Mirage Drive Torque issues

HELP!! I NEED IT!!

Ok so I just got my outback and I have major lower back issues well I noticed that the torque that the drive puts on my lower back is a lot I don't wanna sell my baby but I need yalls help. How can I losen up the drive so that im not using up so much force to move her through the water? Does anybody else have any ideas or suggestions? I have the turbo fins installed and yes I have tried going to smaller fins the torque is still there.

Loosen the brass nut all the way out to relieve resistance. According to many... it is also faster. roadrunner even ads an extra fitting at the clew to get it looser still.

Next, you could try the "Comfort fins" these are the original and offer very little resistance.

Other than that... the drive itself should have very little resistance. Be sure the drive is properly installed in the well. The forward and aft ends of the spine should be hanging on the fore and aft ledges.

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

Matt u are awesome!! I was debating on selling my HOBIE because of this but I get on here post it and BAM a solution I'm glad im part of the Hobie ARMY LOL or family thank u so much. LONG LIVE HOBIE

Matt any way u can point out which ones in a photo? I have the 2015 drive and I don't see anything in a brass color nut.

I also have back problems, I find that having the fins a little floppy (with the brass screws turned out) makes for less resistance. We tend to not try and be speed racers with the drives, we pedal at a nice steady cadence, once you get up to 2-3 mph just a steady cadence is all that is required to maintain that speed, we can maintain that pace for hours (similar effort to walking). We tend to prefer tandem kayaks, with tandems we take turns pedaling giving each other a break once in a while. Pretty much everyone new that goes out with us tends to try to pedal too hard and are pretty spent for the day after a mile or so, seems to be a natural tendency. That's the one feature I like the most about the Tandem Island in kayak mode, It glides thru the water very effortlessly with just one person pedaling. We also usually bring along a kayak sail strapped to the side of the boat, if we get any favorable wind we throw the sail up and give our legs a break. I try to sit as upright as possible, I found pedaling reclined kills my back.
Hope this helps
Bob

Back the nut out to extend the stainless eye as far out as possible. The threads of the stainless screw to are pinged flat at the end to keep the nut from going too far, but you can possibly get past that point, so just loosen until the nut has a little resistance.

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

Again you guys are awesome i made the adjustments and noticed a huge difference!!! Love being a Hobie owner i cant thank y'all enough. But if i may, i have one more question have yall ever seen some retro fit the H-Rail onto an outback? I love the versatility of the rails and the look but i am hard pressed to find someone who has taken on this task. Just a thought. Again thanks so much guys TIGHT LINES and GOOD TIMES.

Coming this summer or at latest in the fall. We have a few kits designed and ordered.

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