I'm not one to talk anybody out of a Hobie, but I think some of the things that I've read about how the Hobie inflatables handle, is often directly related to the Mirage drive. There are certainly some hull innovations, but the mirage drive in the inflatable design is the perfect marriage of propulsion and a less then efficient inflatable design. The Mirage Drive pulls from the front, centre of the boat, keeping it pulling strong, forward, where a paddle only inflatable pulls from each side, and that makes them much more difficult to keep tracking in a straight line.
Why not buy the Hobie with the mirage drive? You can always pull it out and use the boat exactly as you say, but you'll also find a whole new level of recreation by going places that you may not have considered. If you want to pack it on a plane and not take the mirage drive, you always have that option.
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