Paddling a Hobie REVO??????

I am sort of new to the forums but been lurking for about 2 years since i bought my first hobie revo...also a member on Northwestkayakanglers.com and Texaskayakfisherman.com. Anyways here is my problem/question

Oh and hopefully this isn't a repost because the first time i posted it did not show...it shows that i posted in my user control panel but when you click on the post it says...this post does not exist ?????????


Hey guys,

I never much cared about actually paddling my kayak (hobie revolution) because I had the peddles. However now I am starting to get into it because I need to get back in shape. So my question is does anybody have a hobie revolution that actually paddles it much? the problem I am having is with tracking...The bay here is shallow so the last few days I have tried paddling without a rudder down or the drive in the hole...

Without the rudder down the boat just seems to veer in a random direction when I get to speed...never the same direction and when it starts u cannot stop it...u can dig the paddle on the opposite side but it is going to continue to try to turn the same direction....The guys at ACK said that my technique is probably poor...which I agree but they suggested not paddling past my waist...After watching and reading a little about paddling technique online I believe I have a descent understanding of the concept...I have been out several times since then trying to better my technique with virtually no results...

Is the hobie revolution a very difficult yak to paddle without the rudder or the mirage drive in? I understand that if it tracked to well it would be fighting the rudder all the time in turns but I wouldn't expect it to be this finicky

I know this can be avoided by extending the rudder but it is a pain to paddle with the rudder down because you constantly have to tweak it to keep going straight (I am gonna guess my rudder is not exactly rigged properly either because of this)....and when you want to turn you have to stop and turn the rudder then go again then stop again and straighten the rudder

anyways all the rest of the time i wouldn't trade my hobie mirage drive for anything

FYI... the delay in seeing your new post is due to admin moderation of all new users. We help to prevent spam and porn in our forums this way.

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

LoL - I just posted basically the same thing directly one post below - One of the Moderators might want to combine? Exactly the same thing.....

Okay nevermind I can do it myself. This will be better to have one thread for the same issue. Here's what my post said:

"So, I did some searching and didn't come up with much. I've noticed on several occasions that I can not get my revo to track in a straight line while paddling - with the fins flat (or removed) and the rudder up. A couple times I have spun all the way around while trying to paddle straight. I know my technique isn't great b/c I mainley fish off my boat and I use the mirage drive most of the time (and I love it) - but I am not a complete noob to paddling. I bought the Revo instead of the outback b/c I wanted to enjoy paddling it for exercise from time to time.

I had basically written the issue off to either me being crazy or wind/current issues. Until I saw this post:

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/foru ... 1&t=141621

Other folks reporting the EXACT same condition that I expierience. Pretty interesting. Does anyone know what might be causing this? Anyone noticed the same issues on their Revo? Mine is new btw - been in the water about 6 times. The next time I take it out I plan on leaving the Mirage drive at home to really do some more "testing" with this."

I have a hobie Revolution, and a traditional kayak (Delta Kayak). The Revolution doesn't track as well as my Delta Kayak, but it isn't nearly as bad as you describe with yours. Based on reading your post, I'm still guessing that the problem is your technique. As with any sport, it's unlikely that you can perfect your technique in a matter of a few days simply by watching some video's or by reading some books. Proper paddling technique on a kayak can take some time to learn.
You mention that you're paddling for fitness. That could be your problem right there. The best way to learn to paddle is to go slow, and easy. Once you can paddle slowly and efficiently in a straight line, you will be able to translate that much more easily into a faster, more workout pace.

You may want to look into the differences between "High angle" paddling and "low angle" paddling. Personally I'm a high angle paddler, and when I'm out with low angle paddlers and we begin to "race" or pick up the pace, the low angle paddlers seem to struggle more while keeping their boats straight.

The other problem which may or may not relate to you is that there is all kinds of information on the internet. Some of it is correct, much of it is wrong. When learning to paddle, perfect advice for one paddler, might be completely the wrong advice for another paddler.

But my advice, if you're having as much difficulty as it seems, is to slow things down, correct things while you're slow, and look to be efficient. As you figure that out, you can try adding a bit of speed and seeing if that turns you. If you're turning at speed, and not while you're slower, then you'll be able to identify what is going wrong.

