Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:52 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:34 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:59 pm
Posts: 8
Hello all,

Seeing as I havent seen many reviews of the Revolution 11 with the exception of the excellent and technical review by RoadRunner I thought Id offer some thoughts on my new Revolution 11 which I purchased in April of this year and have now used extensively (atleast 40 excursions) for nearly four months. In short I cannot say enough good things about this latest offering from Hobie though I am admittedly a first time Hobie owner who has not used other Hobie models except on a few occasions.

Before the 11 came out I was going back and forth as to whether to purchase the Outback or the Revolution 13. It was important for me to find a kayak which was easily transportable both from car to the water line and from house to place of entry. For me personally I felt that the Revolution 13 was a little more kayak than I needed in the length department and the Outback was a little heavier and wider than I preferred. Then as luck would have it, just as I was making my deliberations, I heard of the new Revo 11 and felt it was exactly the size and specs I was looking for.

Fast forward to the past four months.......I could not possibly be happier with this kayak with only one (for me) very minor exception.

I find the Revo 11 to be very easy to handle in portage. I wanted a kayak that was easy in and easy out, a kayak that I wasnt going to have to spend alot of time loading and unloading and porting to the water line and I find the Revo 11 a piece of cake to transport. Its shorter length, narrow width, and lighter weight allow me to slide it right into the back of my station wagon with room to spare for other gear and I cartop it rarely which is a huge convencience for me. I can get the Revo 11 in and out of my car and to the water so quickly that it feels almost effortless. I find with ease of transport (cart also a must have) comes a desire to use the kayak more often, a very important consideration when choosing a kayak which I sometimes feel is often overlooked.

I have pedaled this kayak in all manner of different salt water conditions here on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and I have yet to be dissapointed as to the variety of conditions that the Revo 11 can handle. I find the ride to be exceptionally quiet with mimimal hull slap and feel it slices through the water with ease. Ive used this kayak in strong currents, choppy waters, in bays and inlets, deep ocean waters and have spent a considerable amount of time 'surfing' it in the surf zone, and I personally think it handles beautifully under many different conditions. The Revo 11 feels especially nimble with a very small turning radius which makes for a very pleasurable experience in the surf zone.

In the surf zone, where the boat is 'awash' with water and often finds itself rolled 'over' the Revo 11 took in a little more water into the hull than I expected. After some sleuthing I found that the point of entry was the front bow hatch and the two twist and seal hatches are almost completely water proof. After a little jerryrigging with a rubber mat I was able to cut a strip of rubber to act as an additional seal for the bow hatch and it works perfectly. I can now take the Revo 11 into the surf zone for an hour or more with little water accumulation in the hull.

I found the Revo 11 to be surprisingly stable after reading some reviews that it felt a little 'tippy' to some. RoadRunners description that it has excellent secondary stability with a reliable tipping point was spot on. I never feel unstable in this kayak and when the boat rolls to a point where its going to actually tip over (such as in the surf) I can feel exactly where that tipping point is and how far from it (or close to it!) I am. When the Revo 11 leans from side to side you can feel it wanting to 'lean' back to its starting position which leads to a feeling of stability. This may be the case with all Hobie models but my understanding is that the hull design on the Revo 11 has some new features not found in the other Hobie models and I wonder if this can account for the Revo 11 feeling especialy stable to me. It is in my opinion a very stable kayak.

I found storage space to be plenty adequate for my needs though the rear hatch does not seem fully accessible due to the rudder lines running close to the edges of the rear hatch. This may be the case with all Hobies though Im not sure of this. The front hatch has plenty of storage area for my needs though the Front hatch on the Revo 13 and Outback appear to offer considerably more storage space. The cockpit might feel a touch small and snug for a few but suits me just fine. At six feet I find myself locking the Mirage drive in the "5" leg length position (7 being the longest) and feel that the cockpit could comfortably provide a pedal stroke for a person up to say 6'3". Anyone taller might start to feel that the cockpit does not provide enough length for comfortable peddling though I did read one review from someone 6'4" who felt there was enough cockpit length for him to find a comfortable stroke. Ive read a few reviews that suggested the cockpit length might not be suitable for anyone over six feet in height. I personally disagree with that assesment.

