Agree with you that the drive system they use is the best for efficiency. I do frequently wish other brands picked up that system even without reverse. I’ve never been left high and dry with other brands and have been able to get back on the water quickly after something broke down. These days the Hobie collects dust frequently since I don’t have confidence in it holding up for a fishing trip in a saltwater environment.
I work at a kayak shop and we have been seeing tons of issues with the 360 drive. So I went with the Jackson Knarr. The 360 is a fantastic system when it works but it’s just too unreliable at the moment. The PA14 and Outback (I guess the newer compass as well? have had major issues with the plastic shearing by the seat, and rear hatch. It’s not just that the plastic is unsupported, it’s just super thin and playable. went with the Jackson Knarr for my bigger kayak, vibe shearwater and 2017 Outback for my fin style drives.
going on second year hobie 360 14. took it out about 50 or so times no issues yet knock on wood. always washing drive off with tap water and quick spray of white spray grease seems to keep it going. also 300 uv spray...sunlight does break down the plastic on roto molded kayaks and boats. also would suggest buying some foam blocks to put under or wedge in under the seat to help support the seat and deck where u stand....when it is hot outside and being the sun the plastic does become a bit flexible and for us heaver guys means stress in some areas around the seat.
If your propulsion method breaks and you have no way of getting back, you're either ill-prepared or you've ventured too far, carry a quality full-sized paddle.. I'm old school and still prefer a paddle kayak, I carry an extra paddle in the hull in case my primary breaks.
We have been programmed to believe price=quality. If it cost the most it must be the best...right? No. You are paying for name brand, sponsorships, marketing and so on. Hobie has been one of the worst at exploiting this. They had a monopoly on this drive system for a couple decades and could really charge whatever they want. Once other brands started entering the market they had to justify that insane price difference. People not wanting to admit they have been getting ripped off all these years are more ready to accept the reasoning that it must mean its better. Its really not. They are great kayaks but not hundreds or thousands of dollars better than competition. More people will be mad at this statement than at Hobie for manipulating them though. Its weird. You mention it at the end. People will come at you for speaking the truth. They take it personal that their brand choice might not be the best.
You can take one look at my 14ft 360 and you’ll immediately know I beat the shit out of it. Scrapes all over the side and bottom. the drive fins are all scratched up as well from getting caught in low tides and banging them all up. Everything is still working just fine. I will say the drive did get a little loose and starts squeaking on me but I simply followed the scheduled maintenance instruction and tightened the cables and belts as instructed instructed. Really easy procedure with easy to get tools. When I was getting close to the end of my 2 year warranty period, I reached out to Hobie with a video of my drive while in the water to get their opinion on how it looked, the engineer of the 360 drive personally responded to my email and said they would warranty that drive well beyond the 2 year Hobie warranty you get when you purchase a new hobie from an authorized dealer. Again, he put that in writing in that email. You can google the lead engineer that designed the 360 drive and just reach out to Hobie and they’ll pit you directly in contact with him. Here in FL i use my 14ft PA 360 in salt water mostly and some fresh water depending on the winds. I always fresh water spray the kayak down and especially get every corner of the drive after every use. Just my experience unbiased experience with the 14ft 360. Is it outrageously expensive, yes, but I would never trust any other kayak in the 3-10 miles off shore in the Atlantic. I genuinely feel safe out there in mine, and I’ve put myself in some dumb situations storms and 5-7ft waves. I just had to sit instead of stand to keep from tipping over. Speaking if which, i have never tipped over in it. Then again I only weigh 170lbs.
@@loudnoises4627 I think your post perfectly proves my point. Its still overpriced but that gives you a sense that its better than other kayaks. Not because it is perfect or bullet proof but all the extra hype. Other brands will last years and stand behind their product for less. They have all have break downs but you are paying a lot more for one than the other. Old Towns drive has a 5 year warranty with less complicated design. Many studies done on this subject. When the price is known the product performs better in reviews. Patients report better outcomes when told they got the expensive name brand meds instead of the cheap generic even though both groups got a placebo. Expensive wine perform better when the label is on than in blind taste tests. We are suckers for this and Hobie exploits it.
Have had friends with Hobie drive issues and that is why I bought a BigWater PDL 132. The problems aside, the Hobie is better in the weeds and can get into the shallows better while the Old Towns are just built stronger. In the end, there are always tradeoffs.
I can tell your not sponsored by them cause your honest with the review. I appreciated that in this day in age where everybody seems to be pimping a product. I'm the same way that's why every review I do is sponsor free and honest. Great video hopefully they will get you straightened out.
I went to my local Hobie dealer today to look at the Hobie Mirage 360 as I have been considering getting one to replace my traditional paddle kayak. Upon arrival, I spotted a MIKE IACONELLI EDITION sitting in the rack which I was pretty excited to see. However, when the sales rep came over, he apprised me that it was a warranty replacement hull for a customer. They had two more in the back area awaiting replacement hulls. When I asked how common this was, you could read his face and it did not square with him saying "not that common". Look it's a decent size shop but, not huge and you've got 3 hull replacements on the floor? Also, he asked my if I would be doing "long distance" trips - 5+ miles and I said yes. His response, don't get a 360, the drives won't hold up. Go with the 180. So, my friend, that fully supports everything you said in this video. For me, given the cost and as you said, confidence issues this presents, I am going to pass on Hobie. Such a shame.
I just watched a video saying Hobie had fixed this problem. Thanks for the video, I've been trying to decide between Hobie or Old Town and you just made that decision easy.
You need to switch to an Old Town pdl. Much more reliable pedal drive system with relatively low maintenance, just spray it down after a trip. I have an Old Town pdl 132 Bigwater. Luv it!
Been there, done that. Had a 360 for about a yr and 3 mos. 1 warranty for a crack then four mos later the drive broke, fixed under warranty. When the drive went I was in some pretty snotty water. I thought I was going to smash into overhanging cliffs, luckily my buddy was able to tow me while I paddled for dear life. Sold it two weeks later and picked up an Old Town BW132 PDL. It doesnt have the maneuverability of the 360 but its close enough. And way more reliable. It was either that or an Autopilot. Its my first Old Town kayak and I’m pleasantly surprised of the quality and cs. The yak has been awesome. The only Hobie boats that interest me these days is the Revo and Lynx. Outbacks are known to crack. Good luck with your decision!
great video couldn't agree more. The PA14 is also just too heavy, I almost gave up on the Hobie, been an owner of a sport, revo, outback, PA 17 and 14, and now the Lynx. I think the lyn x with the 180 is the sweet spot for me. expensive, but a superior rudder system, seem unsinkable, stable, excellent paddler, best peddling kayak of the bunch.
Greeat video, I understand your frustration. I have Pro anglers, Outback and compass. The unreliability of our pro anglers (non 360) are the worst of our fleet. We are now slowly selling our pro anglers to buy more outbacks and compass. I have had mush less issues with those yaks. Every person I have known that has owned a 360 has has some sort of issue, mostly with the drive. Good luck with your current issues, luckily Hobies customer service is on point.
Hey man this was hard to watch but I appreciate it. I bought this kayak last year and it’s my 1st kayak ever. My model year is a ‘22 and so far so good, though I don’t get on the water nearly as much as you do. Being stranded was my biggest fear beforehand so I outfitted my rig with a Bixpy electric motor (JUST IN CASE).
I work at a kayak shop and we have been seeing tons of issues with the 360 drive. Fantastic system when it works but it’s just too unreliable at the moment. The PA14 and Outback (I guess the newer compass as well? have had major issues with the plastic shearing by the seat, and rear hatch. It’s not just that the plastic is unsupported, it’s just super thin and playable. I personally went with the Jackson Knarr for my bigger kayak, vibe shearwater and 2017 Outback for my fin style drives.
Got a double angler 2015, used very regularly year round maybe a few hours per week, cable on one drive only just broke. Replacement idler cables haven’t been available for months, unclear when they will be. Bought an expensive kick up unit w smaller blades, like the old unavailable one better.
I agree that the Mirage drive reliability has decreased over time. My first (2003) was rock solid. I've since blew up two MD180s and had two MD180 chains break. Three to four break per year and you were 5+ miles from the launch with no tow rope and half a paddle?
