ICAST 2019 and KAYAKS

[Harold Scoggins]

ICAST 2019. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the new Vibe, a bonafide, Hobie wannabe? I was expecting something new from bonafide; there's going to be some disappointment when bonafide fans can't get there hands on their favorite limited 107/127s color coordinated yaks. (Only 100 ea being made?) Old Town made some upgrades to the PDL. Waiting to see if my favorite yaks reveal something new, but I'm not holding my breath. Kudos to Hobie for the new 360 drive. If anyone finds any other info or pictures on kayak improvements, please share here. Waiting for the vlogers to get info out can be slow and frustrating sometimes.

[J Francho]

Looks like Luther has a new camera pole coming out.

[Harold Scoggins]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

Looks like Luther has a new camera pole coming out.

That's great to hear! I was wondering what I was going to do should anything happen to my old Panfish poles.

[Skunkd]

The new Hobie PA 360 drive looks awesome with a price tag to match. MSRP $4700.00  Yikes!

[HookInMouth]

The new Vibe is the Shearwater 125. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDLBYkQSlek

[Hook2Jaw]

I'm demoing the 2020 Oldtown Predator on Saturday.

 

I think Vibe flopped on that boat, they should have just added a drive to the SG130.  I have no idea how they plan to stand on that platform on that 35" wide boat.

 

Hobie is still putting out the most innovative, top of the line fishing kayaks.  The Mirage Drive 360 further solidifies them at the top of the food chain.  I'm stepping away from their brand due to price increases from tariffs.

 

I'm a fan of Yakattack products, but Bonafide wants entirely too much money for their craft, and now they want more for 800 limited edition kayaks.

 

Kaku dropped a cool hybrid with a pedal drive!

 

[HookInMouth]

Yeah that Zulu looks very cool. I just have no interest in a peddle kayak. 

[J Francho]

2 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I think Vibe flopped on that boat

They didn't bring a finished model?  I'd like to see the pedal drive, and just what is this "jet" drive?

[Hook2Jaw]

15 minutes ago, J Francho said:

They didn't bring a finished model?  I'd like to see the pedal drive, and just what is this "jet" drive?

The pedal drive will be something akin to the V1 Mirage Drive, and the jet is the Bixpy jet, it attaches to the rudder and just shoots you around like a ridiculous octopus.

 

But yeah, no finished model.  I'm not mad they copied other companies, we're all rocking wheels and the original inventor isn't being paid a thing, but I think Vibe should have went with some thicker plastic, a propeller, and a wider boat if they think their standing platform is gonna work out.  I climb trees for a dang living and would tumble right off that thing on a hookset. 

[HookInMouth]

3 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I think Vibe should have went with some thicker plastic, a propeller, and a wider boat if they think their standing platform is gonna work out.  I climb trees for a dang living and would tumble right off that thing on a hookset. 

I'm no expert by any stretch, but the Kaku Voodoo is only 35" wide and standing on their platform (seat) is done relatively easy. Or so braver people have told me haha. 

[Hook2Jaw]

6 minutes ago, HookInMouth said:

I'm no expert by any stretch, but the Kaku Voodoo is only 35" wide and standing on their platform (seat) is done relatively easy. Or so braver people have told me haha. 

Take a look at the underside of a Vudu and then look at the Vibe Shearwater, you'll see what I mean.

[HookInMouth]

3 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

Take a look at the underside of a Vudu and then look at the Vibe Shearwater, you'll see what I mean.

I don’t doubt it man. I was just pointing out that I didn’t think hull width was the issue. Hull design, sure. 

[CountryboyinDC]

The Predator PDL looks just like mine, with a different finish and a forward facing flush mount rod holder.  I guess the big star is the Hobie.  I've always been Hobie-curious, but the way you have to shift to reverse has kept me out of one.  From the demo, that definitely shouldn't ba an issue.  Now it'll just be the five grand pricetag that keeps me from making the leap.

[J Francho]

What’s up with all the non working prototypes?  I mean the excuses coming out these guys’ mouths is astounding. Just saw another video pimping “when it’s in production it’ll work right” feature. 

[Hook2Jaw]

1 hour ago, HookInMouth said:

I don’t doubt it man. I was just pointing out that I didn’t think hull width was the issue. Hull design, sure. 

I'm not sure how the physics of it all work, but standing on the seat of my 38" PA is harder than standing on the Larry chairs of the two paddleboards I've been on.  Hull width is definitely an issue when it comes to a kayak styled hull and not a flat bottomed board.

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

What’s up with all the non working prototypes?  I mean the excuses coming out these guys’ mouths is astounding. Just saw another video pimping “when it’s in production it’ll work right” feature. 

