfortunately, and the closest we got was watching a 3lb Pollack hit my lure then have second thoughts when it realised what it was! Mean while I was thinking if only we could move from this spot to further round, this would unfortunately take hours and a lot of effort.

Anyway the comments often arise that the Hobie kayaks are easy to use and it’s an easy way to get around and fish at the same time. Also one thing that is apparent is I can go a lot further, for a lot longer, and use less energy (just realised that anywhere else that sentence would sound dodgy!). I love fishing of the yak, great exercise, easy to access to those hard to reach places and the maintenance cost is non existent. The one down side of all Kayaks is getting from A to B quickly, this does limit the distance you can go from shore and boats can enjoy the fact that they can get there and a yak can’t.

Then I saw this:

http://www.hobie-kayak.com/cms/index.php?page=hobie-evolve

Stunned is the word, and I am actually thinking of asking about the price. Although if the Mirage drive is £600 god knows how much this is.

Anyone tried one of these?

 

[Tim Griffin]

OMG - what will they think of next? I don't even know what a mirage drive is either! Too many gadgets...

 

[JP Coutanche]

OMG - what will they think of next? I don't even know what a mirage drive is either! Too many gadgets...

Opps sorry explaining the Mirage drive would prob help in the first place:

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/miragedrive.html

 

[Tim Murphy]

That's a helluva thing! Had a nose around, seems to be $1900.

 

[Mark Gibbon]

Your on your own carrying your yak if you get one of those.

It's already three times the weight of mine.

(Maybe you should just buy a little boat?)

 

[zirg]

Nice piece of kit but as Mark said the weight is a big downer for a speed of 2 kts, you should be able to paddle along at more than that with arm power without killing yourself.
My Chartplotter shows a speed O T G as 3.9kts on slack, even in tide on the East coast we mantain a stedy 2 plus kts,maybe a change of paddle or change of paddle stroke would help,and the best part of arm power is that you enjoy your pint a lot more on the way home.

 

[Retired]

Your on your own carrying your yak if you get one of those.

It's already three times the weight of mine.

(Maybe you should just buy a little boat?)

Presumably you'd have to register it and get insured* as a powered craft?

Maybe its about time this was brought in for kayaks, no different to a surf board really?

 

[Ritchie Campion]

Presumably you'd have to register it and get insured* as a powered craft?

Maybe its about time this was brought in for kayaks, no different to a surf board really?

And now people come out on them in the middle of the surf catching waves! If one of thems things hits you, you'll know about it!

 

[JP Coutanche]

Your on your own carrying your yak if you get one of those.

It's already three times the weight of mine.

(Maybe you should just buy a little boat?)

The boat is a possible idea if that thing would cost me $1900 and I can only get 2kts out of it! Whats the point I can get better than that by pedalling

Presumably you'd have to register it and get insured* as a powered craft?

Maybe its about time this was brought in for kayaks, no different to a surf board really?

That is actuallly a good point Paul surely it would fall into a catagory where insurance is needed if powered. Don't think you'd need insurance for a manual powered Yak, the insurance on surf boards is for 3rd party accidents really, your very unlikely to hit a person in a Yak plus surfing on a wave brings in a certain lack of control compared to paddling across a bay.

 

[Retired]

Just wait until there is the first casualty JP and see what the nanny state does.

 

[bob jameson]

Just wait until there is the first casualty JP and see what the nanny state does.

Let alone being sued , for personal injuries caused by a yak and no insurance to cover it !!!!!

 

[JP Coutanche]

Just wait until there is the first casualty JP and see what the nanny state does.

Thats true, a very good point there. I've got enough costs with everything else at the mo last thing I'd need is a lawsuit!

 

[Gary A]

Thats true, a very good point there. I've got enough costs with everything else at the mo last thing I'd need is a lawsuit!

Dry suit, wetsuit, 3 piece suit. I don't think you need a lawsuit as well. You'd never have room in your wardrobe:-D

 

[Alex Jordan]

hmm good point - had 3rd party insurance when I was kitesurfing ... not thought about it for the yak ... hmmmm

 

[JP Coutanche]

hmm good point - had 3rd party insurance when I was kitesurfing ... not thought about it for the yak ... hmmmm

Maybe the BSKA should broaden their horizons? Do you think they'd offer a discount if you do both? lol