Hobie eVolve Electric Motor Kit

This information is being released today on our website. This has already been shown in our kayak models brochure and in the accessories catalog that is mailing this week.

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/accessory_details/accessory_evolve.html





$1,899.00 (USA)

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

A very interesting option!

Brochure shows that you can still raise the unit when in hybrid operation, is this easily done on the water with the standard controls?

Could you easily mount two on one boat as in on the rudder and drive well or two on a tandem (or three)?

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Regards,
SedonaAI

'08 Revolution (SOLD!)
'07 Adventure Island
'07 Adventure Island

Psalm 107:23, 24 (KJV)
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

You need the up/down "T" handle system for the rudder. 2009 and newer boats, to easily raise and lower the motor from the cockpit.

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

What affect does the motor on the rudder have when used for sailing in a AI. Does it improve or reduce the rudders control when sailing hard?

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!

With the speeds of the Adventure Island... the motor on the rudder system would be more drag and reduce rudder control. I would suggest the well mount option. Remove the motor for higher wind sailing.

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

What would be the cruise speed attached to an AI Matt?...Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

I don't have that data, I'll have to ask the engineers on Monday. I do hear that different hull models all go near the same top speed with differing watt usage.

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

Hi, Ive been drooling over the eVOLVE now for 3 days, Whats the best position to use for the motor on an outback, is it better to install it on the tail or in the mirage drive, also will those standard strings pull that motor back up without breaking or do you have to install stronger ones.
I also have an 08 outfitter and 112i where can i install the eVolve there for best results and why doesnt it work with the old style twist an stow on the 08,
I also cant find the range statistics are the same on average as the stats on torqeedo wesite.
Ps great boats by the way i become a hobie junky in a matter of weeks, now owning 3. plus i goto get me a revolution next year.

So it sounds like this motor is not going to be functional for AI sailors. I was hoping for this to be able to get me back when I've sailed out and the wind's died, but using it this way will preclude use of the pedal drive. Am I right that there are just the two mount points and one gets in the way of sailing and the other knocks out pedaling? I hope someone comes up with a mounting alternative that preserves the AI's range of options for propulsion.

Tim

You can still use pedals on the AI and drive well mounted eVolve. Simply un-mount the eVolve and stow. Re-install your pedals and off you go. "Stow able" auxiliary power. The motor will be fine on the rudder of the AI at lower speeds.

The eVolve is not recommended for the inflatables.

The up down lines will require that additional fasteners are installed in the turning blocks that sees the highest loads. The lines are strong enough.

There is a recommended mounting guide on the accessory information page. http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/accessory_details/accessory_evolve_installguide.html

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

I don't see it being much of an advantage mounted through the Mirage drive well, having to take the pedals out and faff about swapping bits around and the rudder option is definitely out. I find the rudder is stiff enough to raise on its own, without the extra weight of the motor to deal with.
As I spend a lot of time in the shallows, I think it will make more sense for me to have a Torqueedo mounted at the stern behind the rudder, steerable and able to be be raised when in the shallows or sailing .
A bonus is that I find the AI sails better when tail heavy.

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!

...either lead follow or stay the hell out of the way is someones quote..is it rockraider?

I am lost on auxilliary engines for kayaks, isnt the idea of kayaking lost when we start to load up with engines....? There's another 8kg to haul up the beach, another 8kg to stow when you want to use the mirage drive, another 8kg to take you out to beyond where you ought to be before the juice runs out. Maybe as an emergency get-you-home aid but you wouldnt need it if you followed the 'sam 2 is 1 and 1 is none' backup principle (which I admit I regularly fail to do)...but an engine?...oh my God. I could quite understand a retractable well mounted motor built into an adventure hull with a backup paddle and marketed as a lightweight motorcraft...hey, I would maybe buy one when my knees give out. I am ever so impressed to hear of folk 10-15 years older than me pedalling out to sea and fighting huge fish then sailing back (like Santiago!!!!!)...its inspirational, it gives me hope that I will still be pedalling in my 70's. The AI as it is is enough...one way or another it will always bring you home (probably!)...theres the drive system, the sail and the paddles...do you really NEED an engine?....Oh well, I guess thats why its an option!!!!!

Well, I think a motor mount option would be extremely valuable for the AI because with it you can take the boat out and explore all you want under sail without having to worry about getting back against wind or current. My threshold for pedaling is vastly lower than my threshold for sailing, and the AI is not a terrific paddle, not really paddleable at all if you have trampolines rigged.

Maybe I misread but I think the specs for this motor suggest you can only move with it quickly if you use it in conjunction with the pedals. However, to pedal with it, it has to be mounted on the rudder, which is not recommended for sailing. So to be practical for those who want to sail the AI for longer excursions it needs to be mounted in conjunction with the pedals, which means mounting it in some other way than the two methods Hobie currently supports. It would seem natural to make it a retractable (swing down) type motor mounted off the side somewhere behind the cockpit. I hope someone will figure out how we can do that.

Oh Jeez Timo, maybe your right....bring on the 2000 dollar electric engines, I remember vilifying so many things I 'couldnt live without' now. Its just that I love the creativity and genius that goes into making the most of what we are capable of achieving through human power....seems like the way to go...but then if you use a truck to take your boat down to the beach (as i do) I guess sticking an engine on your kayak isnt the travesty I feel it is!

Disappointing to read the eVolve is not recommended for inflatables. The inflatables seem to catch more wind than the plastics so would be nice to have some help when against the wind and current a long way from port. Out of curiosity just what would happen if the eVolve is placed in the rear well of an i14t? Does 'not recommended' mean don't do it at all at high risk of boat loss or just the speed can be excessive for the hull but it would be ok at slow speed?
I'm planning to get an AI next Spring and it would be nice to have it work in both boats. Thanks.