Mirage drive durability

Picking up my boat next week, so this is just a gee whiz question for me, since all I seem to do the past two days is dream about my new boat...

For those of you who have fished in this for a while (12 or 14), have you ever run into anything with your mirage drive? I ask because most of the water I fish is shallow and, while not often, there are times when I'm floating around not paying attention and wind up on a just-under-water sand bar or sea grass bed.
Was wondering how durable it was should you accidentally run into something.

Thanks for any input. Back to daydreaming...

Yes. Several times. Most often I'm going slow because I'm in shallow water. In those cases no harm was down. In a couple other cases I hit pretty hard. Tore the fin once and badly bent a fin spine once. The torn fin was repaired nearly good as new with GOOP and the bent spine was straighten and returned to service.

Congratulations on your new boat! Live the dream

I have to admit that I have hit a few underwater "logs" over the last few years... My fault for not paying attention to the Depth finder or my surroundings...

I can tell you from my experience that the mirage drives are very durable. Lots of good information on the forum about maintenance and repairs. There were a few times that I thought my fins were bent or had to be destroyed- (first time out I left them in while landing on a concrete ramp) worst thing that ever happened to mine was an easy fix. The rod went through the fin when I hit something- I just poked it back in and placed some duct tape on it. Good as new and still trucking 4 years later Fast forward to the present- 3 hobies in the fleet - lots of friends and youngsters lightly abusing them - never had another issue.

Have fun

That, amigos, is really good news - thanks for the replies.

It's good news because I seem to have at least one calamity hit every time I get a new boat/yak, so I wanted to be prepared. I assumed I could buy new fins and have them on standby when (not if) I destroyed the original pair, but glad to hear I'll have to TRY to destroy them in the first place.

Picking up my PA 12 today, soon as they get their store open. Then I get to wait for Saturday so I can go try it out.

+1 with Vabeach2. I have also hit things while not paying attention. That's only normal if you fish in the shallows. But I have not had any problems with the mirage drive to date. Still looks like the day I bought it.

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Paul
2013 Pro-Angler 12 Olive

Heroes don't wear capes; they wear dog tags

Im in flats often so if your just floating you can have the fins flat against the hull by either putting a foot forward or tethering it. Hope that helps

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2014 Pro Angler 14 Dune
2013 Outback Papaya

Military Police, USAR SFC

Broward County Florida

mswMelbourneFL :
One thing that you develop quickly is sensitivity in your feet so if you do happen to hit something (like the bottom or a rock) with your mirage drive while pedaling your acquired ( through experience) instinct is to stop pedaling immediately and free the pedal from the obstacle. Typically if you continue to try to pedal through it (by force) that's almost always where the damage typically occurs. If you are running rapids and small rivers with lots of shallow rocks it's best to just pull the mirage drive out and paddle. We have hit rapids a few times where we didn't get a chance to pull the mirage drive first, in that situation it's best to just fold the fins against the hull and lock them then ride it out (raise the rudder as well of course). The bottoms of our Hobies and the sides of all of our mirage drives are heavily scarred from this and beaching with the mirage drives in. Even though they look like crap, they continue to work and function very well with the occasional bent fin arm, which is easily straightened or replaced as well as the rubber fins, though I have never had to replace either the fins or the shafts on any of the dozen or so mirage drives we have had since 2007 (we are pretty heavy users).
One thing that you can do if you plan to go in rocky shallow water often is if you take some 1/16th aluminum about 1" wide x 4" to 5" long and fold it over the end of the mirage fin. I just covered mine with electrical tape to hold it in place (you can also use an adhesive (like goop)). That aluminum keeps the drive mast from ripping a hole in the side of the fin. Of course the ends of the fins get all cut up and scratched eventually anyway, but once you develop that sensitive feet sense (as described above), you can continue to navigate streams and rivers by the brail method. All the parts of the mirage drives are easily repaired and replaced and are not very expensive so expect to replace the fins and possibly the shafts once in a while if you fish shallows a lot. When we go camping I typically take along spare mirage drive parts like shafts and fins along with enough tools to make repairs as needed. In my opinion there is no need to baby your mirage drive in fear, just use the darn thing as needed, it is surprising how much abuse they can take, and how easy they are to repair.
Hope this helps
Bob

I fish shallow water shell rakes... Hauling butt one day, I literally tore a flipper almost off and bent the rod close 90 degrees.... kept pedaling but it felt real mushy, got back to the landing a few minutes later and thought "NO WONDER!".... tapped the rod straight and reseated the fin... little glue for black rubber and still kicking with same fin... they are very forgiving when you go rock (shell) climbing...

Have the dealer show you how to "flutter" the fins when in very shallow water. You shouldn't have a problem anywhere in the Banana or Indian Rivers, or Mosquito Lagoon. Snook and reds in the Satellite Beach Canal; flounder just east of the sub basin in Port Canaveral; trout darn near anywhere. A whole new world awaits you, friend!

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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Pro Angler-14 owner

Rocky, I know those areas well - just haven't had the convenience of pedal drive. Now I do...

Only fish I haven't caught is a snook. Don't really know why, but they elude me. Reds and Trout I've caught by the hundreds, but no snook.
Most flounder I've caught is down in Sebastian right inside the inlet. Just watch that current when it starts. Yowsa.

That's why I didn't mention Sebastion: it'd be damn near suicide.

So how's some geezer from Utah know about those spots? Well, I lived there for nine years. That was back a while; we left in 1985 when I left NASA to work for for Thiokol. I've been back and darn little is even recognizable.

Anyway, back on topic: Don't worry about the Mirage Drive. While it is true that they can be damaged (some people could wreck an anvil, after all...) they are remarkable durable. Just maintain them like you do any other metal object used in saltwater and you'll be fine. If "poop happens" parts are easy to come by and repairs are DIY, as the guys above have stated.

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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Pro Angler-14 owner

First time out in my 14' PA I made a direct hit on a boulder that was inches below the surface of a lake, it was a windy day so I could not see the boulder. Bent one mast and ripped one fin, I replaced the fin and mast and straightened the mast and kept them both for spares. This was in the summer of 09 and have not had any other problems.

I've hit a few logs I didn't know were there. Not enough to do damage. As mentioned above the drive is very durable and easy to repair. If you run it in saltwater, just be sure to rinse it thoroughly after each outing. I rinse mine after every outing regardless of which water I fished in. Always inspect it for any damage. The 2 small split rings on the side can get caught or fray by branches or underwater objects. Does not happen often, but a good visual check will ensure everything is good.

Not required after every outing, but a good lubricant/protectant goes a long way to keeping the drive like new. I use Break Free CLP. You can find it at Walmart in the gun cleaning section. I spray the drives every 3-4 outings. Keeps everything working like new and helps keep the drive very quiet.

Just my 2 cents...

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Steve Stubbs
USAF (retired)

SeaDek Fishing Team
Unfair Lures Pro Staff
Ziptailz Ambassador

2015 Pro Angler 14 - Papaya
2018 Compass - Sea Grass