Will MD180 Kick-Up fit older models

I love idea of Kick-up since I hit obstacles all the time. Will MD-180 Kick-up fit a Revolution 2018 and when might that be available as standalone purchase (not an upgrade kit) without buying new kayak? Is it likely MD-360 will also be made available for models other than ProAngler?

The 360 is a completely different shape and requires a belt system for steering... not possible to convert on older non-360 hulls.

The Kick Up drives will fit the older hulls. Removal of the alignment pins and possible sanding the fairing a bit to fit the oldest hulls.

May have KU drives available to buy in the Spring. Upgrade kits are not possible as the spine was modified to lower it in the well. The thicker booms of the KU would not allow full rotation of the fins otherwise... could not get them up against the hull.

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

I have a 2010 Hobie Mirage Sport. Everyone I ask, including Hobie technical support, gives me a different or a vague answer to the question "[i][i]will the current Mirage Drive with kick up fins and/or the Mirage Drive 180 with kick up fins fit into my hull[/i][/i]?"

I have the drop in (not twist lock) drive locks, and the original drive (upgraded to turbo fins). I fish in shallow murky water, so I would really like to get kick up fins. Since I will be spending that much money, why not spend a few hundred more and get the 180 drive. I have searched online and made a number of calls, and no one can tell me if a new drive that's almost $1,000 will fit into my kayak.

I understand that I might have to cut off the new plastic alignment pins, but I am not confident that the drive will fit after cutting the pins off. I certainly can't return the drive once I've cut them off!

Any help or advice, especially from someone who has actually installed a current drive into a pre-2012 Hobie kayak would be most appreciated.

This link shows a kick up drive in a Mirage Sport, but it's an even older model than mine with the drive twist lock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YYT0j-SncA

***UPDATE*** Yesterday I went to the nearest Hobie dealer (Backyard Boats in Annapolis, MD). First they cut the alignment pins off of an old warranty return MD 180 with kick up chassis, and it fit my 2010 Mirage sport perfectly with no additional modifications. Then we did the same on a new MD180 with kick up and standard fins -- it works great and the fit is actually better that the original drive. The original had a little rocking front to back when installed, and the new MD180 fits in like a glove :-)

If anyone has the same concern about a new drive fitting in an older Hobie Kayak, and you live anywhere near Maryland, Backyard Boats has a drive chassis that's already cut to test. You could also come to my house in Columbia, MD and test fit my drive; just message me...