Purchased my 14ft 360 in Summer of 2021 here in FL. I do tighten the cables and belts as needed. Bought it new from a Hobie authorized dealer so it came with a 2 yr warranty from Hobie. Other than the fresh water spray down of the hull, deck, drive teeth, and especially the drive itself, I beat the shit out of my hobie. I use the wheels to move it around and slide it into my pick up bed. I primarily use it in salt water and sometimes in fresh water. Its all scratched up, from the sides to the hull, its pretty scratched up since I launch from cement boat ramps. I tend to drop it from knee height when taking the hobie wheels off and on. I’ve put myself in some pretty dumb situation 3-10 miles off shore and not once did I feel unsafe in these FL waters. Then again I have all my safety equipment and I’m an above average swimmer. In 5-7ft waves i just sit down and get back to shore but I’ve never flipped. When I was getting close to the end of my 2 year warranty, I sent a video to Hobie to make sure my drive looked good snd the engineer who designed the 360 drive responded directly to me and put it in writing that even after the 2 year warranty period they would repair my drive well beyond the 2 year mark. That is in writing and saved in my gmail account. I dont know what to tell you man. I weigh 170 lbs, do crossfit 5 days a week, and get out in the water at least twice a week. If winds dont permit you’ll still find me in shore fishing with my anchor down on my hobie. I hold a 4-5mph speed when moving from one fishing spot to the next to get a workout in. I say all that to give you as much detail as possible and show I mistreat my drive when in use. Only thing i’ve had to do is the regular maintenance by tightening cables and belts with normal tools and watching youtube video tutorials. Usually when I hear squeaking or the drive belt tension is loose i know its time for maintenance. I’ve followed your videos for a while now because when i was looking to purchase one i remember seeing your first video where you had issues with your 14ft PA 360 and that was back in 2021. There is a reason you have stuck with Hobie. You will EASILY find a buyer for that Hobie and you can go try out other Kayaks for your clients and yourself
I bought a brand new Hobie PA12 5 years ago and have never had anything break yet, I use it a lot I’ve never been out fishing for less than 6hrs and Ive gone fishing almost every weekend since I got it. I’ve bent the shit out of the mast rods and bent them back over 50 times the fins are finally starting to split apart around the area where the mast goes through but this thing just keeps going. I’ve been wanting to upgrade to the 360 but if you and Elias are hanging this much trouble I’m going to stick with the older model. I’ll just buy a new fin/mast kit for a couple hundred and keep on pedaling. Thanks for sharing your store it’s been a huge help for me and I’m sure others on the fence.
That's what we have and we love it! It's an older version of the Hobie pedal drive (pre-180 and pre-360). Since there are 2 pedal drives (tandem), we aren't worried too much about getting stranded. We also have a lightweight (5 lbs) trolling motor with 24lb thrust (appx $130). I don't like the idea of being stranded in water where sharks and gators dwell, so we have redundant redundancies 😁
I bought a Pro Angler 12 in 2021. I opted for the MD180 drive over the 360 even though I really wanted a 360 and could afford it at the time. I’m glad I went with the MD180 because of instances like this video. There are just too many moving parts in that 360 drive. The 180 is proven reliable.
Seen your drive at the shop for repairs when I replaced my cracked outback. Even the 180 drive QC is lacking. Went through 2 splines last year which is why I now rely on electric motor most of the time and use the drive as a backup system. Hobie should definitely up their game for the heavy use crowd.
This is exactly the stuff I've been wanting to ask you about your Hobie. I'm looking at a bunch of kayak type fishing platforms, because of medium mobility issues, I can't do foot pedal propulsion, but , I'm wanting the motor anyway, so this is very good info, thank you.
I’m fishing a compass currently but have thought about going PA if I did I believe I’d go 180 over 360. I know guys with old towns and hands down they are better built boats. However the drive just can’t compare. Fishing in marsh and mud flats the fins are the only way to go imo. I feel bad for those guys watching them pull and push their drives in and out all day while I fish and fold my fins flush with the hull.
I’m on my 3rd PA 360 hull and 2nd drive in two years. Had the pins fall out of the drive, and cracks in the same spots as yours. Luckily Hobie has honored the warranty but the wait to get replacements has now messed up two tournament seasons.
You can buy a jon boat and a brand new 15hp motor and do 20mph for the same price lol a brand new 1448 weldbilt jon boat is $2750. Kayak prices are crazy to only do 4mph
2016 PA14 owner here ... Lots of comments on this/. (1) I don't have a 360, but I clean my mirage drive after each outing. I have had to rebend a pin twice and repair the channel in the turbofin (drill bit and zip ties). But still working. (2) Yes, the PA14 is Too Big. But I am a big boy, so I need the mass to offset my dinner habits. The skeg on the 14 enables me to stand without fear and lean with the net quite a bit. I have tried a 12, but it is not for me. (3) Have pulled on rays and amberjack with the 14 and (back to #2) I am glad I had that mass while fighting. (4) Oyster beds, barnacles on piers, hitting docks, etc. - the PA14 papaya has scratches galore. The bottom looks like it's been in a war. But all in all, I am pleased with how it has held up and the fishing pleasure it has given me. - I only hope that by typing and posting this, the commentators curse doesn't hit next outing ... :). Now, would I buy another? Probably not, as I am slowing down in my older age and I have gotten this one just how I like it ... next stop, senior citizen john boat.
Man I feel for ya. I have 2 Hobie's ... 1 PA 360 and 1 outback and never ever NOT one issue ever. Hope Hobie can get it figured out. Zero issues. If I were you after those bad issues I would look elsewhere. While I LOVE my Hobie's I wouldn't stand for multiple issues continuing to occur. Best of luck
I stuck with the turbo 180 to avoid these common complaints. I have 3 pa14s. My issues are rudder handles get loose and if you didn’t notice blow off in transit. The clip ins for the drive have tiny springs that snap and leave u crippling home. Some advice… keep an eye out for loose or retreated screw in the drive and USE A LANYARD to tie the drive to the shell for capsizing. Hard to flip but I have done it and had to dove for an 1800 dollar drive that I was lucky to get back
I have been really considering replacing my Old Town BigWater 132 PDL with a PA14 360 because my knees don't really like the pedaling, . After hearing about all of the issues with the Hobie drives, I may just get an Auto Pilot 120/136.
I have 2020 PA14 with 180 and kick up fins. Considered 360 but this is why I’m happy with my decision. I’d still love the 360 for it’s good but won’t consider it for the bad. Maybe in the future
I had a Hobie Revolution 13. The hull where the pedals went cracked while I was flats fishing. I came very close to sinking. Hobie told me to pound sand and no one wanted to fix the issue. I ended up fixing it myself with no leaks for 2 years. I ended up selling it to a friend and bought a stealth fusion 480. Never looked back. To many factors can go wrong with an expensive kayak. At least I didn't go off shore that day.
Hello Nate, sorry for your troubles, I wish you would get a John boat, with a motor, I’m from Nashville Tennessee, retired disabled Sergeant US Army, I was raised in Pensacola and Gulf shores Alabama, my early years, I’ve fished with Butch Frith , he owned a bait shop, we caught live shrimp 🦐 and all kinds of bait, then he and I for a living caught every kind of good fish 🐠 for sale , we under a John boat, and he won the speckle trout, rodeo every year for like 25 years, lol never had trouble, plus if your clients break down you can tow them in , just a thought, man I was excited about the speckle trout you caught I was waiting for the next one , best of luck , just a thought, Sergeant, Jim
Perhaps now is the time to rethink and recalibrate your kayak fishing direction. With competition and new technology, things have changed over the last few years in kayak technologies and mechanical propulsion systems necessary for many tournaments. Electric propulsion systems that take advantage of light weight and energy dense lithium batteries are a game changer for many kayak fishermen, and those of us that are older and have difficulty with extended paddling or pedaling, can now enjoy the sport. Competitors to Hobie have come a long way in the last few years, and are willing to prove it. A great series of videos (although resource and time consuming) would be to visit a series of manufactures or major dealers and compare "todays" offerings of the latest kayak fishing rigs. This would be very helpful to so many either wanting to upgrade or for those getting ready to jump into the sport. Your frustration is warranted and certainly came across in your video. Although no systems are perfect and reliability not always 100%, the continued stress you are going to have every time you jump into that Hobie will take its toll on you and could even affect your tournament performance in the long run. You need to have a rig you can have confidence in and I believe that would need to be a completely new rig from another manufacturer (my opinion). It will take some work and research however in the long run, I believe you would be better off in the end and certainly more educated on the latest technology and manufacturing processes available for kayak fishing before making your decisions moving forward. You video's are awesome and I look forward to each and every one. I hope you path forward will lead to something more positive for you and for now, you are pretty down on your luck. My best to you and yours.... With great respect... Joe
I have a 2016 14 Pro Angler and have put it through hell. It was a leftover in wrapper that I got in 2020. I average 3-4 trips a week. I troll the hell out of the drive. I regrease 3-4 times a year, and oil at least 1-2 times per week. Only time the drive broke is when I hit bottom on a fast outgoing tide. Replaced mast for 45.00. The cord connector for rudder on right side broke just a few weeks ago. Again 45 bucks. General maintenance and upkeep is a must. The new 360 looks great, but way too many moving parts, bound to breakdown
@southernsalt thats what I was told and the reason I bought it. I no longer use the 180 drive, I went back to 2nd series Drive with Turbo fins. Although I lose reverse, I gain in smoothness and great trolling ability. Again, I can troll up to 8 hrs a day. The 180 turbo fins are harse on the knees for long distance.
I manage Hobie Pro angler owners group, and the pa 12 and 14's have had some major leak issues; hull cracking problems. That being said, the kayak my be a bit over engineered vs the 180 drives. More things to break on the 360 vs the older concept. I have a 2016 pa 14 and mine has worked near flawless with only one break on the drive. I was trying to show off the power of the gt st fins, and stripped the gear on one drive. The md 180 I got has worked flawless sense I installed it. Hopefully hobie gets you a fast warranty claim.
I really like the Hobie pedal systems. The mirage drive is (IMO), is my favorite. I believe the earlier versions (pre-180) are the toughest and most solid. The newer ones have more features, but have more moving parts and my opinion is that more prone to break. I would personally not buy a 360 drive kayak and would be hesitant about getting the 180 (which I've seen break as well). I would buy an older version mirage drive if available.
Your part of the reason I bought a 360. I pray I don't have these issues. I rarely use the drive now that I have a motorguide x3. I did notice water in the hull when I moving fast. I think it's coming from the drive area. My oldtown never had water in the hull. Smh.... I had my doubts when I found out hobie only offers 2 year warranty.
Over the last 12 yrs I've bought and sold about 10 used kayaks including 3 used Hobies - an Adventure, an Outback, and a PA12 - all with the older drive that does not reverse. Those drives were simpler, tougher, and less prone to failure. Except for one bent shaft, I've never had a Mirage drive issue. And I bent that shaft back a little to limp home. I have pulled my friend back to the launch a couple of times (once 2 miles) when his late model PA14 drive failed. I pulled him back with my Propel-driven Slayer!!! Honestly, I did have some drive issues a couple of times with my 7 yr old Native Slayer 13. But I can paddle it home 5+ miles if the drive fails and I have taken it out for a 5 mile round trip without the drive once when it was being repaired. I think the PAs are overrated - too much barge to paddle if the drive breaks! I do think that you need a double bladed paddle on board even for the PAs, just in case. I love my Slayer - I'm 69 years old and I hope to use it for a few more years. I seriously suggest that you look at one of the bicycle pedal style driven kayaks, Jackson, Native, and other brands, and try to find one that is both stable enough for you and also able to be paddled home in a pinch. I found your channel recently and have been enjoying the content - most of my fishing is done in SE Louisiana saltwater marshes.
I just got into kayak fishing over the summer, took my cheapo perception out a few times before getting an entry level fishing kayak in the form of thr Vanhunks Pro Angler. Since getting mine I've heard so many horror stories, like yours, that has scared me from ever investing in a Hobie.
There is absolutely something to be said for the durability of the old GT drive with some nice turbo fins. The newer drives while having more features just don't hold up as well.
Sorry you are having problems but glad you caught a ride back to the ramp. I have two Hobie's so I was carrying my second mirage drive with me as a back up just in case. This past fall I put a motor on my kayak that still allows me to peddle. I peddle a lot as I use the motor like a peddle assist much of the time. If either the motor or my mirage drive fail, I still have my second propulsion system so chances of getting stranded are miniscule. I went with the Texas Power Paddle motor as I wanted something low profile, light weight and easy to install. It is not the fastest motor but offers excellent battery life. There are other motor options that may possibly be better for a PA14, I can only speak to my experience. Something to consider. Hope you find a good solution so you aren't stressed every time you go out on the Pro Angler.
I just bought a bonafide p127 The left pedal arm bolt that holds the pedal arm. Keeps loosening itself off and makes it to where I can use my peddle system. I’ve taken it back to where I got it brand new and they’re looking into it. It would have been such a better idea if they had the left peddle bolt reversed threaded l. So it didn’t loosen up while peddling
IT's been a while but I think the Native Titan X 12.5 is going to be the leader late 2023 going into 2024. You can pedal and you can use electric power. Good for either tournaments. Also being able to peddle and electric power is a game changer. Oldtown e PDL is also going to kill it this year. Native and OldTown will drive the market this year, in my opinion.
My old Hobie revolution from 2010 that I used for eleven years never had a cable issue. But one day I rescued a 21 foot bass boat from rocks in heavy wind and cracked the hull. The cable was fine My new revolution 13 is 3 years old and the cable broke on the 360 during a gentle cruise.
Time to start bringing your trolling motor. Thankfully I have A non 360 PA currently with a Bixpy on the back and soon changing to a XI3 on the front. I found Marine 100 amp lithium for around $320. Amazon
Dang man. I almost bought a Hobie PA 360 and decided not to because of your earlier explanation of issues. I might buy one in a year or two when the issues are fixed. I went with a cheaper option Vanhunks Elite Pro Angler 13...allowing me to save money while I wait for the issues to get fixed. I will just give to my son, who is currently 8, when they fix the issues. Definitely get yourself a waterproof GMRS handheld walkie talkie so you can call for help if you go out by yourself again. They are cheap 30-50 bucks, but the license is another 30 for a few years...it will give you miles of radio ability.
I had a hull crack (PA 12)where the drive sits, exactly where you pointed out. The whole kayak had to be replaced. And now my 360 drive is stiff, the sprocket fairings seem to be the issue. I'm hoping it's still under warranty. For the big investment, needs to be more reliable.
Damn, glad I didn’t get that kayak then. It was between the hobie 360 like you have and the one I bought. I bought the old town sportsman 106 powered by minn kota and love it so far. Had for about 5 months.
I love my Newport vessels NK180S trolling motor on my kayak. Since I’ve had it my drive has been sitting at the house. Been almost 14 miles in one day!
I was bummed when I saw this. Had my 360 drive replaced on warranty (boat is PA 14). I have multiple other hobie kayaks and they are amazing. But… the 360 as amazing as it is, stresses me out a bit. The new drive still feels stiff, makes noise, and no matter how I adjust the global adjustment - I don’t feel like I’m getting it right. I’m going to stay with it because I love it. It’s great for bass fishing especially in tide and wind - we’ll see how it goes. Good luck to you.
It’s not the best if it’s not reliable…. What you’ve explained is that that thing is dangerous. Especially if you’re in open water. Get you a reliable kayak. I wouldn’t buy it I own a feel free dorado. No issues with their drive. And you can replace the sheer pin on the water if you hit something. Although I’ve never had to do it. I take mine in the open water too. The turning radius isn’t as good but it’s reliable and FeelFree is very responsive with consumer requests.
If you don't need to fish in the weeds all the time, get an Old town Bigwater, their PDL drives are bullet proof and faster than the PA over the water. You should always have paddles ( as you didi) paddles on the big water work very well too. I considered the Hobie, but the 360 drive scared me off, the 180 Hobie drives I think are less troublesome, but for peace of mind, you cant beat an old town PDL drive, thats why they have a 5 year warranty and even with 365 days on water a year, I reckon they will go of 10 years straight with hardly any maintenance.
I’m looking into a pedal kayak. I’ve kind of leaned away from the Hobie for other reasons (just don’t feel like I can justify paying that cost) but if I did lean towards Hobie not being able to trust the reliability; I’d be pissed paying for that. I feel like when you pay that kind of money you shouldn’t have that many issues.
I have had Jackson paddle kayaks for many years and still do. When I added a pedal drive kayak to my fleet I looked at all the boats. I considered the Native and Old Town however for me the 180 drive is far and above a better solution to a prop drive system especially in the shallow water. For 2 reasons specifically for me, 1. Not having to raise and lower the drive all the time and 2. when the drive is raised its not taking up my whole deck space. I wanted the 360 but like any new design theres the trial period and Im still avoiding that. The Nucanoe pedal drive is the only one Id consider outside of the Hobie because it will kick up in shallow water, stow away, its removable and its not on the deck.
Hey, your alright! Quality control is a huge problem nowadays and not just with kayak's, it's all over the spectrum!! Too many things that we depend on, especially ones that could hurt us in one way or another do not have enough quality control!! It could be greed winning over common sense 🤔 but that back to the saying (if common sense is so common,why doesn't everyone have it) ?
Is Hobie easy to deal with on maintenance/repair/replacement of parts? Are they prompt on warranty claims? I'm a big dude, and considering getting into the kayak world.
I think it really depends on your dealer and what they have available at the ready. I would reach out to your local dealer with these questions. In my opinion, based on my experience, nothing coming from Hobie happens fast. For instance if your hull cracks, they will not just immediately send you a new hull, they will wait until a truck is headed to your dealer and put your replacement on that truck. Sometimes it takes months.
@@southernsalt hi Nathan, l enjoy your videos and best of all the state of the bay ones. I had a 2019 Outback and, both the seat posts fractured open. I took it to Tony at Fairhope Boat Co. He did some paperwork and Within 2 days Hobie said they would replace it with my choice of color! Your right about trucks and delivery times. I got my new 2022 hull in like 3 weeks as they were taking a full truck to Florida. They impressed me with their customer service.
Mine has been out on the water about 30 times. I’ve had the belt snap and now it’s sitting in my backyard with the belt stuck in place. I had to drag it back with the fins hanging down but tied them off. For the price you think it would be better quality, I’m not sure if what happened with them.
Not sure what was happening to your drive but i suggest mariner sales out of Dallas. I hit a sand bar broke a fin and they did my repairs and mine's worked for years before the repairs and years after. Good fishing to ya brother
I had a PA12 and switched to a Nucanoe Unlimited with a motorguide Xi3 and it's been flawless for over two years. I really like the open deck. The only thing I kinda miss is the floor storage.
I hope somehow this video makes it to Hobie..clearly they need to improve the quality, especially at that price point...Thankfully my old 2015 Outback with the MD180 has been solid, and I'm hesitant to go to a 360
I think they've fixed the major issues now. I was gonna for a 360 but ended up with a 180 instead, I normally fish in the ocean, so a 360 drive wasn't necessary. More moving parts, more stuff can break. I say you got funky copy. I wouldn't give up on Hobie kayaks.
I have 2 Hobies, a 2015 PA14 and a 2017 Outback. The Outback drive is a 180 (no kick up) and I have never had a problem with it. Perhaps its just the 360 mechanism... I do love the PA.
I would never buy a 360 here in Sweden as for now. I have been waiting for a warranty claim for 7 months with my Lynx hull which was paint damaged on arrival. They told me I would get some money back as goodwill. Now a couple of weeks back they got back to me and said that they won’t be giving me anything… Great customer service.
I live in Milton, FL. I know how dangerous the NW Florida waters can be. I'd trust an Ascend 133x (with trolling motor) or a FeelFree Dorado V2 (w/ overdrive) before I'd trust a Hobie. Reliability matters more than bells and whistles when your life might be in jeopardy at a moment's notice. For $2500-$3500 you can have a fully powered Ascend that'll run circles around the Hobie and is 100 times more reliable. For just a little more, FeelFree gives you something very similar to what Ascend can give you, but it is far stronger and way lighter. There's just too many good kayaks being made for Hobie to be putting out a product that always breaks. Here in NW Florida, had that happened in some areas I know, you could have found yourself featured in the obituaries.
Those hobie drives are getting too complicated. I think shearwater and pelican have copies the gt/v2 drives and my hobie non reverse drive has been going strong for years.
Looking to purchase PA14 w/ 360 drive. Concerned about reliability though. What year is your drive? Everyone keeps telling me that the current models are reliable in a 360. Thanks for the video and response.
Brother!!! Go get yourself an Old town 136 powered by minn Kota!! I have the 106 and love it. I always keep rope and a full paddle with me, but I understand your issue. The Old town is easier to paddle if u have any problems on the water. I think you will enjoy it so much more and after getting a good battery it’s going to cost you less money and less aggravation. I’m not sponsored by old town. Come over to the dark side!!! Lol 😂
I have the PA 12 360 I did have the 360 belt break on me after 6 months but, that’s the only issue. I think my drive is holding up well because I use the motor guide a lot 😆 and keep the drive as a secondary source.
Brother sell that junk, get you and old town sportsman Big water 136 auto pilot. I use to be a hobie owner and got tired of dealing with hobie. I fish in the ocean only and I’ve never had a problem. Old town are made so much better. Hobie has changed a lot since they got sold to the investment group.
Looking at getting into Kayak fishing and it was between the Hobie and the Old Town PDL. Looks like I am going to go with the Old Town after watching this video. Thanks for the honest review!
Hate that you keep having issues with that yak. Hopefully Hobie realizes it’s becoming a big issue with more and more people having to use the warranty and they solve the issues entirely
Hate to see you having issues like that.. I use VIBE kayaks. Haven't had a lot of issues with the pedal drive, I just wish they had reverse mode. I use a trolling motor in freshwater, but as we know they are ALL prone to malfunctions. Other than that, my 50th birthday is coming up March 16th and I want to make a good kayaking fishing trip (probably last weekend in March).. Is it possible I could get a charter trip with you in that time frame? I love fishing that area of Mobile bay but have only fished a couple of close rigs in my kayak and some with my brother in his big boat. Thanks again for the great videos.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Agree with you that the drive system they use is the best for efficiency. I do frequently wish other brands picked up that system even without reverse. I’ve never been left high and dry with other brands and have been able to get back on the water quickly after something broke down. These days the Hobie collects dust frequently since I don’t have confidence in it holding up for a fishing trip in a saltwater environment.
damm!...two UA-cam titans!. southern salt and the incredible elias!!!!
I work at a kayak shop and we have been seeing tons of issues with the 360 drive.
So I went with the Jackson Knarr.
The 360 is a fantastic system when it works but it’s just too unreliable at the moment.
The PA14 and Outback (I guess the newer compass as well? have had major issues with the plastic shearing by the seat, and rear hatch.
It’s not just that the plastic is unsupported, it’s just super thin and playable.
went with the Jackson Knarr for my bigger kayak, vibe shearwater and 2017 Outback for my fin style drives.
Man that’s pretty much how I’m feeling I think I’ll be looking at the Knarr
@@southernsalt try it out before you buy, some people’s knees don’t agree with a prop drive lol
Let’s GO!!! Get the old town, I’m telling ya.
going on second year hobie 360 14. took it out about 50 or so times no issues yet knock on wood. always washing drive off with tap water and quick spray of white spray grease seems to keep it going. also 300 uv spray...sunlight does break down the plastic on roto molded kayaks and boats. also would suggest buying some foam blocks to put under or wedge in under the seat to help support the seat and deck where u stand....when it is hot outside and being the sun the plastic does become a bit flexible and for us heaver guys means stress in some areas around the seat.
Solid advice! I'm looking at a 2024 Angler 360xr and from what I gather it's easier to adjust on the fly but this video doesn't give me confidence.
If your propulsion method breaks and you have no way of getting back, you're either ill-prepared or you've ventured too far, carry a quality full-sized paddle.. I'm old school and still prefer a paddle kayak, I carry an extra paddle in the hull in case my primary breaks.
We have been programmed to believe price=quality. If it cost the most it must be the best...right? No. You are paying for name brand, sponsorships, marketing and so on. Hobie has been one of the worst at exploiting this. They had a monopoly on this drive system for a couple decades and could really charge whatever they want. Once other brands started entering the market they had to justify that insane price difference. People not wanting to admit they have been getting ripped off all these years are more ready to accept the reasoning that it must mean its better. Its really not. They are great kayaks but not hundreds or thousands of dollars better than competition. More people will be mad at this statement than at Hobie for manipulating them though. Its weird. You mention it at the end. People will come at you for speaking the truth. They take it personal that their brand choice might not be the best.
You can take one look at my 14ft 360 and you’ll immediately know I beat the shit out of it. Scrapes all over the side and bottom. the drive fins are all scratched up as well from getting caught in low tides and banging them all up. Everything is still working just fine. I will say the drive did get a little loose and starts squeaking on me but I simply followed the scheduled maintenance instruction and tightened the cables and belts as instructed instructed. Really easy procedure with easy to get tools. When I was getting close to the end of my 2 year warranty period, I reached out to Hobie with a video of my drive while in the water to get their opinion on how it looked, the engineer of the 360 drive personally responded to my email and said they would warranty that drive well beyond the 2 year Hobie warranty you get when you purchase a new hobie from an authorized dealer. Again, he put that in writing in that email. You can google the lead engineer that designed the 360 drive and just reach out to Hobie and they’ll pit you directly in contact with him. Here in FL i use my 14ft PA 360 in salt water mostly and some fresh water depending on the winds. I always fresh water spray the kayak down and especially get every corner of the drive after every use. Just my experience unbiased experience with the 14ft 360. Is it outrageously expensive, yes, but I would never trust any other kayak in the 3-10 miles off shore in the Atlantic. I genuinely feel safe out there in mine, and I’ve put myself in some dumb situations storms and 5-7ft waves. I just had to sit instead of stand to keep from tipping over. Speaking if which, i have never tipped over in it. Then again I only weigh 170lbs.
@@loudnoises4627 I think your post perfectly proves my point. Its still overpriced but that gives you a sense that its better than other kayaks. Not because it is perfect or bullet proof but all the extra hype. Other brands will last years and stand behind their product for less. They have all have break downs but you are paying a lot more for one than the other. Old Towns drive has a 5 year warranty with less complicated design. Many studies done on this subject. When the price is known the product performs better in reviews. Patients report better outcomes when told they got the expensive name brand meds instead of the cheap generic even though both groups got a placebo. Expensive wine perform better when the label is on than in blind taste tests. We are suckers for this and Hobie exploits it.
Have had friends with Hobie drive issues and that is why I bought a BigWater PDL 132. The problems aside, the Hobie is better in the weeds and can get into the shallows better while the Old Towns are just built stronger. In the end, there are always tradeoffs.
I can tell your not sponsored by them cause your honest with the review. I appreciated that in this day in age where everybody seems to be pimping a product. I'm the same way that's why every review I do is sponsor free and honest. Great video hopefully they will get you straightened out.
I went to my local Hobie dealer today to look at the Hobie Mirage 360 as I have been considering getting one to replace my traditional paddle kayak. Upon arrival, I spotted a MIKE IACONELLI EDITION sitting in the rack which I was pretty excited to see. However, when the sales rep came over, he apprised me that it was a warranty replacement hull for a customer. They had two more in the back area awaiting replacement hulls. When I asked how common this was, you could read his face and it did not square with him saying "not that common". Look it's a decent size shop but, not huge and you've got 3 hull replacements on the floor? Also, he asked my if I would be doing "long distance" trips - 5+ miles and I said yes. His response, don't get a 360, the drives won't hold up. Go with the 180. So, my friend, that fully supports everything you said in this video. For me, given the cost and as you said, confidence issues this presents, I am going to pass on Hobie. Such a shame.
Yeah man, sadly this is the same story from shops all across the country
I just watched a video saying Hobie had fixed this problem. Thanks for the video, I've been trying to decide between Hobie or Old Town and you just made that decision easy.
You need to switch to an Old Town pdl. Much more reliable pedal drive system with relatively low maintenance, just spray it down after a trip. I have an Old Town pdl 132 Bigwater. Luv it!
I’ll look into them!
Been there, done that. Had a 360 for about a yr and 3 mos. 1 warranty for a crack then four mos later the drive broke, fixed under warranty. When the drive went I was in some pretty snotty water. I thought I was going to smash into overhanging cliffs, luckily my buddy was able to tow me while I paddled for dear life. Sold it two weeks later and picked up an Old Town BW132 PDL. It doesnt have the maneuverability of the 360 but its close enough. And way more reliable. It was either that or an Autopilot. Its my first Old Town kayak and I’m pleasantly surprised of the quality and cs. The yak has been awesome.
The only Hobie boats that interest me these days is the Revo and Lynx. Outbacks are known to crack.
Good luck with your decision!
Man I hate to say it but it might be time fume to make a switch
great video couldn't agree more. The PA14 is also just too heavy, I almost gave up on the Hobie, been an owner of a sport, revo, outback, PA 17 and 14, and now the Lynx. I think the lyn
x with the 180 is the sweet spot for me. expensive, but a superior rudder system, seem unsinkable, stable, excellent paddler, best peddling kayak of the bunch.
Greeat video, I understand your frustration. I have Pro anglers, Outback and compass. The unreliability of our pro anglers (non 360) are the worst of our fleet. We are now slowly selling our pro anglers to buy more outbacks and compass. I have had mush less issues with those yaks. Every person I have known that has owned a 360 has has some sort of issue, mostly with the drive. Good luck with your current issues, luckily Hobies customer service is on point.
Thank you, and I couldn’t agree more
Hey man this was hard to watch but I appreciate it. I bought this kayak last year and it’s my 1st kayak ever. My model year is a ‘22 and so far so good, though I don’t get on the water nearly as much as you do. Being stranded was my biggest fear beforehand so I outfitted my rig with a Bixpy electric motor (JUST IN CASE).
I work at a kayak shop and we have been seeing tons of issues with the 360 drive.
Fantastic system when it works but it’s just too unreliable at the moment.
The PA14 and Outback (I guess the newer compass as well? have had major issues with the plastic shearing by the seat, and rear hatch.
It’s not just that the plastic is unsupported, it’s just super thin and playable.
I personally went with the Jackson Knarr for my bigger kayak, vibe shearwater and 2017 Outback for my fin style drives.
Yeah I agree, I’ve looked at the knarr and I like them
Got a double angler 2015, used very regularly year round maybe a few hours per week, cable on one drive only just broke. Replacement idler cables haven’t been available for months, unclear when they will be. Bought an expensive kick up unit w smaller blades, like the old unavailable one better.
Also had to reinforce under front chair with plywood when plastic began to crack.
I agree that the Mirage drive reliability has decreased over time. My first (2003) was rock solid. I've since blew up two MD180s and had two MD180 chains break. Three to four break per year and you were 5+ miles from the launch with no tow rope and half a paddle?
Thanks goodness a decent human being came along. Hope you can get the drive fixed or replaced.
They’re fixing it now so it won’t be long, Jim was awesome for helping me out, I owe him big time!
Purchased my 14ft 360 in Summer of 2021 here in FL. I do tighten the cables and belts as needed. Bought it new from a Hobie authorized dealer so it came with a 2 yr warranty from Hobie. Other than the fresh water spray down of the hull, deck, drive teeth, and especially the drive itself, I beat the shit out of my hobie. I use the wheels to move it around and slide it into my pick up bed. I primarily use it in salt water and sometimes in fresh water. Its all scratched up, from the sides to the hull, its pretty scratched up since I launch from cement boat ramps. I tend to drop it from knee height when taking the hobie wheels off and on. I’ve put myself in some pretty dumb situation 3-10 miles off shore and not once did I feel unsafe in these FL waters. Then again I have all my safety equipment and I’m an above average swimmer. In 5-7ft waves i just sit down and get back to shore but I’ve never flipped. When I was getting close to the end of my 2 year warranty, I sent a video to Hobie to make sure my drive looked good snd the engineer who designed the 360 drive responded directly to me and put it in writing that even after the 2 year warranty period they would repair my drive well beyond the 2 year mark. That is in writing and saved in my gmail account. I dont know what to tell you man. I weigh 170 lbs, do crossfit 5 days a week, and get out in the water at least twice a week. If winds dont permit you’ll still find me in shore fishing with my anchor down on my hobie. I hold a 4-5mph speed when moving from one fishing spot to the next to get a workout in. I say all that to give you as much detail as possible and show I mistreat my drive when in use. Only thing i’ve had to do is the regular maintenance by tightening cables and belts with normal tools and watching youtube video tutorials. Usually when I hear squeaking or the drive belt tension is loose i know its time for maintenance. I’ve followed your videos for a while now because when i was looking to purchase one i remember seeing your first video where you had issues with your 14ft PA 360 and that was back in 2021. There is a reason you have stuck with Hobie. You will EASILY find a buyer for that Hobie and you can go try out other Kayaks for your clients and yourself
You could get a pa with the 180 drive. IMO that would give you the kayak you like without the problems of the 360
I have the Native watercraft. Propel drive unit. I love that you can reverse too with this drive . So far no problem.
I bought a brand new Hobie PA12 5 years ago and have never had anything break yet, I use it a lot I’ve never been out fishing for less than 6hrs and Ive gone fishing almost every weekend since I got it.
I’ve bent the shit out of the mast rods and bent them back over 50 times the fins are finally starting to split apart around the area where the mast goes through but this thing just keeps going. I’ve been wanting to upgrade to the 360 but if you and Elias are hanging this much trouble I’m going to stick with the older model. I’ll just buy a new fin/mast kit for a couple hundred and keep on pedaling. Thanks for sharing your store it’s been a huge help for me and I’m sure others on the fence.
Yeah def stick with the one you got!
I bought a used Hobie pa 17t last year. This always plays in the back of my mind. That’s why I’m going to put a trolling motor on it also.
That's what we have and we love it! It's an older version of the Hobie pedal drive (pre-180 and pre-360). Since there are 2 pedal drives (tandem), we aren't worried too much about getting stranded. We also have a lightweight (5 lbs) trolling motor with 24lb thrust (appx $130). I don't like the idea of being stranded in water where sharks and gators dwell, so we have redundant redundancies 😁
I bought a Pro Angler 12 in 2021. I opted for the MD180 drive over the 360 even though I really wanted a 360 and could afford it at the time. I’m glad I went with the MD180 because of instances like this video. There are just too many moving parts in that 360 drive. The 180 is proven reliable.
Seen your drive at the shop for repairs when I replaced my cracked outback. Even the 180 drive QC is lacking. Went through 2 splines last year which is why I now rely on electric motor most of the time and use the drive as a backup system. Hobie should definitely up their game for the heavy use crowd.
I don’t disagree at all, hopefully the replacement comes in soon
This is exactly the stuff I've been wanting to ask you about your Hobie. I'm looking at a bunch of kayak type fishing platforms, because of medium mobility issues, I can't do foot pedal propulsion, but , I'm wanting the motor anyway, so this is very good info, thank you.
I’m fishing a compass currently but have thought about going PA if I did I believe I’d go 180 over 360. I know guys with old towns and hands down they are better built boats. However the drive just can’t compare. Fishing in marsh and mud flats the fins are the only way to go imo. I feel bad for those guys watching them pull and push their drives in and out all day while I fish and fold my fins flush with the hull.
My thoughts exactly. That’s why I stay Hobie
I’m on my 3rd PA 360 hull and 2nd drive in two years. Had the pins fall out of the drive, and cracks in the same spots as yours. Luckily Hobie has honored the warranty but the wait to get replacements has now messed up two tournament seasons.
You can buy a jon boat and a brand new 15hp motor and do 20mph for the same price lol a brand new 1448 weldbilt jon boat is $2750. Kayak prices are crazy to only do 4mph
🤦🏻♂️ you just don’t get it lol
2016 PA14 owner here ... Lots of comments on this/. (1) I don't have a 360, but I clean my mirage drive after each outing. I have had to rebend a pin twice and repair the channel in the turbofin (drill bit and zip ties). But still working. (2) Yes, the PA14 is Too Big. But I am a big boy, so I need the mass to offset my dinner habits. The skeg on the 14 enables me to stand without fear and lean with the net quite a bit. I have tried a 12, but it is not for me. (3) Have pulled on rays and amberjack with the 14 and (back to #2) I am glad I had that mass while fighting. (4) Oyster beds, barnacles on piers, hitting docks, etc. - the PA14 papaya has scratches galore. The bottom looks like it's been in a war. But all in all, I am pleased with how it has held up and the fishing pleasure it has given me. - I only hope that by typing and posting this, the commentators curse doesn't hit next outing ... :). Now, would I buy another? Probably not, as I am slowing down in my older age and I have gotten this one just how I like it ... next stop, senior citizen john boat.
Man I feel for ya. I have 2 Hobie's ... 1 PA 360 and 1 outback and never ever NOT one issue ever. Hope Hobie can get it figured out. Zero issues.
If I were you after those bad issues I would look elsewhere. While I LOVE my Hobie's I wouldn't stand for multiple issues continuing to occur. Best of luck
I stuck with the turbo 180 to avoid these common complaints. I have 3 pa14s. My issues are rudder handles get loose and if you didn’t notice blow off in transit. The clip ins for the drive have tiny springs that snap and leave u crippling home. Some advice… keep an eye out for loose or retreated screw in the drive and USE A LANYARD to tie the drive to the shell for capsizing. Hard to flip but I have done it and had to dove for an 1800 dollar drive that I was lucky to get back
I have been really considering replacing my Old Town BigWater 132 PDL with a PA14 360 because my knees don't really like the pedaling, . After hearing about all of the issues with the Hobie drives, I may just get an Auto Pilot 120/136.
That may be a good call
I have 2020 PA14 with 180 and kick up fins. Considered 360 but this is why I’m happy with my decision. I’d still love the 360 for it’s good but won’t consider it for the bad. Maybe in the future
I had a Hobie Revolution 13. The hull where the pedals went cracked while I was flats fishing. I came very close to sinking. Hobie told me to pound sand and no one wanted to fix the issue. I ended up fixing it myself with no leaks for 2 years. I ended up selling it to a friend and bought a stealth fusion 480. Never looked back. To many factors can go wrong with an expensive kayak. At least I didn't go off shore that day.
Dang man, yeah definitely a good thing you were not offshore!
How do you not have a paddle?
Hello Nate, sorry for your troubles, I wish you would get a John boat, with a motor, I’m from Nashville Tennessee, retired disabled Sergeant US Army, I was raised in Pensacola and Gulf shores Alabama, my early years, I’ve fished with Butch Frith , he owned a bait shop, we caught live shrimp 🦐 and all kinds of bait, then he and I for a living caught every kind of good fish 🐠 for sale , we under a John boat, and he won the speckle trout, rodeo every year for like 25 years, lol never had trouble, plus if your clients break down you can tow them in , just a thought, man I was excited about the speckle trout you caught I was waiting for the next one , best of luck , just a thought, Sergeant, Jim
Perhaps now is the time to rethink and recalibrate your kayak fishing direction. With competition and new technology, things have changed over the last few years in kayak technologies and mechanical propulsion systems necessary for many tournaments. Electric propulsion systems that take advantage of light weight and energy dense lithium batteries are a game changer for many kayak fishermen, and those of us that are older and have difficulty with extended paddling or pedaling, can now enjoy the sport.
Competitors to Hobie have come a long way in the last few years, and are willing to prove it. A great series of videos (although resource and time consuming) would be to visit a series of manufactures or major dealers and compare "todays" offerings of the latest kayak fishing rigs. This would be very helpful to so many either wanting to upgrade or for those getting ready to jump into the sport.
Your frustration is warranted and certainly came across in your video. Although no systems are perfect and reliability not always 100%, the continued stress you are going to have every time you jump into that Hobie will take its toll on you and could even affect your tournament performance in the long run. You need to have a rig you can have confidence in and I believe that would need to be a completely new rig from another manufacturer (my opinion). It will take some work and research however in the long run, I believe you would be better off in the end and certainly more educated on the latest technology and manufacturing processes available for kayak fishing before making your decisions moving forward.
You video's are awesome and I look forward to each and every one. I hope you path forward will lead to something more positive for you and for now, you are pretty down on your luck. My best to you and yours.... With great respect... Joe
Thanks man I appreciate it! Maybe it is time for a change!
I have a 2016 14 Pro Angler and have put it through hell. It was a leftover in wrapper that I got in 2020. I average 3-4 trips a week. I troll the hell out of the drive. I regrease 3-4 times a year, and oil at least 1-2 times per week. Only time the drive broke is when I hit bottom on a fast outgoing tide. Replaced mast for 45.00. The cord connector for rudder on right side broke just a few weeks ago. Again 45 bucks. General maintenance and upkeep is a must. The new 360 looks great, but way too many moving parts, bound to breakdown
Yeah the older PAs were tanks. Anything after 2019 with Hobie went to crap imo
@southernsalt thats what I was told and the reason I bought it. I no longer use the 180 drive, I went back to 2nd series Drive with Turbo fins. Although I lose reverse, I gain in smoothness and great trolling ability. Again, I can troll up to 8 hrs a day. The 180 turbo fins are harse on the knees for long distance.
I manage Hobie Pro angler owners group, and the pa 12 and 14's have had some major leak issues; hull cracking problems.
That being said, the kayak my be a bit over engineered vs the 180 drives. More things to break on the 360 vs the older concept.
