My experiences so far with my new Revo...

So having lived a year in Charleston, SC, I decided I didnt want to spend another summer just looking at all the water. Got a 22' Regal Destiny as a motor boat, but with the price of gas going nuts, looked at Kayaks at the local Canoe and Kayak Festival a few weeks back.

The Hobie reps there were super friendly and helpful and let me try out all the models I wanted and all of the dealers had them for 10% off, so I ended up with the Revolution.

What a great and versatile Kayak.

I throw it up on top of my car at the end of the workday and off I go, fishing, sailing, whatever.

So far Ive only "turtled" twice, one when I put the sail up the first time in gusty winds and didnt counter the lean well. Got to practice deep water reentry though that wasnt on the agenda that day. Second time was coming back in through surf at Folly Beach. Wasn't set up quite perpendicular to the wave and it rolled me, just rode the kayak the rest of the way in like a surfboard, hehe.

But the thing works great.
Took it out through the above mentioned surf with no problems with paddle and peddle. Then put away the paddle and peddled three miles along the beach in 2-3 foot waves. Never felt unstable or endangered at all, and stayed fairly dry save when I took waves at a bad angle.

Took it out in some super skinny water and it worked fine. Even used it to pull an 18' power boat off some pluff mud and 50 yards down a low tide channel, great leg burn but what a hoot, they were so skeptical to start and then just thanking me no end when I got them off.

2 miles, 7 miles, doesnt matter, the drive is great. Even lets me go against some nice currents and wind is never a problem.

Just installed the Cuda 250 FF/GPS and now am more hooked than ever at exploring. Just cant decide where to mount the actual unit. I did the transponder behind the mast like most do, and ran the wires through a stuffing tube into the right basket. Just sat the unit in the cupholder and it worked well there, but might need to mount it for more stability.

Lovin' the Revo. Havent decided yet on the Sailing Rudder or ST Turbo or ST fins.

Pffff, you think you love it now, wait until you put turbo fins and a sailing rudder on. It almost becomes a whole new yak. Both are well worth the money.

My dealership doesnt think the sailing rudder worth it, but reading here im beginning to doubt it.

And the ST Turbo fins are tempting, but would make the skinny water around here more of a pain...

Archae, trust the forum on the rudder. Your dealer obviously doesn't have much experience with this accessory. For $23, it's by far the single best investment you can make. It will turn your Revo from a "family sedan" to a "sports car". Huge difference, with rudder authority down to 0 speed, much better control in the surf and substantially less rudder adjustment necessary in swell, chop and wind.

Turbofins work as well as standard fins in skinny waters. With one foot forward, you just flutter the fins against the hull. In this first picture, you can see the feet are operating the pedals (with Turbofins) in this shallow inlet:


Here, with Turbofins still in, I'm running in just a few inches of water with no damage or contact (Hobie Adventure). The Revo has a little more draft but not much:


It just takes a little practice!

One caveat -- While the Turbos can produce more acceleration and speed, they are not as durable as the standard fins -- they can tear and scuff under the right circumstances. Fortunately in two years I haven't broken any yet. Nevertheless, I couldn't imagine not having them (and keep a spare set just in case!).

I totally agree with the above comment. I have a Revo and put the sailing rudder on it. What a positive difference!. Paddling or peddling it's great. Of course sailing it is a must in my book. I have the ST fins but will be getting the turbo's this year.

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Everything before 60 is just a rehearsal!

Thanks for the illustrations, I suspose Ill have to upgrade

Sailing rudder sounds like a definite, and the turbo fins a good runner up.

Still a little worried with the skinny water and the sail rudder on, but should be good. Can always yank the fins

Side note, I havent tried, but do the fins fit in the "hide a corpse" front opening?

Only after you remove the corpse




BTW, Nelson makes a great point -- if you take up sailing, you'll benefit greatly by both. The large rudder controls weather helm and the Turbos serve as the best alternative to a centerboard.

Thanks for the illustration Road I think the corpse will fit in the aft stowage area anyway, ill just say he got drunk and passed out.

Nod, I got the sail on a good deal at a kayak show and am having fun with it, but I think I do want to stiffen it as Ive read here cause I could see a good wind bending the mast.

Do you top your mast with a foam ball?

In addition to the Turbo Fins and Sailing Rudder you can do a few other easy, inexpensive mods that make a world of difference.

Roadrunner's Get a Grip handles - I placed one behind me seat and another behind my drive well. Carrying my kayak has never been easier.





Pedal weights - Instead of hanging upside down and away from you; Glueing weights on the back of your pedals will keep them in a 'ready to pedal' position

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OEX Oceanside - Authorized Hobie Dealer
Kayak Fishing Specialists

www.oexoceanside.com

Nice, both of em, but Im starting to get concerned about all the weight im adding <grin>

Those carry straps, where and what hardware to attach? Looks great for the overhead press onto trucktop

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=8813


BTW, no foam ball on the sail -- Jack in the Box can do their own advertising! Seriously, the kayak is not difficult to right, sail and all, if capsized.

Nod, ive righted mine, full sail turtle, not too difficult, just worried about bending the mast if I turtle in shallow water, so was curious what size foam ball folks use to prevent a full turtle.

Concerning the aqddition of lift handles....I read and took note on a thread somewhere of a comment to "Be sure you can reach the area of the rear handle before drilling any holes" I was able to reach so I drilled. Nobody said anything about being able to do anything dexterious with the fingers once they have reached that area.

Boy was that fun. The years of playing shade tree mechanic working in blind areas under the hood paid off this afternoon for sure.

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Roger
http://www.aldenofsunapee.com/
http://www.NEKF.com/