Revo or Outback

Looked at the new revo & outback today. Really liked the revo, but really concerned about mounting rod holders. I always carry 2 rods on scotty holders on my malibus & redifsh kayaks. Don't see any way to mount on revo, but plenty of room on the outback. Has anyone tried the ram model 340? I want to keep the rod holders close to the deck & not elevated. I looked at the post on this site, but that won't work for me. If I can't come up with a good way to mount, I will just get the outback. I mainly fish fresh water, but am getting really excited about saltwater. Thanks for any input!!

I'd vote Outback. I love the Revo for messing around but I always have more crap laying around when fishing and the Outback was my choice. I've got 'sammiche's' laying around, different lures, knife, candy bars, drinks... all that stuff just sits there in the side 'trays'........ nothing like it. Revo paddles better..... but if you handle things right, you don't need to paddle. Paddle is for backing up and pushing off stuff. I also have the Pro Angler now and still find time to take the Outback out. Very casual pedal craft with the Turbo fins. Of course the Revo would be too.

_________________
Yakkingaway
Portsmouth, VA

That seems to be the ultimate question. I have used both and they both have their advantages. FYI, there is plenty of room on the Revolution to mount extra rod holders/accessories. There are flat spots on the rail in front of the mesh storage pockets that you can mount pretty much anything off of. I would not recommend using the Ram 340 though because your rod butt will probably interefere with your pedal stroke if you mount it in front of you. Either way, you can't go wrong. They are both great kayaks and I hope you get one soon.

hi yak rat,

I have to agree with MPromnitz the 340 rod holder will get in the way of your pedal stroke. They are fine in a paddle yak like the Malibu. I had a Mini-X and use the Ram Revolution holders. I mounted them on the gunnel of the revolution in front of the mesh pockets and found with the rods turned outboard the boots of the rods were in my legs and hampered pedaling. In the malibu paddlle yak my legs were stationary and low so no hinderence. I went to a tube (rocket launcher) type holder or the same Ram Revolution on a long adjustable arm to swing the holder out over the water and use a shorter boot rod (or cut off one I have). The rocket launchers work best I think.
This is a good thread for rod positions on the revolution.
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11231

I swap out the types of holders depending on what I am fishing for and type of fishing I am doing.
Trolling, Casting, Drop fishing or combination. The ball mount is universal to the RAM mounts as are the Scotty holder mounts.

Tight Lines and Happy Catching
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.

Thanks for the info. Trying to find somewhere that has Ram mounts in stock. Going to purchase either the Outback or Revo this weekend. Still not sure which one, wish I could afford both!! In the begining I was pretty sure it would be the Outback, but now I'm leaning to the Revo. Really like the way the fishfinder was mounted, very clean. Thanks again!

REVO-Plenty room for everything, just needs to be thought out.[url][/url]

_________________
http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

Outback.... plenty of 'extra' room and doesn't take much thinking about where to put it.

_________________
Yakkingaway
Portsmouth, VA

Do you guys that have a Revo, install the larger rudder? I have been told that it really needs the large rudder to turn better. On either one I buy I will get the ST fins. I don't think I'll get the turbo fins because of not being able to take them in as shallow water. Is this a fact or just bad info I received? Yakkingaway,do you think the Outback needs the large rudder? How about some pics of rigged Outbacks? Mainly where did you mount fishfinders? Thanks again, I have to make up my mind by this weekend.

I do not have the large rudder, don't have a need at this point. I have heard it is a welcomed addition but my REVO turns great and even banks in a hard turn. I fish Beyond the Breakers mostly. The Turbo fins are the way to go. I flutter kick sometimes in about 10 inches of water and the Turbos work fine. You just need to practice a lil to get it down. If you are ever going in a lake or in water deeper than a couple of feet for the majority of your day, Turbo is the way to go. If primarily flats/skinny water fishing then maybe STs but you'll still need to learn the flutter kick anyway, other wise you'll bend the masts eventually. So the Turbo is more efficient anyway because of more length and suface fin area on the flutter kick. Turbo is more about effiencey, not nessarily about speed for me.

_________________
http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

sammy925, Great set-up on your Revo, looks good. I love the skull decal on the Hobie, can you give me the info as to where you got it and how much.

