What are peoples thoughts on the vantage seat?

Anyone having issues with the side straps/back straps on the Vantage seat rubbing their thighs when pedaling the Mirage drive. I'm not that big, at 6'2" 230lbs, and I notice on my new Oasis that it's rubbing the side of my legs/thighs when pedaling. Is there anyway to adjust this? Thanks!

I'm plenty big, and the side straps do cut into my sides, but they don't really bother me a whole lot.

What irritates me while pedaling are the two rubber tabs at the forward edge of the seat bottom. I don't know what they're *supposed* to do, but mine invariably wind up on the inside of the straps which causes them to angle inward and dig into my legs.

I used to think that happened just when I was setting up the seat, but the past two days on extended pedaling runs where I didn't get out of the seat let alone fold down the back I kept finding one or the other tab back on the inside of the strap and digging into my leg.

I was thinking this morning "I'm going to ask what these stupid things are for, then cut 'em off if there isn't a good reason for them!"

The seat itself is awesome, very comfortable, and I love that it can be taken out and used as a stand alone chair (like to have lunch sitting on the shore.) My only complaint is the mesh around the front edge of the seat pricks my legs as I paddle. Feels like a bunch of needles pricking. It's not painful until you've been going for a couple hours. It definitely takes away from the comfort level. If they found a way to fix that, it would be perfect.


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They keep fingers, skin, clothes out of the gear boxes. You don't want to adjust the seat up and get pinched.

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

I like the seat ,I bought the boat because of the seat, I need good back support. My butt gets uncomfortable after a hour or two so I bought a pad that works good. It is a Thermarest trail seat, it fits the seat perfect like it was made for it. It also will slide between the seat and the boat when not needed. I also had trouble putting the seat in the boat. Now I have found if I set the seat on the cross bar then grab the seat front so my thumb is over the seat part and my fingers are squeezing up on the bar then raise the back up in till it snaps in at about 30 deg. This way I can feel seat go on to the cross bar. I have had some problems with the seat making noise as I pedal it first started after the boat had maybe about a 50 miles on it. The first time it was really making me crazy I took the seat out and dunk it in the water and the creaking noise went away. So the next week I lubed all the joints and where it contacts the boat. That work for about 10 miles then it started again. I put about another 100 miles on it now some times it creaks some times it does not it has to do with how I am pedaling it I guess. Now I think the noise is coming from where the cross bar mounts to the boat. First I tried spray lube in there, that did not work so now I have tightened the mounting bolts. This has helped a lot but it still makes noise sometimes. I have to change my pedaling stroke a little to make it go a away. I have over 200 miles on it now, It is my weekly exercise, I use to ride my bike but this is much more fun and I do not have to be worried about being run over. I like my Hobie because when it is quiet I can go through huge schools of bait fish and look down at them. I can see why the fishermen like them.

Yes. I just got back from a trip to Florida Everglades. 8-10 hours a day in a rented 2015 Hobie Outback with Vantage seat. First time in a hobie kayak with vantage seat. I am 5'9" 235. During day two of the trip, I had noticed a sore developing on the left side of my thigh while taking a shower. I figured it out that it was from the rub of the vantage seat straps pinned against the side of the thighs. It was impossible to use the Outback and continue fishing for the rest of the trip. I ended up driving all the way back to the dealer in Naples for a pro angler rental that gave me way more room and finished the trip without rubbing my leg. The sore is just healing now and scabbed over. If anyone has done the everglades back country there is limited areas where you can get off for a rest. You're pretty much in a mangrove maze the entire time with maybe an exposed oyster bar or designated chickee or ground camping spot. Even fishing back home, I could easily be on my hobie revo for 8-10 hours straight chasing fish.

I've been a hobie user since 2010 season. Dealt with two cracked hulls in the Hobie Revolution. Hobie backed up and I got my new hulls. I had no problems with the old seat. Just sold my 2014 Hobie Revo and planned on buying the 2016 Revo. After that trip last week there is no way I will be able to fit my body into this new vantage seat and sure don't want to get a rub like that again. I could obviously try losing weight but I have those big hockey legs and hip that will always rub. With the seat at the higher position on the Outback the straps came in tighter and the rub was worse. Fishing out of the big wide, heavy pro angler in my home waters is not an option. I have to modify the Hobie Revo seat or take it out entirely. I spent time at the Florida dealer and it doesn't look like that big a of a deal to angle out the straps to the side if I had too. The best way to do this is to just take the whole seat out and put back in a standard kayak seat. I'd rather not be an inch higher anyways and lose that great initial stability the Hobie Revo has.

Picture below of the wound. It ended up rubbing a hole in my brand new Mysterioso pants. What is Hobies position on this? How about a whole or partial credit for buyers who do not fit into this seat?

Picture below shows the rub point.

the riddler,
There is no option to put the old seat into a new boat - the seat area has been reshaped int he mold to work with the Vantage chair - you wouldn't be comfy. Perhaps you could modify the Vantage to have the straps attach to the hull further outboard - the reason the side straps are attached to the seat bottom is for the function of the adjustment to work - it is easier to lift the bottom up with your weight - the side straps work in conjunction with the back so you can more easily adjust the seat bottom. So if you're okay with not being able to easily adjust that bottom portion maybe there's a way to detach those side straps and put some padeyes on the deck giving you the clearance that you're looking for. The Pro Angler 12 is maybe a better option - yes it's going to be bigger and heavier getting on and off the car but in the water it's the best option.

_________________
Jacques Bernier
http://www.hobie.com/
http://www.facebook.com/HobieCatCompany

I looked at my Revo 13 and thought maybe you could mount some Eye Straps, Pad Eye, Tie Down, Kayak Deck Loops what ever you want to call them in the right spot on the rails of your boat. Then use some small line to pull the seat straps away from your legs. This would take away some of the tilt back adjustment.

The pro angler is a tug boat. I had it for 3 days down in Florida and it was terrible on flat water, forget when it gets choppy. There is no way I would want to haul that pro angler down thru the sand and down through the surf every day. The pro angler is not an option on where I fish. If the Revo seat can't be modified? I'll be forced to go back to paddling. There isn't another pedal kayak out there, other than a revo that is good in the big water, 28" wide and has a pedal drive. I own a slayer propel, but it's not beach launch worthy. Native refuses to come out with something lighter weight and less beamy.

Hobie had a great thing going on with the Revo....and it's sad that a seat, with no option is now thrown into the mix. I don't want adjust the seat in the revo. Who in the world would want to fish with the revo seat in the highest position? I want that seat down to the bottom and get that great initial stability the older Revo's had.

Trying to buy back the 2014 I sold. What a mistake that was to sell it.

Made arrangements to buy my 14 Revo back. Thankfully the buyer agreed to give it back for the same price.

I'm hoping someone at hobie comes up with a plan to adjust the vantage seat straps on the outbacks and revo's to accommodate the bigger guys who do not want to go with a pro angler.

I looked at my seat again today. Where the seat straps mount to the lower part of the seat there is two soft plastic flaps. I am guessing they are to protect your legs from the square tops of the seat to hull mount. If you could find some soft plastic and cut out some larger flaps and screw them onto the seat in the same place. Then put the seat straps on the outside of the larger plastic flap when you are pedaling maybe that will work. I would make some test flaps using plastic cut from the side of a gallon oil jug. I like to trouble shoot things and if I lived closer I would come by and help. But I live in Washington State.

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

I opened up a new thread to address this. There has to be a way of removing the vantage seat and put in an aftermarket seat. I started a new thread to see if anyone has figured out a way.