Why Does Hobie Classify the PA as a boat instead of a Kayak

This sometimes causes problems with classifications with usage in some areas and could be in tournaments etc?

It looks like a duck and quacks like a duck but Hobie says it ain's a Duck ....... Why?

The PA does not paddle like a Kayak, but the "Boat" designation is more about marketing to a different set of people.

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

Maybe Hobie should rethink that marketing .........

It's the fishing Yakers that buy them, not the boaters. I have several boats and a PA is not a boat. Besides, It's listed in your Kayak section, it's talked about on the different Kayak boards as a Yak and it comes with a Kayak paddle and not oars ........ can you name another boat that comes with a 2 bladed kayak paddle ...... I can't

I don't understand about the paddling .................. didn't see a whole lot of difference paddling the Wilderness Ride or the Outback over the PA

I think it's causing some confusion and I've had more than 1 discussion about this. It could bar PA owners from Yak Fishing Tournments and areas that allow yaks but not boats and could cause licensing or permit concerns ..........

I bought what I considered to be the best Fishing Yak for me ......... not a boat .....

That certainly does make some sense. I know it's more about selling to the John boat crowd. Kayakers know what it is. I'll pass along that point though.

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

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayak

So a kayak is a boat, but not all boats are kayaks. If you go kayaking/boating where boats are not allowed, I doubt anybody enforcing this law/rule will look at the Hobie marketing literature to see what it's called. They will just use their own judgement (or lack thereof) to determine if they allow it or not.

_________________
Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

........ and what about Kayak fishing tournaments .........

Most rules state that you must fish from a Kayak. I've had discussions with some that say it must be classified as a Kayak or they would have to allow all other boats ......... fortunately haven't been turned down because one could argue the paddle determination ......... but it could be a reason for a disqualification if someone got picky ........

THis would be a VERY big deterent to the jon boat crowd ......... can't fish in a regular tournament because of the distance limitations and not allowed in the Kayak tournaments because of Hobie's marketing .............

Hmmm ......... guess All Hobie's aren't Kayaks since they don't have a cockpit .........

They would look at every and anything if there was money involved in a Tournament ......... also Reservoir Police in some areas just LOVE technicalities like this ........ yeah ... they would look especially if someone told them about it ........ happens all the time.

How would you fight the ticket in court ? ........ you can't ...... because of the Marketing .......

Does it REALLY matter that much. If you don't like the classification, buy a Revo, or an Outback Those are Kayaks....

Most tournaments I have ever fished said that the vessal had to be
human powered. Never heard anything else. You don't have anything better
to do than worry about something this stupid.

Tournament directors should define beforehand what they mean when they say "kayak." There are already several personal fishing craft in use today that defy the traditional definition of "kayak."

There is going to be an ongoing problem associated with a whole new class of "personal fishing vessels." Make no mistake, the single person fishing craft market is moving away from traditional kayak type craft and more towards vessels such as the Pro Angler or Mariner, not to mention towards non-human power. The problem of whether to allow electric motors is already front and center.

It's funny, because I sort of see things coming full circle. The "kayaks" are getting larger and more "boat-like" and electric motors are hanging off more and more of them every day. How long before the boats get even larger and outboards become the norm? At what point are guys back in their bass boats with 250HP outboards?

....... sooo ....... you can enter a 14 ft Aluminium v bottom row boat in your Kayak tournaments ......... oh and I guess you have nothing better to do than answer something this stupid ......... huh...

the day a bass boat and 250 hp outboard motor cost the same as a pro angler with a evolve

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaks/mirage/pro-angler/
Looks like a Kayak from the URL.

It's also in the Kayaking section of the website.

_________________
Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

The last competitive angling event I was involved in (21AUG11) rules said that the watercraft "must be designed primarily to be pedalled, paddled, or rowed. Any watercraft powered/assisted by any motor/engine exceeding 2.5 Hp would be disqualified" Thus all small watercraft were included, eletism was excluded, no one complained,(even though complaints were solicited by the organizers) and everyone had a good time. Which was, I believe, the intent in the first place. One flat sterned canoe powered by a 2.5hp Honda and occupied by 2 contestants/correspondents from WFN showed up, along with one inflatable. Did I say everyone had a good time?? Regards....

"must be designed primarily to be pedalled, paddled, or rowed. Any watercraft powered/assisted by any motor/engine exceeding 2.5 Hp would be disqualified"

So, they allow motors, as long as the craft was originally designed to be human powered?

Tournament directors have to be careful with such wording. Most Jon boats have fittings for oarlocks, so you can make a pretty strong argument that they were intended to be human powered. Slap a 2.5 HP motor on one and you qualify for admission, I'd think.

I know we're getting a little off-topic, but I suspect the next big decision that will have to be made in kayak fishing tournaments will be regarding the issue of motors - to allow them or not, period. A nearby kayak fishing association tournament director had discussed this with me last month. He's aware of the tremendous advantage a motorized craft can have over a non-motorized one and would prefer to not have motorized craft of any sort. I suggested he craft a rule stating that the craft must be human powered. If it is not being paddled, rowed, pedaled or sailed, it does not qualify.

Of course, this opens the door for a guy in a non-motorized Jon boat or even a larger bass boat, to show up with no motor and just a paddle, but such a craft motivated by a paddle isn't going to be much fun. It's doubtful that anyone would bother.

This seemed easier than trying to define what a kayak is, or isn't - few people are going to bother powering anything other than a kayak or small, personal craft with human power alone.

It's when you start allowing motors that the difficulty really sets in.