I fish off my Revo 11 and for me personally it has enough storage space to get all my gear on board (though I am a light traveller when it comes to fishing). I like the Mesh trays provided on each side of the gunrails more than I thought I would and found that they can hold items in the tray even when turned onto the rails. Items stay in the tray and I regularly put items in the trays that I never remove and stay put they do even when turning it over onto its rails. I even keep items in the trays in the surf (sunglasses for example) and find items stay put even after multiple rolls. Surprisingly I found, even when storing multiple fishing lures and plugs in the mesh trays that the hooks rarely get snagged in the mesh which was something I didnt expect and was a pleasant surprise.

A great little detail are the side carry handles. Perfectly designed, exceptionally comfortable, and I use them often for stability in very choppy conditions and for grabbing a hold of the kayak in the surf zone if I am about to roll, for turning the kayak on its side to slide cart into scupper holes etc. I grab them much more often than I thought I would and am now grateful that theyre 'on board'.

My only caveat with the Revo 11 and this is just one persons opinion from someone who has not ridden other Hobies is that it offers a slightly wetter ride than I expected. Water can come over the rails or from the bow with a minimul amount of chop depending on wind, current conditions, angle of boat to chop etc (Im a light 150 lbs and carry little gear of any significant weight FYI). My previous kayak was a smaller 10 foot SOT which offered a surprisingly drier ride at only 1 inch wider than the Revo 11. Because the bow is shorter than the Revo 13 or Adventure but maintains the same narrow profile I think water more easily enters the cockpit from the bow when moving through choppy waters where the bow occassionally lowers itself into a wave. Personally I think its a very worthy trade off. The narrow (but shorter) bow profile allows the Revo 11 to move through chop and waves easily, probably very similiarly to the Revo 13 and Adventure which is one of the things that makes the Revo 11 even though its a shorter boat such a pleasure to use, but because the bow is shorter a bit more water can enter the cockpit from washing over the bow than from the Revo 13 or the Adventure is my guess. For me personally its not much of an issue. When the weathers warm I dont mind getting a little wet and in the spring and fall with cooler air and water temperatures I wear rain paints which keep my bottom half fully dry. For others it might be something to consider though personally I would tell just about anyone not to let it deter them from a Revo 11. Wetness of ride is a matter of subjective perception to a significant extent and also dependent on the conditions one is kayaking in. I kayak in saltwater conditions that are often choppy. Sit On Tops (no great insight here) offer a wetter ride than Sit In Kayaks as we all know. Again, one persons opinion only, others may feel very differently about how 'wet' a ride the Revo 11 offers. For me, though I find it a slightly 'wetter' ride than my previous SOT its nothing more than a very small inconvenience at best and the upside of the narrow bow more than makes up for it.

I dont want to give the impression that the Revo 11 which is so adept in so many conditions is a kayak that can handle exceptionally choppy seas. If someone is going to do serious touring or fishing in 'ocean' conditions in sometimes formidable weather then the Revo 11, as capable as I find it to be wouldnt be quite up to those kinds of challenges in my opinion. Though I did recently take it for a spin in 20-30 knot winds with 4-6 foot occassionally breaking seas and it handled the conditions admirably, I think the Revo 13 and the Adventure atleast would handle those conditions considerably better.

In conclusion, I couldnt be happier with my new Revo 11. Its light, plenty fast with ST Fins, nimble, stable, turns on a dime, offers a quiet ride and handles well in many different water conditions. Ive never felt that I (six feet 150 lbs 43 years of age) purchased a boat which was 'too small' which was an original concern of mine. Part of my enthusiasm has to do with the fact that Im simply a new Hobie owner who is elated to have the good fortune to pedal a Hobie kayak. Many of the positive attributes I equate with the Revo 11 Im sure apply to other Hobie Models as well and as someone who has not used other Hobie models extensively I cant really compare the Revo 11 with other models. Roadrunner and others have done an admirable job of offering comparisons of the Revo 11 to other models. I would likely be very happy with any of the Hobie models. Theyre all great boats. But I couldnt be happier with Revo 11 and I find that it suits my needs perfectly.


Cheers and Happy Pedaling,


MR


Last edited by mcrobbie on Sat Aug 11, 2012 5:22 pm, edited 10 times in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:18 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 4:01 pm
Posts: 465
Thanks for your excellent review of the Revo 11.

Your review and Chaz's postings and Revo 11 postings on You Tube, have made me to re think the Revo 11.

Besides not being able to find a Dealer to sell me a Revo 11 without a mirage, seat, paddle, cassette and other gear I have doubled with our Oasis, the getting wet and sometimes lack of stability kept me from buying a Revo 11.

First of all the wet situation. That becomes a mute point by wearing my Kokatat Kayak pants or any of my many fly fishing waders.

Chaz's postings of his Revo 11 with the AMAs basically neutralizes the stability issue.

My need for most of my local waters, rivers/ and lakes is a lightweight yak that can be easily put into the bed of my Ridgeline and secured with or without a bed extender and unloaded at the launch site. Then loaded back onto the bed and off to home at the end of the yakking.

My FH Pathfinder is very stable and once I get the battery loaded, the engine loaded and other gear loaded, I have had a workout. My wife and son's joke that I don't need to take it to the water for a workout, just loading and unloading it and the gear into the truck is a good workout.

A Revo 11 with the AMAs, we use with our Oasis, would avoid all of the loading and unloading. It should work well with my FH standup paddle in shallow water areas after reading Chaz's postings.

Last but not least, I wouldn't have to worry about running out of battery power with a Mirage. I get about 3 hours with my two batteries and my Bass Yak Pathfinder, and with my bad shoulders, I have to be constantly aware of the power left in those two batteries.

Now I need to find a dealer to sell me a 2012 Revo at a good price without the Mirage, Oar, seat, cassette and other standard gear.


Below are the links to the Kokatat Tempest Pants w/ socks and the great posts reviewing the Revo 11:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=43660

Chaz’s Revo 11 rigged for fishing: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=44136

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPPW8Ont ... e=youtu.be


Then Chaz’s very interesting You Tube re standing in the Revo 11:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4HnsR_0 ... ure=relmfu

Chaz’s self rescue with an overturned Revo 11:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=44138


Not recommened but another You Tube with a Revo 11 and AMAs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wI-Iivv ... re=related



mcrobbie wrote:
Hello all,

Seeing as I havent seen many reviews of the Revolution 11 with the exception of the excellent and technical review by RoadRunner I thought Id offer some thoughts on my new Revolution 11 which I purchased in April of this year and have now used extensively (atleast 40 excursions) for nearly four months. In short I cannot say enough good things about this latest offering from Hobie though I am admittedly a first time Hobie owner who has not used other Hobie models except on a few occasions.

Before the 11 came out I was going back and forth as to whether to purchase the Outback or the Revolution 13. It was important for me to find a kayak which was easily transportable both from car to the water line and from house to place of entry. For me personally I felt that the Revolution 13 was a little more kayak than I needed in the length department and the Outback was a little heavier and wider than I preferred. Then as luck would have it, just as I was making my deliberations, I heard of the new Revo 11 and felt it was exactly the size and specs I was looking for.

Fast forward to the past four months.......I could not possibly be happier with this kayak with only one (for me) very minor exception.

I find the Revo 11 to be very easy to handle in portage. I wanted a kayak that was easy in and easy out, a kayak that I wasnt going to have to spend alot of time loading and unloading and porting to the water line and I find the Revo 11 a piece of cake to transport. Its shorter length, narrow width, and lighter weight allow me to slide it right into the back of my station wagon with room to spare for other gear and I cartop it rarely which is a huge convencience for me. I can get the Revo 11 in and out of my car and to the water so quickly that it feels almost effortless. I find with ease of transport (cart also a must have) comes a desire to use the kayak more often, a very important consideration when choosing a kayak which I sometimes feel people do not consider enough.

I have pedaled this kayak in all manner of different salt water conditions here on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and I have yet to be dissapointed as to the variety of conditions that the Revo 11 can handle. I find the ride to be exceptionally quiet with mimimal hull slap and feel it slices through the water with ease. Ive used this kayak in strong currents, choppy waters, in bays and inlets, deep ocean waters and have spent a considerable amount of time 'surfing' it in the surf zone, and I personally think it handles beautifully under many different conditions. The Revo 11 feels especially nimble with a very small turning radius which makes for a very pleasurable experience in the surf zone.

In the surf zone, where the boat is 'awash' with water and often finds itself rolled 'over' the Revo 11 took in a little more water into the hull than I expected. After some sleuthing I found that the point of entry was the front hatch and the two round hatches are almost completely water proof. After a little jerryrigging with a rubber mat I was able to cut a strip of rubber to act as an additional seal for the front hatch and it works perfectly. I can now take the Revo 11 into the surf zone for an hour or more with little water accumulation in the hull.

