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| Hobie Mirage Revolution | | Print | |
| Friday, 02 November 2007 | ||||
Speed, stability and maneuverability: the Revo has a lot going for it I wrote up a small piece on my Hobie Revolution kayak only days after I received it, mostly with a focus on some of the appendages that I had attached to it. Now after having put it through the wringer in over 50 trips and traversing at least 700km - from river systems to surf - I feel well qualified to write a thorough review. In particular, I'm in a pretty good position to compare it to the Hobie Outback model, which I was happily using before picking up the Revolution. There were several attributes that attracted me to the Revolution model, which ultimately influenced my final decision to take it instead of the Outback that I had previously planned on using. Those attributes can be summed up under the banner of versatility. Being a hybrid of sorts, the Revolution sits nicely in that gap that previously separated the Outback from the Adventure model. The Revolution is a longer and more slender kayak than the Outback, which not only makes it a faster hull design, it's also easier to paddle. It's not as long or slender as the Adventure, however, and nor is it as fast. But being some 80cm shorter than the Adventure, it also boasts a tighter turning circle and has the added advantage of being lighter than both the Adventure and Outback. That's not to say that it skimps on storage space either - it has plenty, especially under the bow hatch. So it would be fair to say that the Revolution is a very good all-round fishing kayak, and is precisely the sort of multi-tasker that would be suitable for someone traveling along the diversified coastline of Australia. It is also that sort of 'best of both worlds' quality that would lend itself to any kayak fisherman that fishes in a variety of conditions. It would also be fair to say, however, that because it does sit somewhere in between the Outback and Adventure models, both of those kayaks are probably a little bit better suited for their intended specific usage scenarios. Despite having good storage for what it is, both the Outback and Adventure models do offer more storage room than the Revolution. They both have more options for mounting extras such as rod holders and GPS mounts as well. The Revolution isn't long enough to offer the ability to slice through choppy water quite like the Adventure and nor is it wide enough to offer the rock-solid stability of the Outback. So perhaps the term 'almost best of both worlds' is more appropriate.  Hobie Mirage Revolution: good to go The Revolution is also a respectably stable kayak as well - I've only tipped it once so far (video), and that was while surfing a wave (and loading up the bow with too much weight). Stability has been excellent on both kayaks and although I know there is a difference favouring the Outback, I've hardly noticed it. I've never been short of room for any of my tackle or camera equipment (both cameras) and with a few simple modifications I have been able to increase the rod holding capacity from 2 to 5. Even though the Revolution doesn't have the molded-in utility trays like the Outback, I have never felt as if I have needed any more space to work with. So it didn't take very long to make the small adjustment required after fishing in the Outback for so long.  Casting & retrieving lures while trolling Nor did it take any time to start appreciating it's advantages over the Outback. Equipped with a set of turbo fins, the Revolution tracks along noticeably faster than the Outback using the same. Equipped with the ST fins (which I now use) the Revolution will match an Outback fitted with turbo fins. Whilst not being a quantum leap ahead, the Revolution hull is definitely easier to propel than that of the Outback. Due to being a few inches narrower, the Revolution is much easier to paddle along with a comfortable stroke as well. I found this to be a big bonus because sometimes I prefer to use the paddle, if only to achieve a full body workout. The Revolution also slices through chop better than the Outback, and suffers less bow-slap in a swell. This makes it a little easier to manage in the open water on those not so calm days. The centre of gravity is a little lower in the Revolution, which tends to help it out in the stability department as well. Admittedly, the weight of the Revolution was a pleasant surprise. While only being a couple of kilos lighter than the Outback, I did notice it that it was significantly easier to load and unload the kayak from the roof of my car. This has just as much to do with weight distribution as it does total weight, however, which makes the Revo a little easier to get to and from the water. As a side note, it's narrower profile afford me room enough to fit the kayak as well as a gear box to my roof racks - I don't think I could get away with that using the Outback.  Room for two One area that I would say both the Revolution and Outback are equal is in their ability to turn. Both have a pretty tight turning circle by default, and fitted with an XL 'twist & stow' rudder blade, I found the performance of both to be equally improved. I am typically able to fit all of my tackle into a small waterproof gear bag, which is placed in the rear storage well. Here it shares space with the stored wheel cart, as well as a medium sized waterproof storage case that houses my DSLR camera. I use the bungee cords to secure both to the kayak, although because both of them float I don't have to be terribly vigilant about it. The rear storage well isn't as deep as it is in the Adventure or Outback, losing some space towards the rear, angling upwards towards the stern. The rear hatch is cleverly positioned on this incline, which means that any water splashing over it just tends to run right off. It also makes it a little easier to reach than those on the Outback and Adventure. Storage room in the rear hatch is reasonably generous, although care should be taken to avoid getting gear tangled up in the steering lines.  