Does anyone have any experience with Hobie Outfitter?

I know there are a lot of threads on PA2 and I would love to get one too but I would really like to take my wife to go kayaking with me. She is not an outdoor person so I don't not see her enjoying on a solo kayak by herself, otherwise I would get 2 solo kayaks.

Although I don't anticipate her to be on kayak trips with me for more than 30% of times, I would still consider a Hobie Outfitter, beside I can always take my 80-lb dog with me since there are plenty of space.

My question is that in comarason with PA12 or 14, what is your experience with Outfitter? How does it perform in solo?

2 seater with the wife = divorce. Get her her own kayak.

I agree with big reel. My wife will fish but it isn't her favorite thing to do. I got her a Revo 13 and she will hang with me for a while but when she gets bored she will break out a coke zero and take off kayaking on her own. Plus, it gives me a buddy-yak because I'm not paddling some hairy legged anchor around.

I wouldn't worry about that, if that happened I can still take my dog with me.
But seriously, having a tandem means I can take my kids, dog or wife with me ocassionally. However, as said, I wonder how it performs when using it as solo. Is it far off from other Hobie solos?

The Hobie Outfitter was my first Hobie kayak. I bought it because my wife wanted to go fishing with me. She went with me about four times and that was it. Hence, I fished solo almost exclusively out of the outfitter and did quite well in tournaments (2nd, 4th and 7th in KATS Angler of the Year standings). I sold it two years ago for not much less than I paid for it to get the new Hobie PA 12 (which I love) mainly for the new Vantage seat, easier to stand in, and the Lowrance depth finder mounting system. The pros for the Outfitter used solo is I could carry a ton of stuff and I could lay my rods down horizontally in the front of the kayak as I hate having them vertical behind me for numerous fishing reasons. The negative with the Outfitter was that used solo it is not very fast and I would have to paddle in addition to peddle if I wanted to keep up with everyone else (great workout however), and the old seat was uncomfortable after a long day of fishing and, although I could stand, it was not as stable as the PA 12 for sure.

Gingerbread Man,

The 2015 model of Outfitter come with vantage seat that should make it more comfortable. Did you have trouble selling your Outfitter? I am guessing there may not be that many people interested in an Outffiter, PA seems to be a much popular Hobie. Would I have problem selling it the future?

I did not have any trouble selling my outfitter and got a very nice price for it...however, the guy who bought it was looking for a tandem. I honestly think that the outfitter is definitely for someone who plans on taking a second person most of the time and I was lucky to find that "someone" in about two weeks when I sold it a couple of years ago. In all the tournaments I fished for 4 years out of the outfitter...I never saw another one on the water.

Personally, if I were you, I would buy either a PA-12, a new outback or 11' revolution with the new vantage seats and just rent a kayak for your wife for the few times (30%) you would be fishing with your wife. In fact, if she didn't feel comfortable in her own kayak...you could rent a tandem until she got used to it and then rent, or buy, her own kayak. Unless your wife is really into kayaking or fishing...I think you will end up fishing solo most of the time (70% or more) and for that...I'd go with one of the kayaks above. JMHO...