I can tell you from experience, the Revolution will track relatively straight in most conditions without the mirage drive in place, or the rudder down. Just be patient, and it'll come to you.

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I appreciate you comment and I hope you are correct. However, I find it hard to beilve what I have exierienced is all technique related. When I can't make the boat correct itself at all, I fell that there is something wrong. For instance - I will be tracking along fine then without warning the boat will veer (usually to the right). I'll make a couple of correction strokes to try to straighten it out but it doesn't help. Before I know it, I'm digging hard only on one side trying to correct and the boat doesn't respond at all, ends up spinning all the way around - It is really hard to describe without seeing it happen - but it is definantley weird.

Like I said - I'm sure I need more practice as well - hopefully I'm just crazy.

Hi CrazyAl,

I noticed when I searched the forum that you mentioned this before and we talked about the rudder. One thing that isn't listed clearly in that thread is that when you pull the "DOWN" T-Handle rudder and lock it into place, don't just lock it at the T-handle, lock it with the Down rope all the way out.

If the problem is rudder related, then it's the same problem I had. We were only locking the rudder out where the rope meets the T handle, what we had to do was lock the rope at the furthest out that we could pull it. Then check the rudder. The rudder should not be able to come up at all.

If the boat is only turning in one direction, then I'm guessing that's it. As far as the first poster on this topic, if he's paddling in shallow water, it's hard to do proper high angle paddle strokes, and the high angle strokes can help to keep things straight.

The boat design isn't perfect for tracking straight, but if it's not defective in any way, then it should paddle relatively straight, or at least have equal difficulty in both directions.

If you can't correct the boat at all, it's gotta be something other then technique, I agree.

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Thanks - I do have the rudder issue figured out. Pull the cord out as far as you can and lock it down - it seems to work great. This paddling issue is occuring wiht the rudder completely out of the water - I belive the OP is the same - rudder all the way up with fins out or flat. I'm not going to complain much more until I have some more paddling time on some water that is not hellaciously rough with 30ph wind howling in my face. At least one of the incidences of my paddling trouble occured in awful weather conditions. Just wanted to post up my expireinces with it since it appears at least a few other folks have had similar paddling woes.

First off I have not paddled a Revo but I do a lot of paddling with a traditional sea kayak (and I am a Hobie 18 sailor).

I have seen what you are describing with short whitewater kayaks. Basically the boat has what is called rocker where if you set it flat on the ground the bow and stern will be off the ground (banana shape). When you paddle a kayak (especially when it is paddled fast) it will create a bow and stern wave with a trough in the middle of the boat. That is why you will reach a point and it just won't go any faster because you would have to push the bow up and over the bow wave (paddling uphill) to go faster and then you would be on a plane (like a power boat). With a shorter kayak with some rocker paddling fast you will push up on the bow wave and if it starts to go to one side it will sort of spin out on the bow wave, turning to one side. The length of the kayak, the rocker, the width ratio and speed are all factors. With a very short whitewater kayak you will get it up to speed and it will just spin out and you can not stop it. With a long thin sea kayak it will not do this. That is also why the rudders on a paddling kayak are foot controlled so you can make adjustments while paddling.

On a regulare sea kayak without a rudder you can also turn the kayak by leaning to the outside of the direction you want to turn. This works better the faster you are moving and it works by changing the shape of the boat that is in the water. This is more difficult with a sit on top kayak because you can't lock your knees in. Try leaning the kayak to the outside of the direction you want to turn the next time it tries to turn on you.

This is probably not an issue at a slow cruising speed but if you are paddling for fitness, you are probably giving it a lot of energy and going relatively fast for this kayak under paddle mode. I think the rudder is the solution.

I have also read on this forum about people racing the mirage drive kayaks by peddaling and paddling at the same time. This would be an even better exercise.

Sorry for ramblings, I am an engineer and get into the technical stuff a little too much sometimes. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

I don't have Revo experience, but I understand what you are describing. This is common behavior with a lot of kayaks I've rented in the past while on vacation, etc. It is extremely frustrating, and turned me off of renting anything without a foot-controlled rudder.

