Endlessquest wrote:
I'm am interested in kayaking for exercise and the simplicity of getting out on the water. I am drawn to the Hobie kayaks for the versatility of paddling, peddling and sailing.
So my question is for those of you with experience with the Revolution kayak or the Adventure Island, what is the percentage of time that you are paddleing, paddleing and sailing?
I'm guessing those of you with the A I mainly sail or peddle but can it be paddled?
And for those of you with the Revolution, is sailing somthing worthwhile for this kayak or is better suited for just paddleing / peddling?
Adam, welcome to the forum! First, lets clarify that there are currently 3 Revolutions -- 11, 13, and 16'. The original Revolution was the 13 and the 16 used to be called the Adventure. More on that later....
The AI works great as a kayak. It's probably the most fun to sail -- feels fast, very stable and there is a class association if you want to race.
The only disadvantage is that it needs to be fully set-up to sail -- would be grossly overpowered without the amas, and there is no room to swing a paddle in the AI
mode. It takes about 15 minutes to assemble if you tote it in pieces (on a roof rack for instance) so it takes a little longer to get on the water.
The Revo 16 may be more what you're looking for. It is a fun and challenging sailer, a decent paddler and the fastest of the Hobie kayaks. For sailing, it is the only kayak with a daggerboard option (all the rest successfully rely on the fins as a daggerboard). Here are some pics:
The nice thing about the kayak line is you can carry your sail and set it up or break down on the water.
Hobie Revo 11 shownHobie Sport shownThere is a furling kit available and sailing while pedaling gives you 360 degree capability while getting exercise. They're not particularly fast sailers -- maybe up to 5 MPH depending on wind, chop and skill, but still fun to sail. In the second pic, this guy is paddling while pedaling and getting a great work out. He is being followed by an early AI in the kayak mode. The secret to tracking with the Hobies is to put the rudder down and have it properly tuned. Even the squirrelly Revo 11 is steady as a clock with the sailing rudder deployed. Otherwise, as WAVERIDER says, they are not good trackers.
Whereas the Revo 16 is the fastest, smoothest and best in bad weather, the Revo 13 is probably best all around and the Revo 11 is the most maneuverable. Any of them will give you the ability to get a good workout, sail or just cruise.