I have a 2016 pa 14 and mine has worked near flawless with only one break on the drive. I was trying to show off the power of the gt st fins, and stripped the gear on one drive. The md 180 I got has worked flawless sense I installed it.
Hopefully hobie gets you a fast warranty claim.
I really like the Hobie pedal systems. The mirage drive is (IMO), is my favorite. I believe the earlier versions (pre-180) are the toughest and most solid. The newer ones have more features, but have more moving parts and my opinion is that more prone to break.
I would personally not buy a 360 drive kayak and would be hesitant about getting the 180 (which I've seen break as well). I would buy an older version mirage drive if available.
I love the V2 turbo fin drives. So smooth. I've gotten so good at using wind and current, don't miss reverse.
Your part of the reason I bought a 360. I pray I don't have these issues. I rarely use the drive now that I have a motorguide x3. I did notice water in the hull when I moving fast. I think it's coming from the drive area. My oldtown never had water in the hull. Smh.... I had my doubts when I found out hobie only offers 2 year warranty.
Man if you’re taking in water through the hull go have it looked at. They have a very common leak in the drive well
I have a PA 14 and a Outback. Both have straight drives. Been wondering if I should upgrade the 14 to the 180 drive
Over the last 12 yrs I've bought and sold about 10 used kayaks including 3 used Hobies - an Adventure, an Outback, and a PA12 - all with the older drive that does not reverse. Those drives were simpler, tougher, and less prone to failure. Except for one bent shaft, I've never had a Mirage drive issue. And I bent that shaft back a little to limp home. I have pulled my friend back to the launch a couple of times (once 2 miles) when his late model PA14 drive failed. I pulled him back with my Propel-driven Slayer!!! Honestly, I did have some drive issues a couple of times with my 7 yr old Native Slayer 13. But I can paddle it home 5+ miles if the drive fails and I have taken it out for a 5 mile round trip without the drive once when it was being repaired. I think the PAs are overrated - too much barge to paddle if the drive breaks! I do think that you need a double bladed paddle on board even for the PAs, just in case. I love my Slayer - I'm 69 years old and I hope to use it for a few more years. I seriously suggest that you look at one of the bicycle pedal style driven kayaks, Jackson, Native, and other brands, and try to find one that is both stable enough for you and also able to be paddled home in a pinch. I found your channel recently and have been enjoying the content - most of my fishing is done in SE Louisiana saltwater marshes.
I think you’re right, thanks for the insight!
Put a motor on it pal I know you shouldnt have but its a good option till Hobie sort the issues out well done to the guy who got you back.
I just got into kayak fishing over the summer, took my cheapo perception out a few times before getting an entry level fishing kayak in the form of thr Vanhunks Pro Angler. Since getting mine I've heard so many horror stories, like yours, that has scared me from ever investing in a Hobie.
Man they are all true lol I got a buddy with 2 Hobie 360 and both of them have open warranty claims
There is absolutely something to be said for the durability of the old GT drive with some nice turbo fins. The newer drives while having more features just don't hold up as well.
It’s not just the drive either. It seems everything about Hobie has gone downhill
I'm still rocking a 2016 PA12 with a GT drive and turbo fins. No reason to "upgrade"@@southernsalt
I'm using a pro 14 with a 180 drive and have for 6yrs and love it
Yeah the 180s are solid
Sorry you are having problems but glad you caught a ride back to the ramp. I have two Hobie's so I was carrying my second mirage drive with me as a back up just in case. This past fall I put a motor on my kayak that still allows me to peddle. I peddle a lot as I use the motor like a peddle assist much of the time. If either the motor or my mirage drive fail, I still have my second propulsion system so chances of getting stranded are miniscule. I went with the Texas Power Paddle motor as I wanted something low profile, light weight and easy to install. It is not the fastest motor but offers excellent battery life. There are other motor options that may possibly be better for a PA14, I can only speak to my experience. Something to consider. Hope you find a good solution so you aren't stressed every time you go out on the Pro Angler.
I rather have a cracked kayak that has a broken drive rather than one that works lol. Old Town baby
I just bought a bonafide p127
The left pedal arm bolt that holds the pedal arm. Keeps loosening itself off and makes it to where I can use my peddle system.
I’ve taken it back to where I got it brand new and they’re looking into it.
It would have been such a better idea if they had the left peddle bolt reversed threaded l. So it didn’t loosen up while peddling
Did you try tread lock ? ( blue )
The kayaks coming out look alot better.
IT's been a while but I think the Native Titan X 12.5 is going to be the leader late 2023 going into 2024. You can pedal and you can use electric power. Good for either tournaments. Also being able to peddle and electric power is a game changer. Oldtown e PDL is also going to kill it this year. Native and OldTown will drive the market this year, in my opinion.
I know lots of guys with motors AND pedals on their Pa14s.
My old Hobie revolution from 2010 that I used for eleven years never had a cable issue. But one day I rescued a 21 foot bass boat from rocks in heavy wind and cracked the hull. The cable was fine
My new revolution 13 is 3 years old and the cable broke on the 360 during a gentle cruise.
Time to start bringing your trolling motor. Thankfully I have A non 360 PA currently with a Bixpy on the back and soon changing to a XI3 on the front. I found Marine 100 amp lithium for around $320. Amazon
Dang man. I almost bought a Hobie PA 360 and decided not to because of your earlier explanation of issues. I might buy one in a year or two when the issues are fixed. I went with a cheaper option Vanhunks Elite Pro Angler 13...allowing me to save money while I wait for the issues to get fixed. I will just give to my son, who is currently 8, when they fix the issues.
Definitely get yourself a waterproof GMRS handheld walkie talkie so you can call for help if you go out by yourself again. They are cheap 30-50 bucks, but the license is another 30 for a few years...it will give you miles of radio ability.
Sorry about the drive Nate, It's a terrible feeling when you can't have faith in your equipment. it also affects the way you perform.
Man ain’t that the truth, oh well lol
I had a hull crack (PA 12)where the drive sits, exactly where you pointed out. The whole kayak had to be replaced.
And now my 360 drive is stiff, the sprocket fairings seem to be the issue. I'm hoping it's still under warranty. For the big investment, needs to be more reliable.
It should be a 3 year warranty I believe.
I love this kayak! It has great stability. The kayak is wide so i feel more secure. It is perfect for me!
Damn, glad I didn’t get that kayak then. It was between the hobie 360 like you have and the one I bought. I bought the old town sportsman 106 powered by minn kota and love it so far. Had for about 5 months.
I love my Newport vessels NK180S trolling motor on my kayak. Since I’ve had it my drive has been sitting at the house. Been almost 14 miles in one day!
Nice!!
I have a pa12 360 and have a crack inside my drive area. Getting a replacement hull within a couple weeks
Yeah that has been super common lately.
I've heard of the same issues with the Hobie's, I don't believe that I would purchase one with the amount of issues for the expense
Thought about getting a Hobie but not now. Thanks for the heads up.
👍🏻
Feel your pain, brother. Reliability is key for safety and clientele, besides your own safety.
Definitely!
I was bummed when I saw this. Had my 360 drive replaced on warranty (boat is PA 14). I have multiple other hobie kayaks and they are amazing. But… the 360 as amazing as it is, stresses me out a bit.
The new drive still feels stiff, makes noise, and no matter how I adjust the global adjustment - I don’t feel like I’m getting it right. I’m going to stay with it because I love it. It’s great for bass fishing especially in tide and wind - we’ll see how it goes. Good luck to you.
Good luck man I hope you don’t have to many issues
It’s not the best if it’s not reliable…. What you’ve explained is that that thing is dangerous. Especially if you’re in open water. Get you a reliable kayak. I wouldn’t buy it I own a feel free dorado. No issues with their drive. And you can replace the sheer pin on the water if you hit something. Although I’ve never had to do it. I take mine in the open water too. The turning radius isn’t as good but it’s reliable and FeelFree is very responsive with consumer requests.
The ocean Kayak PDL has never failed me! It's light and fast on the water!
Good deal!
If you don't need to fish in the weeds all the time, get an Old town Bigwater, their PDL drives are bullet proof and faster than the PA over the water. You should always have paddles ( as you didi) paddles on the big water work very well too. I considered the Hobie, but the 360 drive scared me off, the 180 Hobie drives I think are less troublesome, but for peace of mind, you cant beat an old town PDL drive, thats why they have a 5 year warranty and even with 365 days on water a year, I reckon they will go of 10 years straight with hardly any maintenance.