I found the Revo 11 to be surprisingly stable after reading some reviews that it felt a little 'tippy' to some. RoadRunners description that it has excellent secondary stability with a reliable tipping point was spot on. I never feel unstable in this kayak and when the boat rolls to a point where its going to actually tip over (such as in the surf) I can feel exactly where that tipping point is and how far from it (or close to it!) I am. When the Revo 11 leans from side to side you can feel it wanting to 'lean' back to its starting position which leads to a feeling of stability. This may be the case with all Hobie models but my understanding is that the hull design on the Revo 11 has some new features not found in the other Hobie models and I wonder if this can account for the Revo 11 feeling especialy stable to me. It is in my opinion a very stable kayak.

I found storage space to be plenty adequate for my needs though the rear hatch does not seem fully accessible due to the rudder lines running close to the edges of the rear hatch. This may be the case with all Hobies though Im not sure of this. The front hatch has plenty of storage area for my needs though the Front hatch on the Revo 13 and Outback appear to offer considerably more storage space. The cockpit might feel a touch small and snug for a few but suits me just fine. At six feet I find myself locking the Mirage drive in the "5" leg length position (7 being the longest) and feel that the cockpit could comfortably provide a pedal stroke for a person up to say 6'3". Anyone taller might start to feel that the cockpit does not provide enough length for comfortable peddling though I did read one review from someone 6'4" who felt there was enough cockpit length for him to find a comfortable stroke. Ive read a few reviews that suggested the cockpit length might not be suitable for anyone over six feet in height. I personally disagree with that assesment.

I fish off my Revo 11 and for me personally it has enough storage space to get all my gear on board (though I am a light traveller when it comes to fishing). I like the Mesh trays provided on each side of the gunrails more than I thought I would and found that they can hold items in the tray even when turned onto the rails. Items stay in the tray and I regularly put items in the trays that I never remove and stay put they do even when turning it over onto its rails. I even keep items in the trays in the surf (sunglasses for example) and find items stay put even after multiple rolls. Surprisingly I found, even when storing multiple fishing lures and plugs in the mesh trays that the hooks rarely get snagged in the mesh which was something I didnt expect and was a pleasant surprise.

A great little detail are the side carry handles. Perfectly designed, exceptionally comfortable, and I use them often for stability in very choppy conditions and for grabbing a hold of the kayak in the surf zone if I am about to roll, for turning the kayak on its side to slide cart into scupper holes etc. I grab them much more often than I thought I would and am now grateful that theyre 'on board'.

My only caveat with the Revo 11 and this is just one persons opinion from someone who has not ridden other Hobies is that it offers a slightly wetter ride than I expected. Water can come over the rails or from the bow with a minimul amount of chop depending on wind, current conditions, angle of boat to chop etc (Im a light 150 lbs and carry little gear of any significant weight FYI). My previous kayak was a smaller 10 foot SOT which offered a surprisingly drier ride at only 1 inch wider than the Revo 11. Because the bow is shorter than the Revo 13 or Adventure but maintains the same narrow profile I think water more easily enters the cockpit from the bow when moving through choppy waters where the bow occassionally lowers itself into a wave. I think its personally a very worthy trade off. The narrow (but shorter) bow profile allows the Revo 11 to move through chop and waves easily, probably very similiarly to the Revo 13 and Adventure, but because the bow is shorter a bit more water can enter the cockpit from the bow than from the Revo 13 or the Adventure is my guess. For me personally its not much of an issue. When the weathers warm I dont mind getting a little wet and in the spring and fall with cooler air and water temperatures I wear rain paints which keep my bottom half fully dry. For others it might be something to consider though personally I would tell just about anyone not to let it deter them from a Revo 11. Wetness of ride is a matter of perception to a significant extent and also dependent on the conditions one is kayaking in. I kayak in saltwater conditions that are often choppy. Sit On Tops (no great insight here) offer a wetter ride than Sit In Kayaks as we all know. Again, one persons opinion only, others may feel very differently about how 'wet' a ride the Revo 11 offers. For me, though I found it a 'wetter' ride than my previous SOT its nothing more than a very small inconvenience at best.

