Im still working on a more detailed review, but since this may be applicable here I’ll share. I was out on “exciting” water with my 2017 Mirage Sport for hours this past Labor Day, exciting because of the power boat traffic Southern Indiana, Brookville Lake. Not a huge lake, couple thousand acres I think, 12x1.5 ish miles. But, so much traffic 2-3ft breaking white caps from 100-150ft along shorelines to short choppy water pretty much everywhere except the middle, which isn’t real comfortable either with boats even at a distance 360 around you. You just never know sometimes with some of these yahoos... or what they’re inhaling these days, so best to pay attention. Fly your flag, (I have a purse size air horn handy enough), and because I left before sunrise I just left my nav light on all day. I don’t know if a flag is a lightening rod, but that’s another several topics and a bit more than “exciting” water.
Having said that, I played around with it since I was there... learning the (new to me) Hobie Sport 9’7” yak, turns, leans, quartering, following swells, tried a few times to take water direct over the bow and succeeded happily, even submarined coming off one swell and into a breaker, ha! No real issues, it is just water one hopes.
First time out with the sailing rudder too (still have ST Fins - 180) I can’t tell a whole lot of difference with turns, it was already quick, but - this thing tracks now! I did snug, adjust and straighten the control lines when I installed it, and now I can cruise 3mph/ish and only occasionally need to correct, hands off! Substantial improvement! Overall fun experience, unnecessarily tiring after hours of sloshing around, but learned quite a few things. One, I don’t see myself using an anchor much, but a stake out pole is a must, for anything from taking a break to shoreline or site fishing there is no way to drift in confused seas except confusingly.
Not a good day for fishing much so used most of the day scouting and playing around and watching [out for] the half naked wakeboarders. I did have standing water and a Plano 3600 floating under the seat when I got back. Other than that, unless you forget your life vest (or don’t wear it), or have tangling lines everywhere and generally don’t know your boat or what you’re doing, you’d have to work at getting into any real trouble in an 80F fresh water lake. As with all things marine (human) there is no perfect boat so I generally don’t try to give perfect advice.
I would (will) have no issues using the Mirage Drive plug and raising the flip & stow rudder for shallow river runs, but I won’t be paddling back up stream much. A float plan with a pick up point, I will have no problem with at all.
After several hours and several “experiments”, a couple dry bags were barely moist on the outer surface but there was no water inside the hull so the front hatch must be working pretty well. I have heard the front hatch could be sealed better on some models, but likely not a big fix or big problem.
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