Hobie Hulls?? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

cowboybill · 08-20-2012, 07:02 AM

OK, bit the bullet, goin dark... picked up a like new/used Hobie Revo 13 in the oyster sand color..

Rigging it now.

Selling Tarpon 160 (or attempting to)

Anyways, after a maiden voyage in the bay just to test, etc.. I noticed a few things.

The biggest is the Hull seems a little flimsy, weak, cheap!?!?

I swear if I was real pissed, I could put my fist through parts of the hobie...

I could take a baseball bat too my Tarpon hull and only get tired!!

Same with the wifes old Malibu Stealth 12 (that thing was a beast!)

Anybody else noticed this?!?

Cowboybill

lterrero · 08-20-2012, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboybill

OK, bit the bullet, goin dark... picked up a like new/used Hobie Revo 13 in the oyster sand color..

Rigging it now.

Selling Tarpon 160 (or attempting to)

Anyways, after a maiden voyage in the bay just to test, etc.. I noticed a few things.

The biggest is the Hull seems a little flimsy, weak, cheap!?!?

I swear if I was real pissed, I could put my fist through parts of the hobie...

I could take a baseball bat too my Tarpon hull and only get tired!!

Same with the wifes old Malibu Stealth 12 (that thing was a beast!)

Anybody else noticed this?!?

Cowboybill

Bill,, what are you doing with a Rev

you are a OutBack guy; I know you better..?

Poxy Boggards · 08-20-2012, 09:45 AM

I have a revo, and it is nice and thick. When I installed the rod holders, the plastic was almost 1/4 inch thick.

mrJB · 08-20-2012, 10:24 AM

Bill-

The Tarpon 160 hulls are some of the thickest I've seen, maybe it's something to do with keeping that 16' length from buckeling in the center...

Regarding the Hobie Revo, the areas to be concerned about are around the drive well at the four points of contact and, if a prior model year, at the seat peg holes if expanding seat pegs are used. Oh, and if a scupper cart was used incorrectly, at the rear scupper holes.

Giving Hobie credit where deserved, they are always trying to improve their products, and recent model years are stronger and less prone to failure than models from a few years back, resulting, in part, from increased thickness in the high stress areas.

The roto-molding process being what it is, there are slight variations in various sections of kayaks, regardless of the manufacturer.

Watch those areas that were mentioned, and any developing crack can be better seen by holding a flashlight beam to that area from inside the kayak.

And don't be standing on the pedals while fighting the "BIG ONE".

min-va · 08-20-2012, 10:30 AM

All i can say is, the only reason i buy a hobie is the mirage system, if tarpon have mirage system, i will take tarpon over any hobie any day.

PA is a different story.....but also that is kind of not consider a kayak already.

cowboybill · 08-21-2012, 06:37 PM

Thanks! I agree with the last guy... If I could buy a wilderness with a drive!?

But only Hobie has the drive...

Hey Leo... I like em fast and lean... I thought of PA... but .. while it is a useful tool... and I love the seat.. I cant even call it a Kayak! I wanted something to fit on the wifes car for road trips.. (Black canyon, washington, etc..)

I see some real innovation in the hobie, down to details like the hatches, having a universal integrated bait well... the rudder .... And of course the drive with the new drop in system (even the wife cant miss it!!).... But I feel like if I drop it its gonna break!

Anyways, good info..

Take care all!!
cowboybill

08-20-2012, 07:02 AM	#1
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	Hobie Hulls?? OK, bit the bullet, goin dark... picked up a like new/used Hobie Revo 13 in the oyster sand color.. Rigging it now. Selling Tarpon 160 (or attempting to) Anyways, after a maiden voyage in the bay just to test, etc.. I noticed a few things. The biggest is the Hull seems a little flimsy, weak, cheap!?!? I swear if I was real pissed, I could put my fist through parts of the hobie... I could take a baseball bat too my Tarpon hull and only get tired!! Same with the wifes old Malibu Stealth 12 (that thing was a beast!) Anybody else noticed this?!? Cowboybill

08-20-2012, 10:24 AM	#4
mrJB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: O.C. Posts: 352	Plastic Hulls... Bill- The Tarpon 160 hulls are some of the thickest I've seen, maybe it's something to do with keeping that 16' length from buckeling in the center... Regarding the Hobie Revo, the areas to be concerned about are around the drive well at the four points of contact and, if a prior model year, at the seat peg holes if expanding seat pegs are used. Oh, and if a scupper cart was used incorrectly, at the rear scupper holes. Giving Hobie credit where deserved, they are always trying to improve their products, and recent model years are stronger and less prone to failure than models from a few years back, resulting, in part, from increased thickness in the high stress areas. The roto-molding process being what it is, there are slight variations in various sections of kayaks, regardless of the manufacturer. Watch those areas that were mentioned, and any developing crack can be better seen by holding a flashlight beam to that area from inside the kayak. And don't be standing on the pedals while fighting the "BIG ONE". __________________ "I Brake for Halibut"

08-20-2012, 10:30 AM	#5
min-va Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hacienda Heights Posts: 216	All i can say is, the only reason i buy a hobie is the mirage system, if tarpon have mirage system, i will take tarpon over any hobie any day. PA is a different story.....but also that is kind of not consider a kayak already. __________________ www.vapercompany.com

08-20-2012, 09:45 AM	#3
Poxy Boggards Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 146	I have a revo, and it is nice and thick. When I installed the rod holders, the plastic was almost 1/4 inch thick.

08-21-2012, 06:37 PM	#6
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	Thanks! I agree with the last guy... If I could buy a wilderness with a drive!? But only Hobie has the drive... Hey Leo... I like em fast and lean... I thought of PA... but .. while it is a useful tool... and I love the seat.. I cant even call it a Kayak! I wanted something to fit on the wifes car for road trips.. (Black canyon, washington, etc..) I see some real innovation in the hobie, down to details like the hatches, having a universal integrated bait well... the rudder .... And of course the drive with the new drop in system (even the wife cant miss it!!).... But I feel like if I drop it its gonna break! Anyways, good info.. Take care all!! cowboybill