Thanks, Jim

I've got two Outbacks and one has the ST fins, one has standard and I've got the turbo fins on the Pro Angler. I was against the turbo's on the Outbacks because for years the hull wouldn't handle the load. Now that I'm sure it will because of the redesign and strengthening, I'd not be a bit afraid of the turbo fins on the Outback. It makes for a very leisurely kick to maintain good cadence and speed. This also means the "hull tight" flutter kick will be somewhat more productive for leg motion. The PA needs the turbo fins just because of it's bulk. I think I can run away from my Pro Angler with the Outback if I had to in a long cruise. The PA certainly takes more effort for the endurance run than the Outback does. I'd venture to say that going out with other 12 foot kayaks, the Outback would easily wear them down after a while with the turbo fins. Of course if fishing and not running around, it doesn't matter. The ST fins do a decent job of perking up the Outback too. Gives a better feel of resistance but not too much. I'll put the PA turbo fins on the Outback and probably won't look back. Flutter kicking is the thing to practice though, like he said. It's kept my paddle in the holder most of it's existence. It's very smart to go with the ST fins and keep the standards as spares.... cuts the cost of having spares around. You won't be disappointed in the ST's. That should confuse you. If I was to put some unscientific numbers to the issue, I'd say something silly like "probably .25 -.50 mph increase in normal cadence" between the standard fins and turbo. The same cadence will get you further down the water. But it's not like a VW and a Corvette. You'll maintain your optimum cruising speed with a slower cadence and slightly more resistance.
The rudder..... I'm thinking they all need the larger rudder. Especially if you're wanting to sail at all. I've sailed the PA and I've had them all out in fairly rough water and following seas.... the rudder does come out of the water but I'm not sure the longer one would help much in that case. I've never considered needing the longer rudder on the outback. But I've considered changing to it because it's not that expensive a deal to do it. Just don't know that it's called for.
Oh crap... fishfinder... forgot. I rigged a mount to make use of the sail mount. To be honest, I quit taking the depth finder with me. I didn't find it all that useful in the waters I normally fish. If I was going to lakes and areas I hadn't been familiarized with, I'd take it along to figure out the bottom and structure.

_________________
Yakkingaway
Portsmouth, VA

I haven't had the pleasure of trying either of these yaks but according to the specs; The Revo is more than a foot longer, 3 inches narrower, and seems to have a smoother hull contour. Oh, and its four pounds lighter. I would expect this to translate into a noticeably more efficient boat.

Perhaps one of the more experienced yakkers could comment on these thoughts?

I'm not an experienced yakker... but I do know they're both displacement hulls. Speed in mph = "square root of the wetted water line length multiplied by 1.34".... something like that. Been a long time. You'll find that the differences in speed would be insignificant almost. But the Revo is certainly a dream to paddle compared to the Outback. That would speak to your efficiency. I don't paddle the Outback any more than it takes for me to know I could get home if the drive broke for some reason. I just wouldn't be happy about it. Fact is, I'd probably sail.
The Revo is real close to the Quest which has always been considered a great kayak.

Revo theoretical speed 4.8 mph, Outback 4.64 Saying the Revo is 13 ft and the Outback is 12 and not knowing the actual wetted waterline length.

That being said, the "engine" that can do that for any sustained distance wouldn't be the one sitting in the seat. There will be a slight advantage on cruising speed for effort put forth with the Revo. Again, would you see it in actual fishing conditions? Doubt it.

_________________
Yakkingaway
Portsmouth, VA

Hobie Jim, the decals are from a local Rod/Tackle shop but should be avail at any dive shop also. It reads Salt Life, 2 crossed spearguns and a scull. A few colors. bout 8 bucks. a few different designs.

_________________
http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

The Outback, more inside room, a little bit more stable. Has some side slap when cruising that the Revo does not have. Outback turns quicker by about 50%. However, if you get either put on the sailing rudder, a huge difference on the Outback, with the standard rudder, your hand will be steering half the time. Change it at purchase. Not as big an issue on the Revo, but still needed IMO.

I don't find the Revo to be that much better cruising over the outback, but it is better. Upgrading to the ST fins is a 10-20% improvement in speed, better, but not huge, no additional resistance noted.

If one is fishing, and not going on multi mile trips, then the outback is the one to get. If taking long jaunts to fish, then the adventure might be better. If fishing ocean, the longer the better..................ck

_________________
Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.