Question from a noob

So, my wife had shoulder replacement and I had rotator cuff repair. Our shoulders aren't great. We are looking at alternatives to paddling our kayaks.
We've both paddled for many years. Her current kayak is a Hurricane Santee 135 and mine a Phoenix Isere. Both lightweight, soft chine/rounded bottoms.

We rented a Hobie Compass and a Passport to try out the Mirage drive. The drive system is really neat. The boats though, are not. We were pretty disappointed. They felt heavy, sluggish and non-responsive. I understand they are rotomolded and wider with a fishing bias.

Does Hobie make any mirage drive boats that would be more comparable to a regular kayak? I understand they have to be sit-on-top boats, but even so, I'd think a more recreational vs fishing design would be possible.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

See if you can demo a Revolution 13. All the rotomolded kayaks are going to be heavier than what you've got now but the Revolution 13 has the length for decent hull speed, is quite narrow for a Hobie Mirage-drive kayak, and can make quick, tight turns. Speed and endurance with the pedal drives can be deceptive versus paddle kayaks. You don't feel you are working that hard or moving that fast. Then you pass healthy fit paddlers working very hard while you hold a drink in one hand and wave with the other.

Peter

As Peter said the closest you’ll get new is a Revo 13.
Unfortunately Hobie stopped making the Revo 16 -which before the 2015 framed seat upgrade was called the ‘Adventure’ and was what the Adventure Island trimaran was based on.
This was their longest, narrowest and best paddling kayak.
Only available now secondhand.

If you want pedal drives but don't like Hobie kayaks, there are at least 5 other reputable companies making pedal-drive kayaks that use propellors, some with Hobie-cult-like owners. I am not familiar with any of these models so do not know if they would suit you better.

Peter

Thanks folks. Oh, the drive system is great, and I could tell we had great speed. Probably the first time in years I could keep up with my wife, she’s pretty quick in her Hurricane! LOL!
I’ll look to try out the Revolution. It’s not that the boats were slow, they just felt like boats to me, not kayaks. You wear a kayak, and I think that’s the difference

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

Seems like you two want to paddle/peddle separately but, if you'd consider a tandem, rent or demo the Hobie Oasis. That is our primary kayak and we have over 1,000 miles on it together with several single-day trips of 25 to 30 miles.

Peter

Thanks, but we learned long ago that tandem bikes and kayaks are, for us, not a good idea. LOL!

_________________
Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks