Hobie mirage passport or oldtown sportsman kayak?

[Gregorym38]

I started a thread a few weeks ago asking what kind of a kayak i should get, the consensus was an oldtown sportsman. Very solid kayk, but the price is a little steep. Is the hobie mirage passport 10.5 or 12 any good?? Its a lot cheaper and is the hobie brand

[flyfisher]

I haven't used a passport but I have heard good things about it and I know a buddy of mine has one and likes it and he also has a PA for comparison.  I wouldn't personally get a 10' boat unless it was designed for maneuvering tight spaces and river use.  On lakes no matter what it will waggle some and not be as fast.  

don't get hooked on the name either.  I would also be sure to test pedal any boat as some people do not like the hobie pedal motion, i was one of those people.  

Another option in the same general price range is getting a different boat ad motorizing it instead.  You could put together a package with a boat like the Wilderness systems recon and a NK180s motor and battery for a little more money than a pedal boat.  

 

 

[Bankc]

I'd definitely go with the 12' version if you can swing it.  It'll be much faster and more stable.  Plus you'll have more room.  If you ever fish a big lake with power boats, you'll be glad you did.

 

The Sportsman is a little better built than the Mirage.  It's more in competition with the Hobie PA 12 than the Mirage.  Plus it's wider and more stable.  However, the Mirage will probably be quicker through the water (and easier to peddle).  

 

But it's up to you if it's worth the extra money.  Buy once, cry once, as they say.  And I'd recommend seeing if you can find a place that will let you try out both before you purchase either.  But both are good options.  

[Gregorym38]

Yeah im definitely looking into a tsst drive, but not a lot of places by me offer it. Im in bergen county nj if anyone by chance knows a place that does, let me know. Or down in glassboro nj could work too. 
I feel like the hobie would be a better fit, it offers much of the same tech, but the fins kick up easily, its lighter, and cheaper. The sportsman i would only buy the 10.6, which is still 2500. The hobie would be 1900 for the 12 ft, which i think is much more reasonable, but i ultimately dont know. 

[Gera]

6 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I haven't used a passport but I have heard good things about it and I know a buddy of mine has one and likes it and he also has a PA for comparison.  I wouldn't personally get a 10' boat unless it was designed for maneuvering tight spaces and river use.  On lakes no matter what it will waggle some and not be as fast.  

don't get hooked on the name either.  I would also be sure to test pedal any boat as some people do not like the hobie pedal motion, i was one of those people.  

Another option in the same general price range is getting a different boat ad motorizing it instead.  You could put together a package with a boat like the Wilderness systems recon and a NK180s motor and battery for a little more money than a pedal boat.  

 

 

 

Pedal motion played a big part when I chose to go with the sportsman. I'm very used to cycling and pedaling in the standard motion made a huge difference. I have tried the Hobby pedal systems and while it has many advantages, pedaling like a bike made it way easier. 

I have a 106 PDL, I can take it to St Clair no issues with stability (big water and very large boats around). May not be as fast as the 120 but its very stable. Mine has now been modified were I can use it with only with paddles, the PDL or with a spot lock trolling motor. its great to have a platform that its so easy to adapt to the place I'm taking it. 

 

[flyfisher]

1 hour ago, Gera said:

 

Pedal motion played a big part when I chose to go with the sportsman. I'm very used to cycling and pedaling in the standard motion made a huge difference. I have tried the Hobby pedal systems and while it has many advantages, pedaling like a bike made it way easier. 

I have a 106 PDL, I can take it to St Clair no issues with stability (big water and very large boats around). May not be as fast as the 120 but its very stable. Mine has now been modified were I can use it with only with paddles, the PDL or with a spot lock trolling motor. its great to have a platform that its so easy to adapt to the place I'm taking it. 

 

I had the same experience with the hobie while being a cyclist...felt way too unnatural to me.  I decided when the NK180s came out it wasn't worth getting a pedal drive anymore as I primarily am working against current in the river and the motor makes it way easier and i can cover more qater more quickly and then paddle downstream.  win win.  Great to have lots of options out there now...way more than I did when i started kayak fishing 20+ years ago

[Gregorym38]

I found a shop that sells the 120 pdl for 2200, i may pull the trigger

[Bankc]

9 hours ago, Gregorym38 said:

I found a shop that sells the 120 pdl for 2200, i may pull the trigger

That's a good price.  I'd still try to see if they'll let you try it out first.  Or at least, sit in it and make sure the seat's comfortable.  You don't know how important a comfortable seat is until you've sat in one that isn't for 8 hours.  And since everyone's body is different, everyone's idea of a comfortable seat is different.  

[Darth-Baiter]

i ride a bike and the hobie system worked well for me.  it is like a step machine.  closer to walking, which i do way more than biking.  so the muscle memory was not an issue.

 

my friend fished with the smaller passport.  kid you not.  he pulled a small raft with his lunch.  he had no room onboard.  he upgraded to the Compass, which is where i would jump on board to a Hobie if i was trying to save a few bucks.  eyes closed, it feels like my Outback.  

[Gregorym38]

1 hour ago, Bankc said:

That's a good price.  I'd still try to see if they'll let you try it out first.  Or at least, sit in it and make sure the seat's comfortable.  You don't know how important a comfortable seat is until you've sat in one that isn't for 8 hours.  And since everyone's body is different, everyone's idea of a comfortable seat is different.  

Yeah, they said i could sit in it but i cant test drive until april, but im sure that the drive would be great

[Gera]

Don't worry to much about it, you will be looking into how to add a motor in 6 months 

 

[Bluebasser86]

The instant switching from forward to reverse instead of having to switch back and forth each time makes the choice to go with the Oldtown easy for me. I have a Passport and the 120PDL.

[Scott804]

100% Sportsman, especially at the price you gave. That thing is awesome. I never had a single complaint about mine. 

[Gregorym38]

22 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

The instant switching from forward to reverse instead of having to switch back and forth each time makes the choice to go with the Oldtown easy for me. I have a Passport and the 120PDL.

I will probably go with the sportsman, but out of curiosity, does the drive system on the hobie feel natural? 

 

[Bluebasser86]

29 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

I will probably go with the sportsman, but out of curiosity, does the drive system on the hobie feel natural? 

 

Honestly, I have used the Hobie very little compared to the Sportsman so it's probably not a completely fair comparison, but the bicycle peddling of the Sportsman drive feels much more natural. 

[Darth-Baiter]

that vroom vroom vroom sound of some pedal drives i hear seem excessive.  are some of them quiet?

[Gregorym38]

4 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

that vroom vroom vroom sound of some pedal drives i hear seem excessive.  are some of them quiet?

Supposedly the oldtown is really quiet