My only other caveat which would apply to all Hobies is that Im not a fan of the seat and hope that Hobie comes up with an upgraded design in time. The seat doesnt suit my body no matter how many different positions I try and Ive got a contusion on the small of my back to prove it. Others may find the seat perfectly comfortable.

I dont want to give the impression that the Revo 11 which is so adept in so many conditions is a kayak that can handle exceptionally choppy seas. If someone is going to do serious touring or fishing in 'ocean' conditions in sometimes formidable weather then the Revo 11, as capable as I find it to be wouldnt be quite up to those kinds of challenges in my opinion. Though I did recently take it for a spin in 20-30 knot winds with 4-6 foot occassionally breaking seas and it handled the conditions admirably, I think the Revo 13 and the Adventure atleast would handle those conditions considerably better.

In conclusion, I couldnt be happier with my new Revo 11. Its light, plenty fast with ST Fins, nimble, stable, turns on a dime, offers a quiet ride and handles well in many different water conditions. Ive never felt that I purchased a boat which was 'too small' which was an original concern of mine. Part of my enthusiasm has to do with the fact that Im simply a new Hobie owner who is elated to have the good fortune to pedal a Hobie kayak. Many of the positive attributes I equate with the Revo 11 Im sure apply to other Hobie Models as well and as someone who has not used other Hobie models extensively I cant really compare the Revo 11 with other models. Roadrunner and others have done an admirable job of offering comparisons of the Revo 11 to other models. I would likely be very happy with any of the Hobie models. Theyre all great boats. But I couldnt be happier with Revo 11 and I find that it suits my needs perfectly.


Cheers and Happy Pedaling,


MR

_________________
2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:46 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:59 pm
Posts: 8
Hello GS,

Though I havent read Chaz's comments on the Revo 11 Ill add this about the stability of the boat. Ive read comments from people saying that you can stand in the Revo 11 but it doesnt feel that stable while standing and my response would be that its not a kayak thats made for standing up in and so the question as to how stable it is while standing is something of a moot point. If someone wants a boat that they want to stand up in then buy a boat which allows one to do that. Thats not what the Revo 11 (and many other Hobie models) are really made for. And so any talk about how stable the Revo 11 is while standing, while interesting observations, arent relevant to the actual use of the boat which is a boat that one sits in not stands up in. Just my opinion on the matter. The only time I would suggest advising someone to choose another Hobie model that has better 'initial' (rather than secondary) stability is if someone had a considerable physical handicap where they need a boat to be exceptionally stable when entering and exiting or if someone is getting up in years and has lost considerable athleticism and needs a boat that has exceptional initial stability. Other than those occasions I feel the Revo 11 is a very stable boat, so stable that the issue of stability really isnt an 'issue' at all.


Last edited by mcrobbie on Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 12:01 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 4:01 pm
Posts: 465
mcrobbie wrote:
Hello GS,

"Though I havent read Chaz's comments on the Revo 11 Ill add this about the stability of the boat. Ive read comments from people saying that you can stand in the Revo 11 but it doesnt feel that stable while standing and my response would be that its not a kayak thats made for standing up in and so the question as to how stable it is while standing is something of a moot point. If someone wants a boat that they want to stand up in then buy a boat which allows one to do that. That's not what the Revo 11 (and many other Hobie models) are really made for "

Exactly. I prefer to fly fish and to stand to see where to cast. My Freedom Hawks are good for that. I wouldn't want to try to stand in our Oasis even with the AMAS.

"So any talk about how stable the Revo 11 is while standing, while interesting observations, arent relevant to the actual use of the boat which is a boat that one sits in not stands up in. Just my opinion on the matter. The only time I would suggest advising someone to choose another Hobie model that has better 'initial' (rather than secondary) stability is if someone had a considerable physical handicap where they need a boat to be exceptionally stable when entering and exiting or if someone is getting up in years, an elderly person say who has lost considerable athleticism and needs a boat that has exceptional initial stability. Other than those occasions I feel the Revo 11 is a very stable boat, so stable that the issue of stability really isnt an 'issue' at all.
"

I guess at 73.75 years old, I might fall into the elederly category.

When I get into the rear seat of our Oasis, after my wife is securely in the front seat, I stand on the port side with the paddle as a steadier in my left hand, I step across the Oasis, plant my right foot. Then, I sit down and shove off with both feet or what foot is needed. Then, I paddle with the half paddle until we can use the Mirage's, depending on the water depth, that can be a short wait or take a few paddle strokes.

