which boat for short people

I am 5'2" and under 120lbs. I tried the tandem Oasis. It was very heavy for me to pick up and load by myself. So I know that won't work.

I am competitive so I hope to somehow beat my husband if we race against each other.

Both of us are major beginners. The thought of using a sail sounds fun, although for now, I just want to be able to go out in the gulf or down a lazy river. I also want to do some serious fishing when I am up in the mountains.

I will probably be kayaking alone most of the time, so I need to be able to load the boat by myself....any suggestions....besides start lifting weights?
We are also looking at the pros and cons of hobie' vs the others. I like the idea of having the pedals for backup, just don't want to have to worry about fixing them all the time...Do the pedals break often?

Hey roc,
The Hobie Sport was designed and built just for you, although I liked my wife's so much I now use it myself for most everything (except when we go out together--then I use my Outback). Try it--I think you will like it. And no, the Mirage pedal drive does not break often, if at all for most folks. Here are a couple of pics.

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Howdie roc.

Ya like Apalach sez - take a look at the Sport.

4 years ago My wife and I each got a Hobie Sport. We still have them and use them. They are the lightest pedal kayak Hobie has to offer and tossing 2 of them in back of a pick-up is sure convienient.

When I want to pop out for some quick fishing - I grab the Sport. Since we got ours Hobie has made some improvements to the hatch and the rudder, but it is basically the same kayak.

If you are interested in a bit faster kayak you have to go with longer and heavier like the Revolution or the Adventure.

If you want exciting sailing then consider the full Island setup.

I still believe that the Sport is your best bet for your size and for self-loading.

Yakaholic

Thanks for the advice - love the pics- Is that a Sport?
I'll try the Sport and the Outback this weekend in Tampa Bay and surrounding creeks. Hope it's not too cold out there!

I love the Appalachian mountains. I hope to fish this summer on Fontana and hike. I'll be up there in a few weeks. It's definitely too cold to go on a kayak right now in the mtns.

Sho' 'nuff Roc--that is my (wife's) Sport. Great boat with the fantastic tackle and gear trays that only the Outback has, but it is the lightest Mirage Drive (pedal) boat that Hobie makes at only 48 lbs. or so. I have fished from it in the open Atlantic off the East Coast of Florida, in the Everglades, and all along the estuaries of the northern Florida Gulf Coast. Here's an account of our excursion down the East Coast of Florida to the Everglades a while back that I dubbed GAFFE I.

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewt ... ight=gaffe

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Apalach,

The white pvc device strapped to the port side of your boat - what is it?

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baysailor