Hobie Pedal Kayaks...What a concept!!!

[cracker39]

Has anyone looked at these Hobie Kayaks with their patented pedal system? I saw them yesterday on a tv program. A couple were using them to travel in the everglades while photographing wildlife. and it looked effortless.

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/

I'm hooked...I want one. My arms and shoulders won't take the high stress of paddling these days, but I can still pedal my bike. Check out their videos on the unique pedal drive system. There's nothing else like it on the market.

These are easily car toppable and I think I could load and unload one by myself. They're pricey, but not so bad when you consider the cost of a good quality basic kayak, then see and all of the equipment you get with one of these. I think one of these would make fishing while camping a breeze...no gas to buy, faster than paddling, hands-free propulsion while fishing, and the drive system is underwater and won't scare off the fish.

[apratt]

That is cool!!!!! It be great for fishing, it leaves your hands free to hold the fishing rod. Great for trolling.

[SmokeyBob]

Neat idea. I wounder how well it works.

[madjack]

...good to see ya post Dale...we were gonna put your pic onna milk carton
...I like that Hobbie but many of the waterways around here have problems with coon-tailed grass, duck weed and hydrilla and would bring your "flippers" to complete halt, leaving you with a tangled mess....
madjack

[asianflava]

I've seen those. It'd work great for fishing, you can still move while your hands are on the rod and reel.

[caseydog]

I bet they would be great for fishing, too. Your hands would be free to hold a beer and a bag of chips.

[Sonetpro]

I have used one. A fishing buddy has one. He tore a rotator cup and had no choice.
They are a top of the line kayak. I can peddle it almost as fast as I can paddle one.
If you get in weeds you can just pull the mirage drive up and paddle it.
I want one. But yes they are pricey.

[AlaskaJack]

I have used one. A fishing buddy has one. He tore a rotator cup and had no choice.
They are a top of the line kayak. I can peddle it almost as fast as I can paddle one.
If you get in weeds you can just pull the mirage drive up and paddle it.
I want one. But yes they are pricey.

Steve, how "sturdy" are the flippers.... just in case you happen to run into shallow water or into the rocks..... are they likely to break off?

[cracker39]

Steve, how "sturdy" are the flippers.... just in case you happen to run into shallow water or into the rocks..... are they likely to break off?

I read posts on a forum discussing that kayak. One poster is a dealer. He said he's sold about 170 of them and never had one come back with a problem with the drive unit. They are apparently pretty sturdy. Where I live, I don't think we'd have a problem with hitting rocks, just weeds...and we have lots of those around the lake edges.