Hobie Seat or not to Hobie Seat

Hey fellow Hobie yakkers,

I wanted to say something about the Hobie Mirage Seat. I saw posts long ago about people complaining about sore backs after using the Hobie Seat even with the lumbar pad. I sadly have experienced the same thing regardless of the position more upright or more laid back. A looong day of paddling oops I meant pedaling and sure enough the next day the lumbar area is sore. This has happened several times now and I just blamed it on the day of activity until I tried the Skwoosh seat that I had left over from my Malibu Kayak. I sold the Mailbu to get a second Revolution (as you can see a pure Hobie Fan). I went 8 miles on a local lake and even busted hump pedaling and paddling simutaneously to go 3/4 of a mile against an outgoing tide and 20 MPH wind in the Intracoastal Waterway. I was surprised the next day not to have lower back discomfort at all. I have previously had back discomfort just going a mile around my backyard lake. Did the seat make that big a difference?? I even have the inflatable cushion on my hobie seat. I do NOT have back problems but I am very tall with a long torso.

The Skwoosh Voyager seat has a very high back and with a high back PFD even the extra high backrest was not an issue. I found the comfort and support exceptional in my revolution. I hooked the rear straps onto themselves around my Sidekick Amas bar for the trial but now will install rear padeyes just for that seat.

Anyone who needs better back support I recommend this seat by Skwoosh.
http://skwoosh.com/product/water-sports/VSBS1204.html

Matt does Hobie have or plan to offer a taller seat back for us tall guys?

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

2010 seats are taller and stiffer.

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

IMO, the best seats are the 06 model Hobie seats. They have the highest and widest back supports, but no lumbar support. I use them exclusively (along with surgically implanted i-comfort seat pads). Hobie discovered a batch of them and to the best of my knowledge will make them available upon request.

I don't know how this compares with the Skwoosh seat, but I get excellent back support with it. The '10 seat definitely gives better support than the '07 to '09 seat (and also has a deflatable lumbar support), but the pre-'07 is still my favorite.

of course my revolutions are '07 and '08 that figures. I will look into the '10 seat for wife's revo.

Thank for the info

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

We have the older seat listed as: 81264 XXBACKREST MIRAGE W/PACK BLKXX we still have a bunch.

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

Matt,

What is the price on the older seats?

REvo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

We show a suggested list price ($75.00) still, but these are at a discount to dealers, so they set their own price.

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

Do the 2010 seats have a part number in the parts booklet
or .PDF yet? What is the price of the 2010 seat.
Thanks

_________________
2010 Hibiscus Adventure Island

The hobie seat that came with my revo (08) is ok. The surf to summit elite is much more comfortable though. Only complaint is that the holes for the hobie seat take on water for a wet butt when using the Surf to summit seat. Isn't too bad this time of year. But come this fall I'll have to put some plugs in there.

Dear all,

I followed with interest this topic about the Skwoosh Voyager seat -I am a tall guy (almost two metres high) and invariably have a sore back and butt after a long day on the water pedalling and fishing in my Hobie Mirage Outback. A little question about the Skwoosh Voyager seat -does this fit into the two small holes in which one plugs the standard Hobie seat? (I have a Hobie Outback model 2008).

Looking forward to any replies,

Greetings from Groningen, The Netherlands, Theo Boiten

I've only ever sat in two Hobie seats, one from a 2009 Kona and a 2010 Oasis. I have to say that the 2010 Oasis seat is less comfortable. I certainly "notice" it and fiddle with it much more than I ever did in the Kona. Maybe I just haven't dialed it in to the correct adjustments yet, but there's really not much to adjust.

The only problem I have with purchasing a 3rd party seat is the fact that I have no idea if it's going to work for me until after I've paid for it. What if it's worse?

Hobievisser,

The Skwoosh seat does not plug into the peg holes of the mirage kayaks (not to say that they may be able to be adapted since the pegs are only a post and a screw through the seat fold) but they are not needed. The Skwoosh seat has (4) four connectors and what you will need is to install (2) more padeyes behind the seat one on each side of the well to clip them to. The two rear clips hold the seat back and seat pad in place. The bottom pad does not slide forward or back once the two clips are attached and all straps are adjustable for the perfect fit. I am enjoying it more and more each time I use it.

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

Dear Revo,

Cheers & thanks for your elaborate comments, I'll purchase the Skwoosh Voyager seat shortly!

Greetings from The Netherlands, Theo

Hello Revo,

A couple of days ago I received the Skwoosh voyager seat and today experimented with fitting it to my Hobie Outback. Although it's a comfortable seat, giving good back support, I find that the backrest (which is longer than the original Hobie seat) tends to sink down somewhat when I sink my full body weight against the backrest. Perhaps this can be adjusted by the back straps, but would you be so kind as to post a couple of photos of how you've fitted the voyager seat to your Hobie, including a detail shot of the two padeyes behind the seat one on each side of the well in which you've clipped the back straps?

Thanks a lot in advance,

Greetings from The Netherlands, Theo

Hi Theo,

My rear straps are wrapped around my sidekick bar as mentioned in my previous post and I have not got around to installing padeyes on my revo or my wifes revo.

I hope you have found that perfect adjustment. the rear strap has to be short enough on the bottom section to just reach your connection padeye. Also make sure your front strap is tight enough since primary back support is by the front straps. The rear strap only keeps the seat stationary and from sliding forward. Adjust the bottom rear strap first to keep seat in place where you want it then snug up the upper portion. The bottom strap section only needs to be long enough to go up and over the back of the seat well yet tight enough to keep seat in place. The front strap should then be adjusted for proper back support.
I have found any seat Hobie, Skwoosh and others still have a little give when you fully lay back into them and I just then tension up the front straps more to compensate.
I have used the factory installed well bungee padeyes behind the seat to hook the rear straps. Cannot hook both bungee and seat so still need to install another set of padeyes.

You can also add the posts from your Hobie seat to the Skwoosh since they are simply a screw/washer and plastic post. If you do not want to take them from your hobie seat you can get a set from your local Hobie supplier and install them. Just put screws through the webbed strap section between seat pad and backrest. Use the Hobie seat as a guide for spotting the locations. I also plan to do this. I will post photos.

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.