Got my new Revo today, and promptly took it fishin' just to get some scratches, and some waterlines on it.
First off, this 'yak is noticeably faster than my Sport. It just slices thru the water, and actually seems easier to peddle. Handles chop better, but it's a little wetter, since it sits a little lower. The Revo is at least as stable as the Sport, maybe more-so. I found it no harder or less comfortable to stand up in the Revo. The footwell in the Revo has a nice step molded in to keep water from washing up on the hatch cover, and it works great. The one performance drawback, is it is not quite as maneuverable as the Sport, due to being longer.
As far as storage goes, it's no contest...The Revo's hatches and pockets are well thought out, and readily accessible. More storage than anyone should EVER need. There have been mixed reviews about the new style Hobie seat....I find it to be much better, and the lumbar support is a nice touch. With all the new storage, the little "change purse" fanny pack is fine, and the larger old one will not be missed.
My 25 Igloo Marine cooler fits just fine, but I'll be adding a couple of pad-eyes to strap it in securely. Nothing that came stock is gonna work just exactly right. No big deal.
I'm gonna have to do something inside the center hatch, to keep my tackle boxes from sliding around. In the Sport, they could't go out of reach, but in this thing, they can go from one end to the other. Gonna have to plug up some space, and pool noodles should do nicely.
The front hatch is big enough for a small kid to get inside, and it's easily accessible while on the water. It also has nice drainage into the drivewell, and shouldn't let any water in the hull.
That's about it for now, but in the near future will be a depth finder, and maybe a couple of Ram tube rod holders up front.
There will always be a soft spot in my kayak heart for the Sport, but the Revo seems to be all I had hoped it would be, and I'm glad I pulled the trigger and got one.
Along the way, I managed to catch a trout, a croaker, two flounder, and a yellowtail. Not a bad way to break in the new toy..