Tackle tray inserts for easy storage of small items, with more room underneath The centre hatch is generally where I'll store items such as snacks, sea anchor and rope. There isn't a lot of depth to this storage compartment, so only smaller items are suitable for storage here. The insert trays help to organise these hatches nicely and this is the perfect hatch to make use of one. I'd like to see a larger storage insert for this particular hatch - something that fits in much the same way as the current storage trays, but with more room (and probably made out of nylon fabric instead of plastic). The front hatch is by far the largest, offering ample entry into a sizable storage area in the bow. This is where I started off putting my tackle and camera equipment, but later delegated it to fish storage instead. The front hatch is large enough to store several big fish and has an ample enough opening to make fitting them in pretty simple. I'd hazard a guess that the front hatch of the Revolution is the most user-friendly of all Hobie mirage kayaks - not only is it large, it's also easy to access and seems to do a great job of keeping water out.  Plenty of room for storage of fish up front Coming from having used the Outback for some time, it was at first a little challenging figuring out where to mount the extra rod holders. I opted for the RAM tube rod holder design for the kayak and that turned out to be a pretty good choice. With just enough room to mount one on each side, I was able to position them to be forward enough so as to not interfere with a good broad paddle stroke as well. So how has the Revolution held up to the rigors of almost daily abuse? Rather well is the short answer. Despite being rammed into reef edges and oyster-covered rocks and being inadvertently surfed straight onto a corrugated concrete boat ramp, the hull has taken it's beatings admirably. With all the scars to prove it, the Revo's polythylene construction is definitely tough enough to handle everything I've thrown it at. The kayak has spent an unnatural amount of time in the hot Queensland sun and seems to have weathered that well to. I haven't noticed any obvious deformation in the hull, nor has the colour faded noticably. The circular hatches are still providing a good seal from water penetration, the rudder still performs flawlessly and the miragedrive still works like new. I did have to replace a set of ST fins on the miragedrive recently (due to them being torn open during above-mentioned surf landing on the boat ramp) but aside from that everything has been much like clockwork, and with a minimal amount of maintenance. The more important question is: has the Hobie Revolution turned out to be as suitable for a coastal kayak fishing trip as I first anticipated? Again, the short answer to that is yes. With just enough storage room to get by even with a relatively big load, fast enough to tackle almost any current and maneuverable enough to get around in small creeks and rivers, the Revo has proven itself to be a dependable and easily managed kayak. I've taken this kayak out into lakes, dams, creeks, rivers, channels, bays and out through the surf into the open ocean and I've felt right at home everywhere I've been. Certainly, the Revolution has suited my needs a little better than the Outback would have.  The Revolution had no problems making the voyage to Magnetic Island & back The further north I have travelled, however, the less important maneuverability seems to be to me, as most creeks and rivers are probably best left alone (due to crocodiles) anyway. This means I'm spending most of my fishing time in the ocean these days and as capable as the Revolution is, the Adventure might just handle most of what I'm doing a little better. In particular, I imagine it would better accommodate kayak camping trips to the many islands that dot the north eastern coastline. Not just because it has a bit more storage but more so because it would likely get you there faster (or with less effort). It's not that I think the the Adventure is that much faster in normal circumstances, because it isn't. When it starts getting choppy, however, the Adventure does tend to slice across the swell more effectively (as opposed to up and over it) and the water up here tends to get nice and dicey often. Over longer distances - which it is to many of these islands - that could make for a big difference. So as much as the more maneuverable Revolution has perfectly suited most of the coastal areas I've been to so far - especially the small creeks - I do think the Adventure might handle the conditions this far north a little better. It's altogether possible I'm just splitting hairs in saying this because the Adventure is the only Hobie mirage kayak I haven't yet tested out. I just suspect that the longer, more slender Adventure has the edge when it comes to paddling through rough open water.    
06-11-2007 16:14 Hi Josh, I was going to ask what would you change about the Revo but I suspect that you have answered it with your article on getting an Adventure. 06-11-2007 16:31 Howdy there Hoit. There's not much I'd change to be honest. For what it is and what it can do, the Revo is pretty much spot on I think. Its just that the adventure does wind and chop better, and I'm experiencing lots of that up here. If I was still in Vic I think I'd just stick with the Revo. That said, there is a few things I'd change on all Hobie kayaks. One would be coming up with a seat that has a bit more padding (astro would cheer for that one) as well as a customizable, compartmentalized pockets for the back of it. If I had access to the right kind of sewing machine, I'd have my fillet knife and lip grippers attached to the back. Oh yeah, I'd prefer to see the seat attach to the kayak with velcro to, instead of those plastic lugs. I'd also like to see the seats and mirage drive a little further back, but i know this would come at the cost of rear storage. Other things I'd like to see would be accessories, such as gear bags that fit into the 8" circular hatches much like the tackle trays do. A dedicated lighting system wouldn't go astray ether, but now I'm getting fussy :-) Only registered users can write comments. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 |
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