I’m looking into a pedal kayak. I’ve kind of leaned away from the Hobie for other reasons (just don’t feel like I can justify paying that cost) but if I did lean towards Hobie not being able to trust the reliability; I’d be pissed paying for that. I feel like when you pay that kind of money you shouldn’t have that many issues.
I can’t say I disagree with you at all
I have had Jackson paddle kayaks for many years and still do. When I added a pedal drive kayak to my fleet I looked at all the boats. I considered the Native and Old Town however for me the 180 drive is far and above a better solution to a prop drive system especially in the shallow water. For 2 reasons specifically for me, 1. Not having to raise and lower the drive all the time and 2. when the drive is raised its not taking up my whole deck space. I wanted the 360 but like any new design theres the trial period and Im still avoiding that.
The Nucanoe pedal drive is the only one Id consider outside of the Hobie because it will kick up in shallow water, stow away, its removable and its not on the deck.
Hey, your alright! Quality control is a huge problem nowadays and not just with kayak's, it's all over the spectrum!! Too many things that we depend on, especially ones that could hurt us in one way or another do not have enough quality control!! It could be greed winning over common sense 🤔 but that back to the saying (if common sense is so common,why doesn't everyone have it) ?
Is Hobie easy to deal with on maintenance/repair/replacement of parts? Are they prompt on warranty claims?
I'm a big dude, and considering getting into the kayak world.
I think it really depends on your dealer and what they have available at the ready. I would reach out to your local dealer with these questions. In my opinion, based on my experience, nothing coming from Hobie happens fast. For instance if your hull cracks, they will not just immediately send you a new hull, they will wait until a truck is headed to your dealer and put your replacement on that truck. Sometimes it takes months.
@@southernsalt hi Nathan, l enjoy your videos and best of all the state of the bay ones.
I had a 2019 Outback and, both the seat posts fractured open. I took it to Tony at Fairhope Boat Co. He did some paperwork and Within 2 days Hobie said they would replace it with my choice of color!
Your right about trucks and delivery times.
I got my new 2022 hull in like 3 weeks as they were taking a full truck to Florida.
They impressed me with their customer service.
Sounds like you need to forget about them ,, either that or buy 5 extra drives ,, and don’t stray to far from the launch 🙄🙄
Mine has been out on the water about 30 times. I’ve had the belt snap and now it’s sitting in my backyard with the belt stuck in place. I had to drag it back with the fins hanging down but tied them off. For the price you think it would be better quality, I’m not sure if what happened with them.
I just broke my linx drive as I was reading this 🤦🏻♂️
Not sure what was happening to your drive but i suggest mariner sales out of Dallas. I hit a sand bar broke a fin and they did my repairs and mine's worked for years before the repairs and years after. Good fishing to ya brother
I've only had it for two year and not nearly the hours you have but I love my Wilderness System Recon 120
Good deal I might look at those
I had a PA12 and switched to a Nucanoe Unlimited with a motorguide Xi3 and it's been flawless for over two years. I really like the open deck. The only thing I kinda miss is the floor storage.
I tried Nucanoe a few years back and didn’t like their pedal system. The tournaments I fish don’t allow motors
@@southernsalt Yea I don't have any experience with their pedal system. It looks pretty janky.
I hope somehow this video makes it to Hobie..clearly they need to improve the quality, especially at that price point...Thankfully my old 2015 Outback with the MD180 has been solid, and I'm hesitant to go to a 360
I think they've fixed the major issues now. I was gonna for a 360 but ended up with a 180 instead, I normally fish in the ocean, so a 360 drive wasn't necessary. More moving parts, more stuff can break. I say you got funky copy. I wouldn't give up on Hobie kayaks.
I have 2 Hobies, a 2015 PA14 and a 2017 Outback. The Outback drive is a 180 (no kick up) and I have never had a problem with it. Perhaps its just the 360 mechanism... I do love the PA.
I went from a Feel free Kayak 11' to a pelican bass raider 10E. which holds 2 adults comfortably.
Good deal!
I would never buy a 360 here in Sweden as for now. I have been waiting for a warranty claim for 7 months with my Lynx hull which was paint damaged on arrival. They told me I would get some money back as goodwill. Now a couple of weeks back they got back to me and said that they won’t be giving me anything… Great customer service.
Dang it man
I live in Milton, FL. I know how dangerous the NW Florida waters can be. I'd trust an Ascend 133x (with trolling motor) or a FeelFree Dorado V2 (w/ overdrive) before I'd trust a Hobie. Reliability matters more than bells and whistles when your life might be in jeopardy at a moment's notice. For $2500-$3500 you can have a fully powered Ascend that'll run circles around the Hobie and is 100 times more reliable. For just a little more, FeelFree gives you something very similar to what Ascend can give you, but it is far stronger and way lighter. There's just too many good kayaks being made for Hobie to be putting out a product that always breaks. Here in NW Florida, had that happened in some areas I know, you could have found yourself featured in the obituaries.
Reliability is everything, peace of mind is a must especially offshore lol
Thanks for the video. I would now consider other kayak vendors
Those hobie drives are getting too complicated. I think shearwater and pelican have copies the gt/v2 drives and my hobie non reverse drive has been going strong for years.
I have been tossing back and forth on upgrading, 5gs no ill keep my 16 PA12
That might be a good call.
Looking to purchase PA14 w/ 360 drive. Concerned about reliability though. What year is your drive? Everyone keeps telling me that the current models are reliable in a 360. Thanks for the video and response.
Dang that sucked. Very cool of that guy to give you a tow back in. 👍 The fishing community is awesome!.
No doubt man, Jim was a life saver!!
Awesome kayak but did have a crack in the drive well like you described. Took out new hull yesterday for 1st time. Hoping it will last a long time.
I hope so too brother
Brother!!! Go get yourself an Old town 136 powered by minn Kota!! I have the 106 and love it. I always keep rope and a full paddle with me, but I understand your issue. The Old town is easier to paddle if u have any problems on the water. I think you will enjoy it so much more and after getting a good battery it’s going to cost you less money and less aggravation. I’m not sponsored by old town. Come over to the dark side!!! Lol 😂
Did Hobie ever make this right? I ask because, I just bought a 2024 Hobie PA14.
I have the PA 12 360 I did have the 360 belt break on me after 6 months but, that’s the only issue. I think my drive is holding up well because I use the motor guide a lot 😆 and keep the drive as a secondary source.
Good deal, yeah I’ve gone through my fair share of belts!
What kind of trout is that? Looks a lot different than what we catch in the Pacific Northwest.
It’s a Speckled Trout we have them on the Gulf and East Coasts.
should always carry a paddle regardless of using it or not.
Big water, wind, current? His boat is perfect!👍👍 It can hold coolers, rod holders, anchors, trolling motor.
I've seen several Hobie drives fail around the Chesapeake bay over the years.
Brother sell that junk, get you and old town sportsman Big water 136 auto pilot. I use to be a hobie owner and got tired of dealing with hobie. I fish in the ocean only and I’ve never had a problem. Old town are made so much better. Hobie has changed a lot since they got sold to the investment group.
Great video!
Sorry that quality on Hobie kayaks seem to be inferior and thats on such expensive equipment.
Looking at getting into Kayak fishing and it was between the Hobie and the Old Town PDL. Looks like I am going to go with the Old Town after watching this video. Thanks for the honest review!
Good choice lol
The 360 drive is trash yeah, but the V2 and 180 drives are awesome. No problems with either one after a year chasing and decimating tarpon with mine
I have a first gen PA14 and no cracks maybe it's a new material being used?
I think it’s just less material and corner cutting but that’s just me assuming. I don’t know for sure lol
Hate that you keep having issues with that yak. Hopefully Hobie realizes it’s becoming a big issue with more and more people having to use the warranty and they solve the issues entirely
Hate to see you having issues like that.. I use VIBE kayaks. Haven't had a lot of issues with the pedal drive, I just wish they had reverse mode. I use a trolling motor in freshwater, but as we know they are ALL prone to malfunctions.
Other than that, my 50th birthday is coming up March 16th and I want to make a good kayaking fishing trip (probably last weekend in March).. Is it possible I could get a charter trip with you in that time frame? I love fishing that area of Mobile bay but have only fished a couple of close rigs in my kayak and some with my brother in his big boat.
Thanks again for the great videos.
Absolutely, message me on Facebook or Instagram and we can iron out the details
@@southernsalt
AWESOME...I'll be in touch