New Revo

Hi all, after a hiatus, I am back. I had to sell the PA due to a torn rotator cuff that wouldn't allow me to load on my Subaru. The PA was an awesome boat, just didn't suit my fishing style right now.
So after my pleasure with the PA and my original Outback, I've purchased a moss green Revolution. 2 trips out and I really like the boat, not nearly as stable or roomy as the OB or PA but definitely easier to get on/off my rooftop and into my favorite fishing holes. Looking forward to some mods.
Will post some pictures later.
Shawn

Congrats on the new Revo. I'm a new owner also. After a few outings the stability will not matter. The Yak is rock solid. Just add an anchor trolley and one forward rod holder and you'll be fishing. The other stuff should wait until you fish it a while. I know I've changed my mind about a lot of the mods after fishing it for a while. After the third time I don't take my takle box any more. I just load the included hatch tray with hooks, jigs, lures and Gulp and take a small mesh ditty bag to hold pliers, extractor and a few rolls of leader.
Keep it simple and you'll use it more.

Have fun,
Johnny

Agree totally, too much gear is asking for problems. I fly fish and use worms / hard/soft baits so I already carry too much at times! LOL
One rodholder forward, fish finder, gps mount, and anchor trolly = ready to go. I fish fresh flat water mostly. I do miss my OB except when it's time to paddle

Glad you posted this since you have experience with all the yaks I've been looking at....so just a quick question. If you had to choose between any of them, and you were in good physical condition (no torn RC ) Which one would you pick? I know you sacrifice something with every boat, but what do you think you like best? I have yet to purchase my first one, so that's why I ask

Also, please don't say, go test them, because I can't

I'm at a loss as why you could not test all of the models. Even if you have to drive for many hours or even a whole day to find a dealer you're only going to have to do it once. I can't imagine making such a purchase based on forum advise ?

Johnny

It's easy to say when a deal is only like 2 hours, or whevever it is; but in my case, it would be the latter of your comment of a full day's drive, one way....

CurtnAz,
Let's see..... to answer your question. Truthfully, all three are awesome yaks, each individually different.
My first was the Outback.
Pros: It was incredibly stable and roomy (I am 5' 10" 220lbs). I fish mostly flat water i.e. Small Nova Scotian Lakes and not much deep sea. Feature laden and customizable.
Cons: Wasn't the easiest to paddle due to it's width, hard to find saddles ror roof rack that will fit as the OB is a deep and strange shaped hull.
Second was the Pro Angler, Replacing my OB after the mover company wrecked it.
Pros: Super fishing design with tons of room, incredible fishing options/features and upradability. Super stable, could stand up in it for fly fishing. Very dry cockpit. The cadilac of the Hobies.
Cons: It is more a boat than kayak, quite slow in comp to OB or Revo, forget paddling, weight (The seat weighed almost as much as my Revo ), price and also next to impossible to fit on racks of vehicles smallerthan a mid size SUV.
Most recently, the Revo. Purchased after selling PA due to torn rotator cuff(not from the Yak) and selling my toys to try to purchase waterfront land. I got the Revo over a new OB only because there were Revos in stock and I didn't want a lengthy wait for an OB.
Pros:fast, easy to paddle, fairly stable, lighter, easy to load, easy to find roof saddles...if you even want them.
Cons:Smallish cockpit, tippiest of all three, not as many cool fetures as the PA or OB.

At the end of the day if I had to choose one for the type of fishing I do, I would get another Outback with Turbo fins and larger rudder. If I had waterfront land that I could just walk across the lawn and drop the yak in the water or always launched from a boat launch/beach I'd probably go with the PA. The PA was just to much of a beast to haul thru the rocks and stumps to my favourite fishing spots.
Hope this helps, just my honest opinion. If there is anything else you would like to know, just ask.
If at all possible, I'd try all 3 for yourself, considering not just the fishing but also the movement/transport and storage of them. Even if you have to set up a date with a couple of the guys on here in your area to do it.
Hopefully no one takes offense to my comments, I did love each one and I'm sure my opinion would change if my circumstances/fishing style changed.
Shawn

A small correction of my previous post, which will probably be posted before this one. It is not a day trip to see a kayak, I just found a HUGE shop which deals in kayak equipment. It's 4 hours away, but doable....so, needless to say; I see a road trip coming up soon I am sooooo stoked, and I don't even know when I'm going

Troutbum, thanks for the response.

Wow, posting a lot of replies before they're approved

Anyway,

TROUTBUM, Just wanted to say thanks. The first thanks was before I even read your reply as I noticed the reply when I was typing another one. Does that make sense?

Anyway, that was a great reply. Hopefully the store I go to will have all to look at, but I have also been shying away from the PA due to it's perceived weight, and I would be hauling it on top of a Jeep Cherokee. Second, if I fish the small Utah lakes (which I will be), some of them are only accessible by ATV and a small hike So, that leaves the PA completely out.

Then, the price of the PA....I can buy a lot of crap for the additional amount I'll save with purchase of a Revo or OB. More than likely, I think I'll lean towards the OB. I would like to troll, and heard the REVO is better for that as it is longer, but trolling isn't a must all the time. Plus, I'm a big guy also....6' & 265.....

Thanks again.

CurtnAz,
IMHO the OB sounds like a better fit for you. As far as the trolling goes, speed isn't an issue so the only other factor to consider is tracking. With the larger rudder the OB tracks tack sharp. Even with standard fin it's not bad, just turns a bit slower than Revo.
It sounds like you fish locations like me....I'd forgo the Hobie wheels and spend the $$ on a custom cart with tall wheels and wide stance.
Shawn

Thanks Shawn. Sounds like the OB is the fit for me also. Never know until I see them and check to see if my wide load will fit in it. I'm a big guy, but most of my weight is in my legs, so a wide seat is a must; and I've heard the OBs are wider than the Revo, so we'll see As for a cart, good idea....but I actually have an idea planned out....a cart, which will double up as an ATV trailer so that I can tow it to the small lakes, disconnect the trailer arm, and still have the wheels under it to pull it in. Should be a stout piece of equipment but the way I am thinking, it'll work GREAT.

Thanks again for your responses.