teddyflute wrote:
How well does the oasis paddle? My next year 2 year old would be sitting in the back with me until I am comfortable with her being up front with her brother.
We have a tandem Oasis and love this boat, but it's not the best tracking paddler. It's not terrible but also not great. If you're going to want to paddle it much, be sure and try it beforehand. As a peddler though, it's formidable!
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Also, I tried a few years old outback at a local lake and found it to be a little tippy. Would this be similar with the oasis or different considering it's new hull design and longer length. Would the sidekicks help in this manner (paddling) or are the primarily for sailing?
The tippiness you felt with the Outback is a common sensation a lot of lighter folks have with that specific older model due to the big hump in the center section of the hull without the chines being fully immersed. The Outback hull has since been redesigned to eliminate that unfortunate feature.
The Oasis is very stable and feels solid. The '09 model has a redesigned hull bottom that improves the initial stability even more, although overall stability remains the same. I am confident you will feel entirely comfortable in either version.
Sidekicks are used mostly as a sailing aid and for standing while fishing. You can stand in the Oasis without the sidekicks -- you wouldn't need them for paddling.
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Considering all this which boat would best suit my needs? I plan on using it touring lakes, bays, and tidal estuaries. I also plan on trying out more hobie boats at a far away dealer but haven't ventured out there yet.
The Oasis has tons of room in the front cockpit for two or three small kids where you can keep an eye on them. It's also great for guests, dogs or provisions. It has an enormous capacity and makes a great expedition boat. When properly ballasted, it serves as an excellent solo kayak, cruising easily at 4 - 4 1/2 MPH (with Turbofins). It handles chop and wind extremely well with the Mirage Drive. I don't think there is another boat in the Hobie fleet that is as capable or versatile.
