New to the Kayak part of this forum. Im sure that there are threads on this but I didnt find specifically what I was looking for. I was hoping someone could weigh in on comparison between the mirage system and the proper system. I have tried neither. I like the idea of being able to go in reverse with out a paddle. That seems very valuable. Thanks in advance for the input!

Tyson, this subject gets brought up every week. They are both great systems and you will enjoy both. Only way to tell how "you" will like them, is to schedule a demo with both.

I would have to agree with above statement that both are great and it's more up to you to decide. Mariner Sails in Dallas carries both brands and can set you up with demos side by side.

My opinion-Between the two the Mirage drive is smoother and easier to peddle. It won't wear you down near as fast. It can go shallower by hugging the hull and can be removed in a second with out lining up the blades. The propel has reverse.

The kayaks that use these are also important to look at when deciding between them. It's more than just how they move.

Thank you for input and where to demo.

get the turbo fins on your hobie. i was going 5.8 mph. 4.5 mph extended time

We can get you out for a demo in a Slayer Propel.

Sounds as if you've already made up your mind. :P

Seriously, both great yaks - demo them - if you can borrow one of each for a day on the water fishing so much the better. GL!

Native= Reverse!

Reverse is a really nice option. Especially if you fish lakes with lots of trees like fork.

Don't overlook durability. I went with the mirage drive because it was much more durable imho. If you hit an underwater obstruction too hard you can break the plastic clips that hold the propel drive which can render it unusable. I've had some very hard hits with my mirage drive on rocks and all it did was bend the stainless steel rods. I bent them back straight and was able to keep on trucking. As mentioned above, you can kick the mirage drive forward and it will be flush with the bottom of the yak allowing you to go very shallow and you can still feather the fins and move forward. The propel drive must be raised to go real shallow. Don't take my word for it though. Go see the good folks at Mariner Sails. They will definitely steer you the right way.

I was watching an episode of Hobie Outdoor adventures and the host said "everyone always says you can't go in reverse in a Hobie" and then he pulled out the mirage drive and turned it around and put it back in and pedaled it and it went backwards....... so I guess thats either a new feature on the newer hobie's or know one knew? I don't know anything about Hobie's just going on what I saw on TV.

Both are great units. There are plastic clips that FWbager talked about but I never use mine and it works perfectly without them unless you are going to race someone.
As far as durability they both can be abused, And I've seen both units fail. But I do think they are both equal as far as durability.
It's all a matter of what feels better to you. I will say that having reverse without having to flip a swith or do any extra movements is a huge factor to my decision.
I have a Slayer Propel 13 and would be happy to take you out to try one while you are fishing. I do it on Ray Roberts lake if you are interested.

That's what I was going to point out. When I was pedaling the Brazos above Whitney in my Ultimate Propel, and it was really low a couple of years ago, I actually let the pedal drive just sit on top of the clips, so it would draft shallower, and just bounce up when I hit anything. That pedal drive is built so strong, I'm certain it will outlast me.

I'm just a crappie fisherman, and the reverse makes it possible to stay over the crappie and fish vertically so much better that not having it was a deal breaker for me. I never really considered the Hobie Mirage.

I love the propel system myself having had a mariner. I can't chime in on hobbies though. Try both out!

I'm thinking of adding a slayer propel or outback to my fleet. One thing I was wondering was about how they both respond to underwater logs. In the Pineywoods, we have a lot of submerged timber that you don't see until your floating over it. How does the propel handle bumping stuff. I would think the fins would just bend, but what about the propel drive?