Would have been impossible to design the drive lever free if it could accommodate previous year hulls
The 360 drive very well might fit, but you wouldn�t be able to control the drive without the communicating gear mechanism/handle assembly

That being said, it doesn�t take long for some Hobie customers to find work arounds

I must agree with a previous post in that the more small moving parts you have in a �kayak�, the more likely there will be mechanical issues and maintenance.

There will be a market for a service plan/kayak insurance with this model�it costs $1000 more than my first car

I give the 360 a big nod, a huge nod, for taking back the lead for kayaks best suited for tournament fishing. Great job! The advantages are slim but aren't they always at this point in fishing kayak developments? If you get one more fish, one more bite, it has value.

The price? While it is fun to debate, to lament, to criticize, the 360 PA 12s and PA 14s are likely priced EXACTLY correct. We will know soon . . . but I bet there are more buyers lined up for this fall's "360" release than Hobie can accommodate early on. A kayak's price, if it is going to stay on the market and succeed, is always more than its costs to build (and get on a showroom floor) plus a reasonable profit margin for its maker, for its retailer. From there, it will simply be math: at what price will the number of units sold multiplied by some retail price optimize profits? Not profit margins, but gross profits.

This is a long way of saying that supply and demand set prices. Prospective kayak purchasers (demand) will influence price as much as Hobie (supply and profit motivation). Note here, the drop in several pedal kayaks recently. The Predator PDL has dropped. My little Native Propel 10 has drop several hundred dollars likely owing to competition in the short pedaler space with the new smaller Old Town Topwater and more.

Why do $1000 kayaks sell for $1000? Because they can't get $1100 for them, that's why. If Hobie can get 5 grand for 360s, sell enough at that price to optimize profits, it is "we" who set or at least influence the price. If are willing to pay 6 grand and there are enough of us, they'd be priced at 6 grand.

Cheers! Brad

I just bought a 2019 outback that I love but I want one of these!!!!!

I guess $5000 kayaks are still pretty cheap when you consider that a trolling motor as being discussed over in the bass section cost $2800, not counting all the high tech electronic fish finders, and not to mention the high dollar rods and reels and full tackle boxes plus the price of those bass rigs, and trucks that are pulling them.
And that's so that you can catch a fish that you are going to release as soon as possible after you catch it?

You are spot on Jimbo! As with many hobbies, the cost cannot be justified from a "need" position.

For example... I hear guys in my office talking about several hundred dollars on a single golf club and club memberships that cost several thousand per year (in addition to $50,000 buy-in's). Some folks will spend $5,000+ on a "non-collectible" shotgun.

I look at these examples and I think it's ridiculous to spend that much money on metal clubs and a gun that spays pellets.... then I find myself considering $5,000 for a plastic boat

They say only difference between men and boys are the price of our toys. They right!

That said $5k on a kayak is entirely too much for me. I don't use the word never very often cause never's a long time but I don't see myself ever spending that much on one kayak. I did buy a PA14 but bought it used ( 2016 that had never been in the water) for $2000. I was looking for an Outback but it was too good to pass up.

Yep, only way I'll ever afford one myself.
The one I'll end up buying will probably be beat up pretty good and held together with bailing wire, but as long as it still works and doesn't leak, I'll be fine with it if it's cheap enough.

I'd probably buy one if there were some other upgrades included - such as being power pole ready. I think the price is probably about right. My biggest concern about my Pa14 now is breaking the drive. I've done this before, about 1.5miles from the ramp in fairly rough conditions and it was no fun. Luckily though, Hobie repaired the drive under warranty so I'm not too worried about problems. I've actually been looking at other pedal drives to alleviate my fears of hitting a stump and not being able to get back...but the 360 seems to take care of that.

I hear ya Chucked. To me, the kick up feature is just as valuable as the 360.

I have bent a couple rods myself that could not be straightened on the water. Luckily both were on flat water and it was pretty late in the day so I simply fished my way back with the paddle. I carry a set of spare rods with me now. I figure I can paddle to the nearest bank and swap out the rod(s) in about 5 minutes if I have to.

I must have been lucky or gotten better at fin control because I haven't bent a rod since I bought the spares. LOL

sweet yak but 5k for a yak is too much for a yak. Not saying it is not worth it because I know the R and D to make the system was expensive. Heck I love that you can parallel park the damn thing.
I spent 5k for my solo skiff, 5 hp merc and a 15 ft trailex trailer.

Mike I hear ya. I've bent my rods so bad they couldn't be straitened lol. Is rather the rods give then cracking the hull tho.

I'm hoping Hobie comes out with an adapter kit that will provide a kick up option to older Mirage drives. I know it's wishful thinking but I'm sure it could be done.

Might have to stop by Angler's Pro Tackle to test drive.

Man that drive looks sweet. Wonder why the seat is so high.

It looks like the angle at which the pedals move is not straight back and forth, but a very slight higher to lower angle; thus the seat needs to be higher to align the lower leg to the pedal movement.

This would put the kayaker in a position of mechanical advantage to drive the pedals.