Advantages to pedaling:

The biggest advantage of a Hobie pedal drive kayak is that the user's hands remain free to fish. If you haven't experienced this - you need to. Here are a few scenarios of how pedaling will greatly improve your kayak fishing experience.

1. It's windy and you just positioned your kayak to make the perfect cast. You put down your paddle and quickly pick up your rod and rush to make the cast before you blow off of your position - you miss your spot, you miss the fish, you miss lunch! In a Hobie, you can hold your position and make the cast - in fact you can make multiple casts, because you won't be blown out of position.

2. You're fishing bridge pilings or the mouth of a stream and you paddle up to the spot you want to cast to. You drop the paddle and make a cast. You immediately drift back in the current and your lure follows - probably getting pulled out of the strike zone you intended it to be in. In a Hobie, you pedal up to your spot, match your speed to hover in the current and cast as many times as you want without losing ground - nice!

3. You've launched through the surf and spent the morning hauling in monster blues and some hefty stripers. You realize that you're now 3 miles off the beach with an outgoing tide and a strong wind blowing in your face. You start to paddle back and realize that you're hardly moving. Your arms are still aching from fighting all the fish, the sun is beating down on you, and you're not sure if your crying or if it's just the salt making your eyes burn. Yep, you guessed it - you should be pedaling a Hobie in this situation. The Mirage drive delivers massive torque with less effort and will give you the extra push you need to get back to the beach.
How does the Mirage Drive system work?

The MirageDrive is simple and easy to use. Your feet rest naturally on the pedals and you pedal effortlessly similar to a bicycle. The larger muscles in our legs produce more powerful propulsion versus arms using a paddle. In addition, correct paddle usage requires training and practice - the pedal system is extremely user friendly and does not require any special skill or additional training. You also stay drier because pedaling eliminates drips that you get often get from using a traditional double ended paddle. The MirageDrive is also quiet and creates no splash. And did we mention that your hands will remain free for fishing?
Can the Mirage Drive be used in shallow water?
Yes, it can. Even though the drive fins draw 20" while fully extended, they don't need to be fully extended in order to move you along. You can still generate propulsion with a very short pedal stroke. You won't be moving at full speed, but the chances are that if you're in really shallow water you're probably trying to sneak up on a fish anyway.
If you're really concerned about dragging bottom, the drive can be easily removed on the water and the kayak can then be paddled with a traditional kayak paddle.
So is pedaling for you?
Once you experience the benefits of hands-free fishing, the ability to hover in current and make good time against wind and tide, we think that you will quickly fall in love with the Hobie Mirage Drive kayaks.
So now that you've decided that pedaling is for you, all you need to do is decide on which Hobie Kayak Mirage Drive model to purchase.
1. The Hobie Sport, is the smallest and lightest Mirage kayak and it is geared toward smaller individuals (under 235 lbs with a 32" inseam or less)

2. The Hobie Outback - the original Mirage Drive fishing kayak can handle just about anyone. It has plenty of weight capacity and storage and many useful features that continue to make it one of the top choices.

3. The Hobie Revolution is the newest addition to the Mirage Drive fishing lineup and it too has been drawing lots of attention from the kayak fishing community. It is a much sleeker performance oriented hull when compared to the Outback and has been a favorite among those who like to paddle their kayak as well as pedal it.

4. The Hobie Adventure is the fastest kayak in the Hobie fleet at 16' long. It has gained much favor with the big water kayak fishermen. If you need to cover some distance and don't mind storing and transporting a longer kayak than this may be the model for you.

5. If you prefer to have company on the water the Hobie Outfitter is a tandem model. This is a very stable platform and we have found that one person can stand and sight fish while the other controls the kayak. Be sure to take turns - there's enough fish for everyone.

If you have any questions or would like to purchase a Hobie call us at 973-659-1114. You can also check out our online store for pricing and additional info. To see some great video clips about Hobie kayaks check out Hobies website: Hobie Kayaks.