my first Hobie.(more testing)

I picked my first hobie saturday. I got the revo fish and I'm really enjoying the mirage drive unit. The unit really aids in fighting fish. These are really nice looking yaks and the accessories are awsome. I've already ordered a ton of them and can't wait to install em'. About me well, I've been yaking since 1997, and I've tried/owned all kinds of boats. I've been after a hobie for a few years now, but couldn't ever find one that I thought would suit my needs. With hobie inventing the revo, I think they did it.

...I do have one concern though. I noticed that the yak pulls to the right really bad. When I bought the yak, it had been on a display rack (right side down)for some time, so it had a small dent. I know the dent should eventually come out, but I'm not sure if the revo's normally pull hard to the right. I wanted to see if anybody else has had this problem, if not then I'll be contacting my dealer and see what steps need to be taken for fixing/relacing it. Other than that I think its a really cool boat. Thanks!



....September 13, 2007
I took it out again to see if it still pulled right. This time I loaded this sucker down. I added a bimini top, small crate for my gear, fishing rod, and put the collapsable cart in the front hatch. This time it worked. No more pulling to the right. I guess my 210 pounds alone wasn't enough.

It pulls to the right when? With the rudder down? When paddling?

In general the Hobies don't track all that well with the rudder up. I have paddled the OB and the Revo. They are ok at a slow gentle pace, but if you try to pick up any kind of speed, mine tend to dart in one direction or the other and not want to come back, ie it will start to go right and even with 5 -6 paddles on the right side, it doesn't want to straighten back up, it wants to dive to the right. This is all with the rudder up. Thats just the way they are.

If you are talking about the boat wanting to go right with the rudder down, then you probably just need a rudder adjustment. Left/Right is pretty easily adjusted, the up and down feature is definately tougher to get right. Make adjustments right on the rudder using the screws and line tension.

...thanks for the response. I forgot to explain my tests. The first boat I tried, when paddling , drive unit in place, fins up hugging the boat, rudder stowed, I had a hard time keeping in a straight line. My boat, first test with the rudder stowed, drive unit on the rear tankwell, and paddling, it went to the right. The next test was with the rudder stowed, drive unit in place with the fins up hugging the boat, and paddling, it still went to the right. When I'm peddling around I don't notice it wanting to pull to the right cause I'm constantly adjusting the rudder. If this is just a characteristic of the hobie kayak, then I guess thats what it is. The only other boat I had that did this was a pelican endevour.

I have 2 revos and as has been said, they don't track well at all with the rudder up. I've noticed that once they start to go either way when paddleing then it just gets worse and the only way to get back straight is to either use the rudder or use the paddle like a rudder on the opposite side from the turn. I think they all are this way. Using the paddle, for me, is only when it's too shallow or the drive is broken. Either way IMO to paddle is not what you got the boat for. If you wanted to paddle you bought the wrong boat. Hobie may address this in the future but for now, it is what it is. I love mine and fish extensively out of it.

There is a lot of information on the web concerning kayak paddling, not to mention the many books on the subject. Pull, or poor tracking, may be caused by one or more conditions such as wind, wave action, the balance of the load, uneven action by the paddler or the structure of the boat. Some kayaks track straight until you reach a given speed, then all they want to do is turn one way or the other. You have to work with your boat until the problem is worked out. Most solutions are fairly simple once you understand the cause but since every paddler introduces different characteristics into the problem because of weight, height, etc ...

The most likely causes are balance, weight distribution and total load, then look at your paddling style. The quickest way through this is to work with an experienced and knowledgeable kayaker who paddles.

This can be important because your Mirage drive may not always be available. If you are two or three miles out and paddling because the drive has broken, you don't want to be fighting your boat for control with every other stroke.

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baysailor

thanks again for the responses. I was just wondering about the boat cause out of the seven boats I've owned, only two of them pulled right and I didn't want to go back to the dealer just yet. Everytime I go back I find another accessory I got to have. I use both methods getting around the water. Most of my honeyholes are deep enough to peddle to, but then the tide changes and I have to paddle back in.

...true story. I was out yesterday in the marina and I peddled by a guy on a sailboat. First he just waves as I pass by, then he does a double take stands up and says"WHAT THE HE||" I laugh and say "I know its cool ain't it"

I have a Revo and I purchased the sailing rudder. I noticed it turns sharper to the left than the right. I have it adjusted so it turns as far as possible both ways. It's not a problem.

I think the pulling to the right might be current or wind. I do use the ruder unless its just too shallow.

However there is a big difference between the standard and sailing rudder as has been said before. Its one purchase that makes a big difference.

I bought a sail kit for it last week. Went out last Sunday but very little wind. I went out today. Wind was about 20-25 mph so I didn't use the sail. I did get to ride on a Hobie Getaway. First time for me. What a ride! We flew hull a few times.
I will try my sail again this Thursday.

My Adventure pulls right pedaling with the rudder up, but it can be induced to pull left. It's easy enough to paddle straight though. I think it's in the hull design. Without a skeg, the bow digs in a little to set up a directionally unstable situation. It's not uncommon. It's not detectable pedaling or paddling with the rudder down, and usually not noticeable paddling unless the fins are in and the rudder up (worst case).

Additionally, any tilt or heel in the boat (especially true with the Revo) creates an asymmetrical shape underwater that will induce turning. In actual use, neither of these seems to cause problems for most users.

Tracking...

If a hull tracks "well", it will be harder to turn.

Mirage kayaks are designed to turn better using the rudder, therefore they do not track well without the rudder in place. I think the rudder down and centered is likely the best way to paddle. You can make slight changes to the rudder to compensate for wind and current conditions.

A deformed hull could cause additional tracking issues. When caused by storage issues, it is not be a warrant able problem from the factory. This would be between the seller and buyer.

Best solution for "popping" the hull back to correct shape is to place in the sun. Use a dark plastic sheet over the area to further heat and some pressure from the inside (air or push, possibly stuff with something). Cool the hull material while in the correct shape.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

FOC, welcome to the board. from one TKFer to another.

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---A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem---

...shh. not so loud. They might kick us off.