Help with my purchase decision - PA14 vs 17T

I was originally planning on purchasing a PA14 when the 17T was announced I started to reconsider my position. I am now leaning towards the 17T but I’m worried about the size and weight of the kayak. So, I wanted to share a little about my planned use and ask some questions of the experienced PA users here.

I currently plan to use the kayak in my local lake and I was hoping that I would be able to use a Hobie plug-in cart to transport the kayak to the launch. I am relatively close to this spot but it is about a 300 yard walk slightly downhill to the launch. Do you think I’d be able to pull/walk the 17T this distance?

I was hoping to avoid buying a trailer for such a short distance. Does Hobie plan to make the plug-in carts for the 17T or will the existing units work? I might be able to use the Hobie cart and attached the front to my golf cart making the travel even easier but I’d have to figure out how to make a solid connection.

My use of the kayak will be 95% as a solo angler. I wanted to have the extra space for the few times I take someone with me. While on the water, will peddling and managing the 17T as a solo angler be unwieldy? The lake is small (330 acres / 3 miles long) and my fishing trips usually last 2-3 hours.

Anything else I should consider before deciding on a PA14 vs 17T? I know the color is limited to dune on the 17T which is a bummer but I can deal with that aspect.

Thanks!

If you are not a guide and fish 95% solo as you have stated, go with the PA14! why would you want to handle the extra weight? My PA14 has plenty of room. The only drawback to any PA is the weight but you make it back in comfort and size

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badbill
2014 Hobie Pro Angler 14

Thanks! Nope, I am not a guide.

Sorry, I should have been more descriptive with my post. I normally fish alone but I will take time to kayak (without fishing) with my wife or one of my three kids.

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Great points here already. I'll throw my 2 cents in. I would go with a PA14 and another Hobie as a second Kayak. For the price of the PA17T, you can get a PA14 and one of the other Mirage drive kayaks (or a conventional paddle Hobie) for about the same amount of money as the PA17T.

That would give you more flexibility and options. You could take one of the kids on the PA14 with you or have them (or the wife) in the second Hobie by themselves. Of course having more than one Hobie usually means a trailer is the logical transport option. But the trailer seems to be the PA17T option as well. Then you still have the PA14 for those solo fishing outings.

The PA17T is a great looking ride. it all boils down to your unique situation.

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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

In your situation I would be buying a jet ski trailer and having it converted to hold a Hobie. That way you can back the trailer down into the water and float the boat off and do the same on the return.

I would consider the much greater weight of the 17 (92 lbs. heavier than the PA14) that is designed for 2 people to be pedaling, not one. Definitely don't go with the 17 without doing a demo or trying one out in the water and do so with the PA14 as well. There is no other way to assess the difference in effort involved.

I have fished from fishing boats, large and small, and the smaller the boat the less gear I would take. Now with the Hobie boat I take the bare minimum and target 1-2 species and take only two rods and reels and a limited amount of tackle. It is restrictive but hardly a hardship and it does not affect my ability to catch fish in the least.

The PA14 to me is a huge boat in itself and more boat than I would want to launch or take through the surf or push against a headwind or tidal flow going against me. It may help to load up your car with everything you might want to take out for a day of fishing and take it all to the nearest Hobie shop with the PA14. Then see where you would put everything and whether or not there will actually be a problem for you with your gear. You will then be in a good position to decide if the PA14 is large enough for you.


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I recently struggled with the same decision. The PA17 T looks awesome and I have wanted a PA 14 for a little over a year and much prefer to fish with someone else rather than alone.

A trip to a Florida along with a PA 14 demo helped me decide to purchase the 14. While fishing with a friend in a small aluminum boat I realized that sharing a PA 17T would always involve a compromise in regards to fishing locations and casting opportunities; often the angler in the back of the boat loses some flexibility. Certainly there is also the added risk of getting accidentally hooked by a co-angler. These were new discoveries for me as I had little experience trying to structure fish along banks or lay downs from a boat with two anglers.

The end result for me was to buy a PA 14 with the goal of purchasing a second one to allow my wife, dad or a friend to go along. While this is certainly a more expensive option, it certainly gives more flexibility in all of the areas the PA 17T had weaknesses mentioned above.

Granted, hauling two PA's requires a trailer but I had already decided one was required so that wasn't a deal breaker.

I won't completely eliminate the option of a PA 17T; when I have grandkids to take fishing I think it to be almost perfect as I could assist and guide. I probably would choose to go along without fishing myself to allow me concentrate on them which should reduce the accidental hooking concerns.

Good luck. Enjoy the decision-making process, either way you go you will end up with a wonderful platform to fish from.

Gladdly

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm really starting to re-think going with a PA14. Let's say I decided to trailer either kayak to take that piece out of the equation. Do you think peddling the 17 vs. the 14 would be much harder as a solo angler? I know this is a difficult question to answer as not many have actually been in a 17T but maybe if you have been in a 12 vs a 14 that experience might help.

I doubt I'll be able to demo so I'm very thankful to be getting so many replies here.

Most likely you would not have much of a difference between the 12 or 14 or 17 with one person. the T17 is built with three places to set the mirage drive. The one in the middle is for solo yaking. With the lake you described I would go with the PA 12. It will do every thing you want it to do. Then buy a very cheap 300 dollar yak for the others who want to go with you. Just my two cents worth.

I agree.

I have 2 PA12's, an 11' Revo and an Outback. Depending on size of others who would be kayaking - larger, get an Outback as a 2nd ride, smaller, a Revo (or even Sport).

Not sure whether you will haul these to other places, and a lot on the forums (especially Hobie folks) will say NOOOOOO!, but I have stacked the two PA 12's and Revo in my Ford F150 Supercrew and hauled 300 miles down the interstate. Took everything out of them and strapped down well. I couldn't carry one PA14 or 17 this way.

Friends and family love to come use the kayaks on the river and fish with me. I know we'd not have nearly the fun with 2 of us stacked into 1 yak.

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Mark
Magnolia Springs, AL
2014 Hobie PA12, 2015 Hobie PA 12, 2013 Outback and 2012 Revo11