That should be a piece of cake with the Revo 11 with the AMAs as it is a narrower yak.

After you get the first couple of scratches on the bottom of your new yak, landing becomes simple. Just do an imitation of an LST landing at an angle with the Mirage either out or in the up motion. Then, use your paddle on the river or lake side to support you in getting out of the yak and keeping the yak from going back out.

Again, this should be a piece of cake with the Revo 11 and AMAs.

_________________
2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 12:07 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:27 pm
Posts: 731
Excellent review!
I am one of the complainers about the Revo11 being "tippy", but I think this might be a subjective judgement on my part: I'm a bit stout at 205lbs 5'7" and I am also more comfortable in a Sport or Outback which are wider (like me :oops: ). But as you have pointed out, that should not deter others from trying the Revo 11. It really is a great kayak.

I dont mind the wet cockpit because here in Florida its so freakin' hot sometimes I'll splash a little water into the cockpit to cool down or wash off the fish slime/blood when I'm fishing.

Regarding surf and beach landings: I would caution Revo11 owners from overloading their front hatch if there are large waves following you into shore, just like any other kayak, you dont want the bow to dive with a wave rising the rear of the kayak. Oh and I think you'd have to be crazy to go offshore in this kayak in anything more than 4' waves :wink:


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 12:35 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:59 pm
Posts: 8
Ahhh very interesting JcanRace. Yes I think that personal perception plays a role in how stable a boat feels. Age, body composition, athleticism, fitness level can all play a role in how one perceives stability. Im a slender guy light in weight and maybe that plays a role in how stable I feel in the Revo 11.

I agree about 'surfing' waves with alot of heavy gear in the front hatch. That would absolutely make the nose dive into the bottom of the wave and off you go catupulted into the heavens!

GS I sent you a PM just an FYI on the Chaz videos. Thanks for sharing them.


Last edited by mcrobbie on Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 2:03 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:49 am
Posts: 33
I find the Revo 11 very stable both with and without the Sidekick, as you can see from my videos. I never was able to purposely capsize it. When I did tip it, my rear end was hanging over the edge which can easily happen on any of the kayaks. Bad form on my part, but very educational. You will notice that I put a graphic in showing the vertical line of no return. This would be the equivalent of standing on the edge, an absolute no-no in any small boat, let alone a kayak. My wife tipped her sit-inside inflatable on three different occasions by a similar inadvertant weight placement and it has huge tubes on the sides and she sits on the floor!

My reason for getting the Sidekick AMA was I thought it would be a slick boarding assist that could be stowed out of the way and easily deployed if needed. I only need one float to do that. I had no intent of using all the time. My other reason is that I was going to use a downrigger with a weight on one side of the boat, have a rod going out the same side, and hopefully net and land a salmon that might decide he wants to go where I don't want him to, all while leaning to that side in possibly rough seas. My initial tests showed that I probably don't need it. However, one problem with a downrigger is that the weight can get hung up on the bottom and maybe pull the boat over before I can cut the line. Safety rules and I am glad I got it.

Now that I have the Sidekick AMA, I like it lot. I will probably use it more than I first thought. I did not intend to stand up fly fish, but I might now. I don't know if it was obvious from the video, but when you initially stand, you are not used to being in that position. Since your head is higher above the water, you have the sense that it is more tippy since it moves more than when you are seated. I don't think the kayak is moving any more, it just feels that way. But I stuck with it and in no time felt very much at ease with my new "paddleboard yak". Also, getting from the seated to the standing position is awkward. I used my rod holder to help my balance. Some use a rope to pull themselves up.

I'll keep everyone posted as I use it more and conduct more tests. The salmon are running now so maybe I'll have some action shots! I see a sail in my future. What a versitile kayak. You will love it.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:19 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:59 pm
Posts: 8
Glad to hear youre loving your Revo 11 as much as I am Chaz. I agree its a pretty versatile little boat.