It's as if the kayak becomes inherently unstable at speed. If you are very careful, you can maintain your track while paddling, but the moment you pause for a break, the kayak will "spin out" to the right or left and completely waste all that speed you built up.

I have a Revo (recently), and 2-3 trad sit-in-kayaks (long time).

I haven't paddled the Revo much, but no real issues as I recall, but to be honest I'm going to have to try it lots more with/without the rudder to give you more feedback.

In fact just this past Saturday I was fishing, decided ..hey lets try paddling instead to the other bank 200 yards away.. after 50 yards I said heck with this and peddled!

Good on you for the exercise theme!

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2010 Hobie Revolution 13 *sold
2010 Hobie Outback *sold
2015 Hobie Revolution 13 FOR SALE**********
One Ocean Storm cedar stripbuilt
2009 Native Ultimate 12

Interesting info - thank you. I will give the lean a try next time it happens. Issue with using the rudder is that it's hand controlled. You would basically have to stop paddling to make a rudder adjustment. I wonder if just leaving the rudder locked down in the straight direction would help. I can't wait to go do some paddling now! All these new ideas.

It can't hurt to try what Chet3 is describing, I'm just wondering if the science is correct.

The Revolution doesn't actually have much, if any, rocker. It's a very flat bottomed boat. Leaning would work on a boat with rocker, but I'm not sure how effective it would be on the Revolution because the science behind turning the kayak by leaning involves changing the waterline relative to the boat. Most recreational kayaks are similar in design to a Hobie kayak and can't turn very well simply by leaning. Usually only the true sea kayaks have the ability to be turned by leaning.

If you've ever seen a true sea kayaker hold his boat at an angle other then 90 degrees to the horizon, you've witnessed that boats "secondary stability" which is a fancy way of saying that the boat can be held stable at an angle. "Primary stability" is the ability for the boat to be held stable 90 degrees to the horizon. The Revolution (like most Recreational kayaks) is only designed with primary stability in mind, which means that it won't be able to be leaned like a traditional sea kayak, and therefore will not likely be able to turn by leaning.

Once again, it's worth a try, but the Hobie's are designed to be stable, and by doing that, there can be hydrodynamic problems when you gather speed and want to keep straight. It's the big challenge of kayak builders everywhere. Build a boat that has high initial (or primary) stability, but also one that tracks straight and turns well. Hobie solves the problem of stability by creating a boat that has tremendous primary stability but in doing so, they trade some efficiency at higher speeds. They solve the problem of tracking straight by using the mirage drive in combination with the rudder. As a pure paddling boat, it's not the most efficient design, so there can be some trade offs in speed, and the ability to paddle in a perfectly straight line.

I guess when all is said and done, we can still agree that it's the best foot powered kayak around!

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Keeping the rudder down, as CrazyAl suggests, might help with tracking. Once again... it's worth a try. I'm going to have to get out and paddle the Revolution again soon to see if I can replicate any of the problems. Maybe I don't remember it being too bad because I never expect it to be as good as my sea kayak.

I'll give it a go soon. Let me know if you guys figure anything out!

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Thanks guys for the replies...good info here...

I am with CrazyAL on the fact that when it starts to turn you can do nothing to stop it...digging in on the opposite side of the turn slows the turn down but it still goes....

At first I thought maybe I was leaning to one side or the other when I was paddling and tried leaning several different ways to see if the result changed. I never saw a consistent result from this or anything else I tried...

I agree that paddling is like any other sport and you can't just watch or read about it and get it right quickly...but the boat seems to have such a mind of its own without a rudder I just couldn't believe the problem was all my technique...it may be most of it though

I am gonna try and do some more paddling this weekend and see how it reacts...

Unfortunately as I said before the rudder down works pretty good but you can't change direction or make much correction with the paddle alone so you have to stop paddling to correct the rudder with your hand

This can't be a problem with all sit on tops because I have seen way too many people jump on a ocean kayak for the first time and not have much tracking problems while paddling....

As you said, and I agree, the boat was not designed to be primarily paddled it was designed to be primarily peddled...which I love

I think the kayak does what it was designed to do very well...I was just hoping for a duel purpose

It would be interesting to find a really experienced paddler to jump on my yak and see if they have any problems

anyways as I get more experience I will provide more feedback