Hobie Compass Mirage

[J Francho]

Looks like Hobie has a new boat in a VERY competitive price point:

 

https://www.hobie.com/kayaks/mirage-compass/#fishing

 

12', standing platform, Mirage Drive for around $2000. 

[Darren.]

It is a nice boat and price point, been out for a while,

watched several reviews on it. Good stuff.

[J Francho]

It hasn't been out that long...it's a 2018, lol.  I'm still watching the snow fly!

[Darren.]

10 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It hasn't been out that long...it's a 2018, lol.  I'm still watching the snow fly!

September 2017. Not that long, so I suppose "out for a while"

is relative  

 

Like cars, the 2018 model available in 2017...

[Fishingmickey]

Hey Guy's,

     I've been looking at the Compass kind of hard too. It isn't the battle wagon that the PA14 is but I think it could be a very nice fishing machine that can/could do things that you wouldn't do with the PA.

    I see the pro's being, it is much lighter at 87 lbs vs 145 lbs. So should be close to car top-able with a good rack and strong back. I think it will be more maneuverable, faster, and will paddle much better then the PA's in the event of drive failure or wanting to cross serious vegetation mats or stump fields.

   Con's would be lighter weight carrying capacity 400 lbs vs 600 lbs especially with a large arsed american male that I am. Not as stable, 4" less width and 1'8" shorter may make standing very sketchy. This is a maybe a con or not, not having test drove the Compass yet. How is good is tracking and steering? How much will wind effect performance? It doesn't have the centerboard like the PA does.  The seat has less options then the Hobie air pro that comes with the PA's. 

     That is my off the head thoughts. Hopefully I'll put some of the con's to bed and see if the pro's are there. After I get a chance to test drive the Compass.

Tight lines,

Fishingmickey

[Choporoz]

Are the gear tracks new?  I looked at these a few months ago and decided to focus on Wildy/Jackson pedals for a couple reasons - one, Compass didn't seem as fishing-ready; and two, I convinced myself that the other two drive systems would handle the shallow slop and rocky rivers I fish better than Mirage.

 

And then, after a couple days I woke from my dream and decided there were other things that needed that 2.5K that I don't have....still widow shopping, though

[J Francho]

46 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I see the pro's being, it is much lighter at 87 lbs vs 145 lbs.

 

46 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Not as stable, 4" less width and 1'8" shorter may make standing very sketchy.

 

46 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

The seat has less options then the Hobie air pro that comes with the PA's. 

 

46 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Con's would be lighter weight carrying capacity 400 lbs vs 600 lbs

You're going to remove the drive before car topping, and the dry hull is 67 lbs.  I can assure, the difference is like night and day when you're around 70 lbs. rigged as appose to 85 or so when car topping.  I don't think width plays as big a part in stability as hull design, so standing should not be an issue.  My Commander is *only* 31" wide, and I'd fall out of it before I rolled it.  Though, I'd really need to test drive it to know for sure.  If it's good at standing as the videos show, the seat is of little importance.  I don't use the one in my C140 most of the time.  Carrying capacity could get tight, especially for a big dude.  You take a big dude at 250, and it doesn't take much to hit that mark with battery, anchor, crate, tackle, etc.  I would like to clarify 600 lbs. is for the PA14 - not a fair comparison.  The PA12 max is 500 lbs. 

 

So, I think I'd have to take a spin before I can totally discount the three points you made.  The weight thing, well not many smaller boats stray far for 400 - 500 lbs., but after doing many demo days, and seeing "plus size" guys overload an ultralight, it's a consideration.

 

 

6 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Are the gear tracks new?

Looks like there versions with and without gear tracks.  Also, what do you mean by "not fishing ready"?  Gear tracks, transducer cavity, and rod holders come standard.  Most places I saw online, it was $1949.99.

[Choporoz]

24 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

Looks like there versions with and without gear tracks.  Also, what do you mean by "not fishing ready"?  Gear tracks, transducer cavity, and rod holders come standard.  Most places I saw online, it was $1949.99.

I got serious CRS, so I won't swear to anything, but I am pretty sure those features we're NOT on the models I compared a few months ago.

 

Any thoughts or experience related to operability in skinny water?  I.E., ease of lifting drive, bottom contact durability, paddle-ability, etc?

 

[J Francho]

Seems like the drive is around 15 lbs.  Not exactly feather light.  It's not a gigantic pain to remove, but not super easy in the PA12/14.  I've used a PA12/14 in pretty skinny water.  You have to "feather" the fins instead of using full strokes.

[Fishingmickey]

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

 

 

 

You're going to remove the drive before car topping, and the dry hull is 67 lbs.  I can assure, the difference is like night and day when you're around 70 lbs. rigged as appose to 85 or so when car topping.  I don't think width plays as big a part in stability as hull design, so standing should not be an issue.  My Commander is *only* 31" wide, and I'd fall out of it before I rolled it.  Though, I'd really need to test drive it to know for sure.  If it's good at standing as the videos show, the seat is of little importance.  I don't use the one in my C140 most of the time.  Carrying capacity could get tight, especially for a big dude.  You take a big dude at 250, and it doesn't take much to hit that mark with battery, anchor, crate, tackle, etc.  I would like to clarify 600 lbs. is for the PA14 - not a fair comparison.  The PA12 max is 500 lbs. 

 

So, I think I'd have to take a spin before I can totally discount the three points you made.  The weight thing, well not many smaller boats stray far for 400 - 500 lbs., but after doing many demo days, and seeing "plus size" guys overload an ultralight, it's a consideration.

 

 

Looks like there versions with and without gear tracks.  Also, what do you mean by "not fishing ready"?  Gear tracks, transducer cavity, and rod holders come standard.  Most places I saw online, it was $1949.99.

J Francho,

     I'm kinda of excited about the Compass. I think lightly loaded it might be a pretty fast for a pedal kayak. 

     

Regarding the weight capacity I compared it with the PA14 because that is what I have.

 

     I fall into the big dude category and standing "for me" in chop and boat wakes (especially wake boat wakes) can be a somewhat iffy thing. In the PA14 and my old Diablo Amigo standing wasn't an issue. Not sure where the "not fishing ready" comment comes from though. 

Take care,

FM