Last edited by mcrobbie on Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:55 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:19 am
Posts: 113
Location: New Zealand
I am far from convinced that standing up and fly fishing in a kayak in anything but the calmest of conditions is the smartest move. Just the restricted foot space is a recipe for tripping, how often do you shift your weight as you shoot line? I find sitting and casting much more practical and with a little practise can cast almost as far as standing with better line control. Of course the pedals on a Hobie add a further challenge :) This wouldn't apply to Proanglers. Just my 2 cents worth.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:02 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:49 am
Posts: 33
charlief wrote:
I am far from convinced that standing up and fly fishing in a kayak in anything but the calmest of conditions is the smartest move. Just the restricted foot space is a recipe for tripping, how often do you shift your weight as you shoot line? I find sitting and casting much more practical and with a little practise can cast almost as far as standing with better line control. Of course the pedals on a Hobie add a further challenge :) This wouldn't apply to Proanglers. Just my 2 cents worth.

I agree


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:18 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:35 am
Posts: 16
I wanted to like the Revolution 11. It is the perfect size for loading/unloading and at 47#s its easy to store.
Problem is even with the seat mounted back, my knees are in my chin. Guess my wife will be looking at it which is fine with me as I am the one in charge of kayak trips and I do all the leg work.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:46 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:43 am
Posts: 23
charlief wrote:
I am far from convinced that standing up and fly fishing in a kayak in anything but the calmest of conditions is the smartest move. Just the restricted foot space is a recipe for tripping, how often do you shift your weight as you shoot line? I find sitting and casting much more practical and with a little practise can cast almost as far as standing with better line control. Of course the pedals on a Hobie add a further challenge :) This wouldn't apply to Proanglers. Just my 2 cents worth.

I've just finished installing the standnfish.com and tested same on Trillium lake in 15 to 20 mph winds and was very impressed with the stability.With the pontoons out of the water ,the speed and effort was much better than I had anticipated. I use the provided rope and handle to assist getting to the standing postion and use a standing platform for casting. I'm a energetic flycaster and find the condition similar to a 16/17 flats boat. The size and weight of the revo 11(actually closer to 60 pds) makes tranporting easier. Seventy years old ,coming off sholder replacement and using the hullavator on top of f150 4x4 with canopy has extended my flyfishing passions


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:46 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:43 am
Posts: 23
charlief wrote:
I am far from convinced that standing up and fly fishing in a kayak in anything but the calmest of conditions is the smartest move. Just the restricted foot space is a recipe for tripping, how often do you shift your weight as you shoot line? I find sitting and casting much more practical and with a little practise can cast almost as far as standing with better line control. Of course the pedals on a Hobie add a further challenge :) This wouldn't apply to Proanglers. Just my 2 cents worth.

I've just finished installing the standnfish.com and tested same on Trillium lake in 15 to 20 mph winds and was very impressed with the stability.With the pontoons out of the water ,the speed and effort was much better than I had anticipated. I use the provided rope and handle to assist getting to the standing postion and use a standing platform for casting. I'm a energetic flycaster and find the condition similar to a 16/17 flats boat. The size and weight of the revo 11(actually closer to 60 pds) makes tranporting easier. Seventy years old ,coming off sholder replacement and using the hullavator on top of f150 4x4 with canopy has extended my flyfishing passions


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:55 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:49 am
Posts: 33
Tombo wrote:
I wanted to like the Revolution 11. It is the perfect size for loading/unloading and at 47#s its easy to store.
Problem is even with the seat mounted back, my knees are in my chin. Guess my wife will be looking at it which is fine with me as I am the one in charge of kayak trips and I do all the leg work.

Wow. you must be a tall guy! Or have a Jay Leno chin! I assume you moved the pedals all the way forward to the 7 setting. I am 5'-9" and use the 5 or 6 setting. You might try removing the foot straps and using the pedals more centered near your heel. You can try that w/o removing the straps and just stepping on them too. When I first got my Revo 11, I was slouching in the seat too much and got better leg action and extension by adjusting the seat straps so I sat more vertical.
That said, tall is cool. Don't saw your legs off even though you deserve a Revo 11! The more I use mine, the more I like it.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:11 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:51 pm
Posts: 57
MR,

A nice comprehensive review of the Revo 11.

I just had my first long-distance outing with my Revo 13 this week, and like you I too had alot of water rushing over the bow and into the front hatch. I am going to try to duplicate your rubber mat fix. I didn't have any great amount of standing water in the boat after several hours of these conditions, but the gear below was definitely more wetted than I would have liked.

The non-molded carry handles are nice when loading the boat, but the scalloped recesses under the handles act like sluices and channel water directly into my lap everytime a wave hits in chop over 6". I need to devise a spray skirt to fix this too I guess. Have you had this problem as well?

Keith


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group