Hobie mirage or Jackson cuda

backyardhockey

Very new to the kayak deal and trying to choose between these. It’s a Hobie mirage sport 10 footer vs a Jackson Cuda 12 footer

the jackson comes with a new fish finder gps. I will often launch in Everglades city and fish against the mangroves. Lots of times I’ll be very shallow and I’m worried I’ll destroy the Hobie drive system

weight is an issue as I’m 60 and will put the kayak on top of my suv. Price is the same. So it’s drive system v. Gps. What say you yak experts?

krash

It's also 12' vs 10', paddling and tracking come into play. Choko along the mangroves and all throughout the oyster beds a GPS comes in kind a handy if you want to setup routes and if you want to explore the mangrove lined creeks and tunnels, but a FF is sort of useless.

Weight is not that different in the 2 kayaks, 61# vs. 70#...
I'm 68 with a failing heart issue so 40# is my limit, I like my Native Ultimate 12... there is a guy on another board selling (2) 14.5's that can be rigged as Solo or Tandem around 55# for $600.00 each, and saw a CL ad for (2) Ultimate 12's Solo only around 45# for $500.00 each. Native Ultimates paddle well and are rather easy to stand in as well.

When I fish over there it's usually timed around a low tide... last of the outgoing, to dead low fully exposed oyster bars, and the first couple hours of incoming with most time is spent weaving in/out of oyster beds in the shallow hard bottom bay. Most of the people I fish with paddle, however one guys wife does pedal her hobie around.

Spineyman

I just started kayaking in December of 17, so I am a newbe also. What I strongly recommend is for you to try both you are interested in and figure out which is best for you. I tried several pedal kayaks and the Hobie was the only one to hurt my knees big time. In 20 minutes it hurt to walk, so please try before you buy. As also stated the FF is just about useless in extremely shallow water. My buddy has a 500 dollar bottom machine and he only uses it for temperature and bottom drop offs. Lot of money for so little use. I am 63 and do not regret for one second getting the pedal kayak. It frees up your hands for fishing. But mine also has reverse so I can hold the kayak while positioning it for a cast , and reverse it to pull a fish away from structure. IE dock, rocks, walls, mangroves and so on.

Monkeyland

I just purchased a Hobie Revolution 13 this week. I've only gotten it out for one quick trip to test everything out but I can already tell that this thing is a game changer after paddling a Tarpon 140 for many years. 

The ability to be hands free is a big deal. No longer having to worry about doing the dance of constantly putting the rod in a holder to pick up the paddle and back again is really nice. The other thing that I was unprepared for is just how useful the rudder is. I've never paddled a kayak with a rudder but just drifting down a tree line is way easier with the rudder. No need to pick up the paddle to change direction, just make a little adjustment to keep your course out of the trees.

If that Hobie is used then you should check into whether or not it has the 180 Drive. Thats the newer version that does reverse. I can't tell you which boat is for you but I'd say that if you can test them both out it would make the decision easy.

dcr

I've had a Hobie Sport for 4 years.  You can "lock" the mirage drive in the up position and get pretty shallow.  When I'm worried about it, I pull it out.  It's pretty easy.  I have beached it with the drive in place. I have dinged it on underwater rocks a few times, not a big deal.  I usually pull the rudder in 16" of water or if there are a lot of rocks.  I haven't tested to see exactly what depth that's important.

I assume the new Sport comes with a Lowrance mount.  I've got mine set with a 2' depth alarm.

I'm older than you.  I throw mine in the back of a pickup.  Weight was a serious concern for me as well.  Also know that if the Sport weighs 70#, that's fitted.  I don't carry it around with the drive and paddle in it.  It's more like 55# bare hull I think.

The reverse would be very nice for fishing mangroves.  Make sure you understand all the standard features and what's included.  A Hobie is pricey, but an awful lot of stuff is included.  Is a Hobie Compass less weight?

EDIT:  And another thing.  If you are shallow enough that you have to paddle in a Hobie, be advised it tracks like a garbage truck.

