What to look for when buying used / Revo vs. Adventure

Planning drive to local dealer here in S. FL to look at used/rental/demo hobie mirage kayaks for sale - Revo (1 - 2011) & Adventure (2 - 2009 & 2011). I'm thinking of buying 2 of 3 as "his and her" pair for wife and I. We tested Revo 13 & 11 last weekend, absolutely loved experience and have pretty much decided to buy a pair - ideally, pre-owned if possible/practical. I'm reading forum entries in an effort to gain valuable insight on which to base a well informed decision for buying pre-owned. Any advice on what to look for in particular when buying used/demo/rental hobie mirage kayaks would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Demos are usually in ok condition, but rentals are a whole different story. Check for fading. I'd walk away from anything that has not been stored indoors or has massive fading.

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Hi Ricky: I ended up buying a green colored 2011 Revo that had been a demo/rental and a sand/grey colored 2009 Adventure that had been traded in. Both hulls seem to be in really good shape - no fading, scratches etc... The 2009 seems to have been meticulously cared for. Both have V2 mirage drives. Revo had standard fins showing a little bit of wear and I replaced with turbo fins. Adventure already had turbo fins with V2 mirage drive but with sprocket where masts were secured in place by set screw rather than screwed into brass insert so I had newer sprocket kit installed. My understanding is that 2009 was a sort of transition year where some V2 mirage drives did not actually have all “V2” characteristics. There was a demo/rental blue colored 2011 Adventure available but I carefully compared it with the 2009 and determined the 2009 was the cleaner and better cared for of the two boats – and for $100 less than the 2011. Hobie is strict about pricing as I understand it so it seems difficult to work "deals" on new models and prices I've seen on used ones aren't discounted much from new prices. I got both of these from dealer as they were clearing existing inventory to make way for new model years. 2011 Revo was $1234 and 2099 Adventure was $1399 both with V2 mirage drives with turbo fins serviced by dealer before sale. My wife and I tested them both before buying. I hope I made a good deal. I also bought a couple pulley storage systems for keeping these units in the garage. Your comment about not having “been stored indoors” and “massive fading” is interesting to me. How subject to deterioration are these hulls from UV and weather elements from your perspective? Over what period of time can this kind of exposure really become an issue? What kind of issues can arise? Thanks, Glenn

Glenn, it sounds like you got a great deal. IMO the Hobies handle the UV rays relatively well; I've seen them sit in the sun for about 18 months with no serious damage -- just stretched side pockets and stiff bungees. I store mine in the garage anyway to keep them clean and ready to go.

It wouldn't hurt to check the serial # on your '09 Adventure -- the last two digits tell the model year. Or you can just look to see that it has the "Click N Go" Drive lock system (first year was 2009). This was an important change.

I mention this because the Drive as you described it is typically from 2008 (if the Drive drums look identical to your '11 Drive), or earlier (if the drum style is different -- see below).

As long as you have the '08 or newer Drive you're in good shape (with the change you made). If your Adventure Drive looks like the one on the left, someone may have accidentally switched drives and you should discuss it with the dealer.

Enjoy your new Hobies!

I have one of the older, and the newer, drive units. The older drives are not at all problematic and if you have that one, just use it and don't worry about it.

Hobie often makes improvements for the sake of continuing to provide a better and better product, but you don't want to assume that an improvement was due to any sort of inherent failing on the earlier part. While I'm sure the newer drive is "better," the old one was very, very good.

If you're planning to carry some spares, it's nice to have two identical drives. It would be a pain and an additional cost to carry spares for both the V1 and V2.