Mirage Outback & Revolution 13; Taking a Passenger Feasible?

Hi everyone! First post.

I am looking for the best solution for 2 adults (190 & 135 lbs) and 2 kids (ages 4 & 7 ... and growing). I live close to the beach in Orange County, CA, and the kayak(s) would be used in the ocean, with and without sail(s).

I originally was thinking of one Oasis, but there's no possibility of getting all 4 of us on the water with one ($2,800) boat. So now I'm thinking of getting one Outback or Revolution 13 right now, and possibly a second if we use it often.

Is it feasible to carry another person in the Cargo area of an Outback or Revo 13? I went to a dealer over the weekend, and the Outback's rear cargo area seems deep and commodious, and it's 400 lb. capacity would seem to help. The Revo 13 ... I imagine I might be able to get one of my boys back there, but not likely my girlfriend.

Any experience with this?

Ocean Kayak makes a quad!!! Do a search and see if they still make them. It is a rather large kayak and does weigh a bit more then the normal kayak... But not twice the weight. Good Luck.

I think you're pushing it. A dog or a small child, maybe, but anybody of any size or weight stuck in the tankwell is going to create some adverse handling/performance issues with the boat not to mention a potentially unsafe situation.

It is possible to pick up fairly inexpensive kayaks these days. Give the kids a paddle of their own and if need be, use the Hobie to tow them when needed.

John, welcome to the forum!

Your kids wouldn't weigh much more than a loaded bait tank. I don't see a problem. Here's a picture of the Adventure Island (same load capacity as the Revolution) with my nephew in the cargo well. As you can see, it worked out pretty well.


The Revo would probably be better with a load than the Outback because its longer length and more forward cargo well should accommodate the rear load easier. Though the Revo has a lower rated capacity, I think the boats are very close in actual capacity.

Thanks, Roadrunner. I've learned a lot from reading your old posts. I appreciate the response.

It is certainly feasible on the Adventure and IMNSHO represents very little additional "danger" as long as you are sensible about and manage the risks associated with kayaking in the conditions you go out in and on the trips you make.

I take my 7 YO daughter out regularly. My friend takes his 11 year old son out in his Adventure. His son is much bigger than my daughter and he is probably about the same weight as me; in fact it was his exploits that set me up to take my daughter on my Adventure.

I am ~217lbs, dunno about the daughter. We go on family camping trips and the Adventure with me in the cockpit my daughter in the back and camping gear in the front balances very well (incidentally when I say "Adventure", the hull I use is in fact an AI hull so I am actually talking about an AI hull without the akas and amas but WITH all the extra weight of the non-removable bars plus fishfinder, battery, fishing gear etc.) My wife follows in her Adventure with the rest of the camping gear and her kayak is much less heavily laden than mine on these trips.

We have made several such trips varying in length but some 2-3 hours out (to an island or a remote campsite) and I have no qualms about any additional risks but then we typically only go in relatively good conditions (i.e. sheltered seas not open seas, light winds forecast, warm weather forecast) You always need to be mindful of & prepared for sudden changes in weather though, and this has happened on some of our trips without causing any undue stress or mishaps to any of the party.

Originally I bought a tandem Outfitter so that all 3 of us could go out together but then acquired a used Adventure as well and I [we] have found that putting an extra seat in the Adventure is a much better solution all round for our child(e.g. daughter sits behind me so doesn't get wet, nicer hull to pedal, smaller to transport etc).
...anyone want to buy a very little-used Outfitter ?!

Copying my friend I install a cheap 3rd party kayak seat in the rear parcel area for my daughter to sit in; it attaches to the padeyes behind the cockpit and to the rear padeye (to hold the seat back vertical) and apart from a bit of wash into the parcel area through the scupper holes causing cold feet for the passenger works perfectly well.

I am not sure of/can't exactly remember the size & shape of the rear stowage on the Outback & Revo but I think certainly the Outback has more buoyancy than the Adventure and maybe the Revo too. I deduce that if a rear child seat works well enough on the Adventure (which I can vouch for from experience) it should be OK for a boat of similar or greater buoyancy & stability too, subject to there being sufficient space for a person of relatively small stature in the stowage area.

My suggestion would be look at the boats in the store and if you can get a demo try loading a child in the rear without a seat for a short trip & see what you think.

Very helpful. Many thanks!

For the Outback I'd say a small lake or river with no rapids is doable. But... even just the Class II rapids and back eddies on the Upper Kenai River in AK.... not safe. I floated the river just fine with a friend in the back of the Outback. Handling was a little off but made it through the rapids just fine. The real problem came when hitting a swift flowing eddy in which all control is lost and it didn't take much to have the kayak flip in 5*C water. Not fun.