AaronCannon

Have a Cuda 14 and love it, however, i wish it had a pedal drive.

jcanracer

backyardhockey said:

Very new to the kayak deal and trying to choose between these. It’s a Hobie mirage sport 10 footer vs a Jackson Cuda 12 footer

the jackson comes with a new fish finder gps. I will often launch in Everglades city and fish against the mangroves. Lots of times I’ll be very shallow and I’m worried I’ll destroy the Hobie drive system

weight is an issue as I’m 60 and will put the kayak on top of my suv. Price is the same. So it’s drive system v. Gps. What say you yak experts?

How tall are you?
How heavy are you? (no offense intended)

I'm not a Jackson guy, but here's my 2 cents on the light weight Hobies.

I had a Sport and I loved it, but I soon "outgrew" it. I'm 5'7"ish and was 200lbs at the time. The Hobie sport fit me like a glove, the weight made it easy to car-top and carry up a flight of stairs to my apartment balcony at the time. My problem was that I prefer going offshore and I was close to exceeding the weight capacity between my expanding **** and the amount of gear I was taking with me. I also found out that the shorter the kayak, the worse the paddling; it would be an effort to paddle in a straight line.
After a while, I traded up to a Revolution 11, which was about the same weight and had more capacity and a decent front hatch.

Sport pros:
- light weight
- comfortable for the shorter kayaker

Sport cons:
- limited space in the cockpit
- limited weight capacity
- shorter hull meant it was a pain in the **** to paddle when it either got too shallow to use the fins, or when punching through the beach surf under paddle power.

So to sum it up, the Hobie Sport is great, but make sure it works for you.
If you don't need to stand in the kayak, but still want a lightweight Hobie, I would recommend the Revo 11.
If you want to stand, and still want a relatively lightweight Hobie, consider the Compass (less bells and whistles means less price and weight).

jcanracer

@DCR, you're right, without the rudder, the Sport tracks like poop.

Hull Weights
Sport: 61lbs
Revo11: 64lbs
Compass: 68lbs
Revo13: 71lbs
Outback: 85lbs
Pro Anglers: fuggeddaboutit

backyardhockey

Thanks for the replies. I’m 6’o and 175. I’m finding that the Hobie weighs 48 v 74 for the Cuda. That’s a big Difference so I’m leaning Hobie. Seller seemed like a donkey over the phone though....

jcanracer

backyardhockey said:

Thanks for the replies. I’m 6’o and 175. I’m finding that the Hobie weighs 48 v 74 for the Cuda. That’s a big Difference so I’m leaning Hobie. Seller seemed like a donkey over the phone though....

haha, thats unfortunate about your seller. I'm guessing thats a private sale rather than a Hobie dealer?

For what its worth, I took my dad out in a Hobie Sport one time. He is taller and lighter than me: 5'11" 180lbs, I think his inseam is 32". He fit in the kayak and had a good half day of fishing. Might be a bit cramped if you are planning a long trip or usually take a lot of gear with you.

John McKroid

For the type of fishing you plan to do, I would go with the Cuda.  If you had offshore, or long peddles in deeper water, I would op for the hobie.  Good luck in your decision.

backyardhockey

On my way to look at the 2 kayaks in the title I stopped at some outfitters in Estero. I now own a hobie 13 revolution lol. Did a test drive and as somebody else mentioned the tiller is real nice. Got it for the same price as the other two and get 100 % credit if I want to trade in down the road

TXWahoo

I believe my Cuda 14 with rudder is 75lbs so are you sure that Cuda 12 weights that much?  Btw, its for sale since I've used it twice in the past year.  

My advice on a paddle yak is do not skimp on the paddle.  Mine is a $450 custom 24oz Epic and i don't regret it one bit.

DES51

Hope you keep a leash on it!  

FreeLiner

backyardhockey said:

On my way to look at the 2 kayaks in the title I stopped at some outfitters in Estero. I now own a hobie 13 revolution lol. Did a test drive and as somebody else mentioned the tiller is real nice. Got it for the same price as the other two and get 100 % credit if I want to trade in down the road

Did you get a chance to look at the new Outback?  

krash

I think Estero River alos has a 30 day satisfaction deal too, so try it, use it and if you don't like it take it back....
I bought my used Native from there and it was a great operation, they have lots of used stuff in their lot too.