Hobie eVolve Electric Motor Kit

i think i will by 3 spare batteries aswell, and take the yak miles out.

It doesn't easily fit in the inflatables MirageDrive well and the rudder mount is too soft for the weight and thrust of the motor.

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

Hey Matt,
was there ever a set up where you at hobie considered motorizing your Mirage drive. In theory would that be more powerfull than a propeller.

I think the issues are torque required and moving parts in the cockpit. Could be dangerous. We have something power driven set up for boat shows. You would get hurt by the moving parts if you got in the way.

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

so i'm thinking if i have a evolve motor running approx half throttle running from the rudder fitting and i'm peddling at a comfortable pace with my mirage. what sort of speed could i expect to achieve. My reason for this question is i would like to cover large areas in and around a bay and coastline but dont want to be so tired that i dont feel like peddling miles home. My first spot is approx 4 miles in a straight line.

Running the motor at 100 watts output
you can expect about 3 Mph for about 4-5 hours
if you peddle with the motor you can raise it .5 leisurely
in fact last night I pulled 2 AI's behind my AI and had these results.

May I remind people who are quick to dismiss the Electric Kit as, "Cheating", that not everybody enjoys your robust good health.

This kit allows Hobie-lovers to continue to enjoy Kayaking/Sailing after many of us have lost the normal physical capacity to pedal very far and gives us new opportunities and freedoms.

I was once attacked on the Bicycle Forum over the use of Electric motors on Bicycles as being counter to the idea of pedalling being good for you.
I said fine, come on down to the Cancer Ward and explain to me and my friends why we cant enjoy Cycling in our remaining few years because you think power-systems are, "Wrong."

There will always be the preaching Purists but they are the ones who have not experienced permanent illness or disability yet.

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Fair Skies, Max.

Well said!

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

Dont know if its me in the firing line or not (if the cap fits-right?) but one walks 'the fine line' when criticising the efficacy of electric powered bikes and kayaks..one hardly DARES because you know whats coming ....preaching purist.......the visit to the cancer ward

When I'm forced to hang up my spurs thru disease, illness or whatever comes my way..(probably sooner than later) IF I have the odd 2 grand lying around I will go out (or ask someone to go out for me) and buy an 'evolve'...but UNTIL THEN...to supplement an already fairly 'busy' cockpit with yet more bits and pieces or have them hanging off my rudder....?????? Jeez, I might even get used to the bloody thing

When does the Hobie Hummer (all in black with a big silver flying H down the side and a live-well for the wife in the boot) come along so we can tote all this stuff around??!!!!!!!

My Dad, (now 97), gave up his electric hybrid bike years ago because it was too heavy and cumbersome and we kept having to rescue him from remote country lanes or stuck halfway up hills....the thing nearly killed him a couple of times.....then my sister took it over and shes young/fit enough (60) to use a regular bike, so whats she doing with it...???? she says she's overweight so she needs it!!!...and theres the rub...But, as ever, I digress......

Sell the evolve like you would drugs...you have to qualify...Skymax can write the prescriptions...Only problem is when its time for me to ask him for mine

Well here we are.........The 'submit' button!!!!!!!!!

1. Is there any documentation that shows how the rudder mount works. I'm wondering in particular if this is something you could accomplish while in the water. Scenario: sail out 10 miles without motor attached. Wind dies. Attach motor while floating at sea and motor and pedal back. Is this practical? It makes no sense to me to use the well mount since it means you can't pedal and motor at the same time.

2. Has anyone fitted the regular (non Hobie) torqueedo kayak motor to an AI? I assume its the same motor but the mount kit for the torqueedo version provides a way to hang the motor off the stern on a pole that can be raised. This option on the AI would preserve the ability to pedal and motor simultaneously and to raise the stern mounted motor while sailing.

It's a fair question, doesnt the blurb say pedalling adds only .5 mph?

Is that enough to worry about having to fit the motor in the stern position so you can still pedal?

Everyone has different needs, for me sailing is the goal, (AI), so i would carry both pedals and motor to quickly have both available for use in the Well.

My situation is a bit different because I have to make harbour again at the end of every ocean sailing day otherwise risk coming ashore on a lonely open-ocean surf beach. So the motor saves me energy for the 1 mile pedal out to open water, (Harbour has large headlands at entrance that block Seabreeze during entry/exit), and gets me back more quickly than Tacking against time to beat bad weather home if necessary.

I have the old style Cam-loks which work fine and I am used to quickly installing/removing the Mirage Drive to reduce drag so I see the Evolve as being no more difficult to deploy or remove from the Well than the Mirage Drive, and I get to keep my efficient sailing rudder in place.




PS: Can the Evolve be stowed in the forward hatch of the 2008 AI?

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Fair Skies, Max.

Yes, the drive well version will fit inside the forward hatch.

The rudder version bolts on as a replacement for the rudder blade, so not something you would do on the water.

If sailing is the primary goal... my opinion is that the drive well version is the best choice. Store in the forward hatch and pull out when needed for a long run out to the sailing area or to get home. In lighter air, the motor would add to the speed potential, but becomes drag as the wind increases.

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

That's great news, especially as the Forward Hatch is now much more easily accessed when the Tramps are fitted, especially in rough water.

(I'm already thinking about a safety lanyard that secures the Motor Unit to a hardpoint inside the Forward hatch...)

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Fair Skies, Max.

One more thing...

Most GPS units with maps are specific to countries, I am assuming the eVolve GPS Initialises and works anywhere even though it is not map specific?

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Fair Skies, Max.

Yes. Simply used by the system for speed and distance calculations. No mapping function.

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