I dunno, man.  They're pretty pitiful this year.  Hey, at least Bonafide made some new colors!  That's so cutting edge.

 

All the new ICAST stuff is underwhelming for me.  My favorite soft plastic brand didn't introduce a Ned plastic, instead giving me more colors of the Christie Craws I rarely throw and a big finesse worm for a situation I mostly Carolina rig in.

 

Then, my favorite kayak company ups prices a few weeks before ICAST and then releases their new, premier boat at five freaking thousand dollars.

 

But hey, at least there's no Live Target Backstroke Armadillo.  I can't see the game changed that much.

[GeekOutdoors]

I laid my eyes on the new Catch 110HD... The 130HD is just a tad too long for my liking ...

 

[HookInMouth]

19 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

Kaku dropped a cool hybrid with a pedal drive!

 

Kaku Zulu $1325 without drive. $550 to add the drive. 

 

Reasonable. 

[J Francho]

11 minutes ago, HookInMouth said:

Kaku Zulu $1325 without drive. $550 to add the drive. 

 

Reasonable.

For $124 more, you can get a Hobie Compass.

[HookInMouth]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

For $124 more, you can get a Hobie Compass.

Yeah, they're in the same general ballpark with the drive. Personally I would only be interested in the Zulu without the drive which is a good bit cheaper. I'm not a peddle guy. Maybe because I've never tried it but it looks really uncomfortable and I spend most of my time on shallow rivers. 

 

I'm pretty happy with my Voodoos although I'm pretty sure my wife wants a Zulu after seeing it. She's been talking about the Wahoo but didn't want to give up the Voodoo seat (amazing seat). This kind of looks like a Wahoo with a Voodoo seat so, yeah, she's going to need one lol. 

[Hook2Jaw]

My fiancee wants a Zulu now, too.  She wanted a paddleboard until I pointed out she wouldn't be able to keep up, and this thing handles both my need to move and her need to have a paddleboard!   Excellent move by Kaku.

[HookInMouth]

Happy wife (fiancee) happy life. Even if we're broke haha. 

[Hook2Jaw]

Mine is a lawyer and I'm a tree guy, so she definitely pulls her financial weight around. 

[Choporoz]

Just now watched a couple of videos of the Hobie 360 on the water.   I'm glad my 180 drive is only 7 months old...I'm not too tempted at the moment....but....WOW....if I was back in the market today, I'm not sure I'd even care what it costs...that thing looks to be able to nearly spin in place.  The sideways action and the bump-up capability truly could be game changing.

   I really do not have any issue at all with the reverse cabling on the 180.  But there are times, maybe once every 4-5 times out when I find myself reaching for the hand paddle because I've gotten into a tight spot.

[Hook2Jaw]

3 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Just now watched a couple of videos of the Hobie 360 on the water.   I'm glad my 180 drive is only 7 months old...I'm not too tempted at the moment....but....WOW....if I was back in the market today, I'm not sure I'd even care what it costs...that thing looks to be able to nearly spin in place.  The sideways action and the bump-up capability truly could be game changing.

   I really do not have any issue at all with the reverse cabling on the 180.  But there are times, maybe once every 4-5 times out when I find myself reaching for the hand paddle because I've gotten into a tight spot.

I don't know about game changer, as any drive system can maneuver to an extent with much wider turns than the 360 is capable of, and a paddle can get you into tight spots, but that quick and fine-tuned positioning ability will definitely add more minutes of line in the water.

 

I'm actually more amped to have a propeller and fully hands free reverse.  I'm gonna be able to smack my cranks across more mess than I've ever been able to with my current Hobie 180 drive.

[CountryboyinDC]

7 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I don't know about game changer, as any drive system can maneuver to an extent with much wider turns than the 360 is capable of, and a paddle can get you into tight spots, but that quick and fine-tuned positioning ability will definitely add more minutes of line in the water.

I would say this is game-changing for Hobies, and a pretty significant advantage over all other pedal drives.  Getting a Hobie to back up reminded me of an old worn out farm truck we had with a column shifter and worn out forks - you had to hold your mouth right to get it into gear.  So you definitely couldn't hold in place without pretty well putting your fishing rod completely down and either using your paddle or manipulating the reversing mechanism.  This is why I bought a OT Predator PDL when the shop tried to talk me into an Outback (they were the same price at the time, I think).  While it still will take 1 hand to go from forward to reverse, it won't take all your concentration.  And the other trick moves they showed in the demonstration may seem gimmicky, but I'll bet if you use it enough, you could find situations to put it to use.  If I only had more time to fish.....