I've got a heavy duty kayak, and am looking into the pedaling kayaks, is there a less expensive brand than Hobie with good quality?
Thanks

They all are about the same price when you get into that kind of kayak. What is your budget?

Hobie and Native are about it. They are priced similar. If you wanna pedal,you gotta pay!

That's like looking for a fully loaded luxury car for the price of a Kia or a Hyundai. Best thing to do is save up if you really want a peddling kayak or you may get lucky & find a used one for a decent price on CL...good luck in your search

Less expensive, lighter and better. Hull weight is less than 40#.



Before the masking tape was removed and with the Click N Go installed.



Just a whole lot more work.
A few more things to do. Hoping for an official launch this next week.

RBR, you have one amazing work of art. I love to see great examples of fine craftsmanship. Aside from being a product of love and a great personal accomplishment, I would be making a safe guess that you could have been in a Hobie for lot less $$$'s. I hope to see your yak at one of the future TFF G2G's.

TX,

As has been mentioned above, there are only two truly workable options...the Mirage series from Hobie and Ultimate and Mariner models from Native Watercraft. Although foot propelled via different methods, both are very efficient in their own ways. We (Mariner Sails) carry both product lines and I would invite you to visit our store to make a personal inspection of both, side by side.

The Hobies may cost a bit more but they are ready (with the exception of your life jacket and tackle) to immediately come out of the showroom and head directly to the lake . Pricing wise, if you deduct the individual cost of the Mirage Drive ($500 to $600 - depending on std or turbo fins), the premium seat with self inflating lumbar support ($105.00) and the Hobie premium fiberglass paddle ($125 - made by Bending Branches) you are now in the same general price range as many other kayaks.

It is also a true fact that Hobies almost always retain a large portion of their original value. I don't know of any other manufacturer that has that kind of track record. You a rarely see one for sale, and, when you do, they are priced only slightly less than new ones. Occasionally one will run across a bargain due to someone not knowing what they have at an estate sale, or, they are pretty trashed out due to something like oyster rash, extreme outdoor exposure, or some kind of damaging accident.

I hope that you will find a little time and come by soon for a no-pressure inspection of both lines. No charge demos are also available by appointment. Our goal is to assist you with our expertise and experience to help you get the best fit while still working within your budget. To achieve that goal, we carry kayaks from twelve different manufacturers.

BTW, we still have a few new 2012 new models as well as demo units in stock.

Actually it is not less money for a Hobie.
The major cost for this project are:
Hobie Mirage Drive with Turbo Fins = 600 bucks
Hobie Click N Go = 90 bucks. (My other kayak (HYBRID) has a mount system that cost next to nothing.)
Composite order was about 300 bucks but includes products that I have used on other projects.
About a hundred bucks spent on sheet Styrofoam, wood trim etc purchased locally.

Total $ cost of this project is less than you would pay for a new Hobie. Although I could afford a Hobie they do not have the features that require and Hobies are heavy.
If you throw in my labor, well nobody could afford it even at ham fisted hacker rates, but then I do enjoy building.

Reading Mikes quote I think y'all are agreeing that the Hobie is cheaper in the long run vs building one. Being an owner of a PA14 I know how much effort goes in to moving my rig loaded. I'd bet that wood rig is a slick dude on the water.

I will not bad mouth a Hobie, I have had the oppertunity to used one and they are with out a doubt an excellent water craft, comfort, stability, every neat thing you could ever want in a kayak. But being a Native Mariner rider I have to point out what I feel is the BIG difference between the two.....The Mariner also pedals backwards. While fishing, I pedal as much backwards as I do forwards. The Hobie can't do that. I can truely fish a wind blown point and maintain my position....because you have to pedal backwards to fish a wind blown point. Not just points but shorelines, the wind doesn't bother me as much as other kayaks. I can fish hands free and maintain my drift or stationary position by pedaling back and forth. The main draw back to the Mariner is pulling the Propel drive up when beaching. It takes a little practice and timing, where as the Hobie you simply push forward on one pedal and the fins fold up against the hull. That brings up another point, the Natives you pedal like a bike, the Hobies you push, kind of like a stair stepper. I found it easier and less of a strain to pedal rather than pushing, and I had a hard time learning the right push movements to keep from slapping the hull with the Mirage drive....definately something you wouldn't want to do approching a fishing spot LOL. I know with time and practice you can use the Mirage drive like Robbie and Shawn. Both are great fishing machines and both have several models with the pedal drives, so you can pretty much choose the type you like. As said eariler, Mariner Sails and Kayaks have both brands and various models, I'd suggest stopping by and taking a look and set up a demo time. Once you pedal, it's hard to go back. IMHO

I've corresponded with RBR a few times, and I've been watching his build on this yak. It is not wood. It is styrofoam and composite. When he is done, he won't have $1200 in it with a nice chair installed. You can't touch any new Mirage or Propel drive kayak for anywhere near that. And you can pick his kayak up and carry it away without wrenching your back.

I've been looking at building one myself, because Hobie doesn't build one with the seat far enough from the pedals for me, and I can build one under 50# for less than $1K. I know that doesn't include my labor, but I'm going to be working on something anyway.

I have the Native Ultamite with the propel drive. It's a nice kayak. I can peddle faster than I can paddle and it is nice to have your hands free while covering water. Ill usually retie my lines or change lures while making my way to a new spot. As Rob said above, the biggest difference that I see is the ability to go in reverse with the Natives.

both systems are good,hands free is even better,on the mirage drive you have the advantage of shallower water access using the flutter tecnique, reversing the drive allows backward movement.The Propel requires no more than the driver to reverse there pedalling to move fore or aft but cannot be used in skinner water (8- 10").
Can't speak to the durbility of propel ( not been around as long) but the mirage Iv'e had since 07 in salt and fresh water very easy to maintain with one chain failure over that period, bent a couple of rods (brazos river) straitened out and carry on

hobie is the
shiznit. paddle free while fishing. use the paddle to push off a dock or rock if you need to go backerds

^^^^^^^^^^^LMAO^^^^^^^^^^^