Adventure Outlet Reviews

Kayak Review as written for the Fishing Monthly Magazine

Prowler 4.5 Elite
By Ocean Kayak

Manufacturers Goals:
The Prowler Elite 4.5 was built as a purpose built fishing kayak, which combines all the best features of the Prowler 13 and Prowler 15 and then some.
At 4.5m this kayak has the waterline length to deliver good speed, ideal for battling headwinds. With plenty of below deck storage this kayak is a credible alternative to the traditional sit-in sea kayak for touring and paddling expeditions and works incredibly well for inshore fishing.
The Prowler Elite 4.5 also has a new feature ‘the transducer scupper hole' which allows for a simple and effective transducer installation.

Specifications:
Length 4.5m Width 71cm
Weight 30.4kg Capacity 230kg

First Glance
The Prowler 4.5 Elite from Ocean Kayak that we had to test paddle was the XT model fitted with a rudder and adjustable peddle mechanism.
First impressions...........this is not your average piece of moulded plastic that some people go paddling on. It has just about everything the kayaking angler could dream of:
Comfortable carry handles for both one-person and two-person lifting
Numerous mounting & anchor points utilizing Ocean Kayaks 100% waterproof ‘insert' attachment system (allowing you to attach gaffs, pliers, lip grippers, knives, landing nets, paddle leashes, rod leashes)
Moulded transducer scupper hole making this kayak Hummingbird Fish Finder ready. There is also an installation kit available to help take the guesswork & frustration out for a trouble free installation
A centre moulded bucket hatch works well to store bait or lures and compliments the waterproof tackle box, 2 flush mounted rear rod holders, paddle holders and comfortable seat/backrest.
Behind the cockpit the Elite has an enormous rear well with room to fit a large esky, live well, fishing crate, tackle box, large catches or maybe a game chair - it's that big!
Up front a large front hatch exposes a huge storage space with enough room for a tent, camp stove and food making it great for an overnight fishing expedition or a weekend camping trip.

Comfort
The moulded seat pan combined with the seat/backrest made for a very comfortable paddling position. The adjustable footrests, standard on the ruddered version of the Elite, allowed you to brace into the kayak well for good control of the kayak in rough conditions. We tried a number of different sized ‘butts' in the kayak and all found it comfortable. The Elite would be suitable for both petite and larger paddlers (remember it has a load capacity of 230kg). Paddlers also noted that their shorts stayed dry while paddling in flat water as a result of the position and height of the scupper holes in the seat well. The bow is shaped with wide flared sections at the top of the hull giving a dry ride in most conditions.

Stability, Manoeuvrability, Tracking & Speed
The Elite is extremely stable. A 100+kg paddler said he was even able to sit sidesaddle and still feel really comfortable. The kayak's hull has a central keel running the full length of the craft making it track well, even without the rudder engaged. If you lean the kayak over on its edge you can make the kayak turn a reasonable circle. The use of thigh braces would assist for carving sharper turns and for bracing into the kayak while in the surf. The Elite's sharp bow, smooth finish on the hull and overall waterline length allow this kayak to cruise at good speed.

In the Surf and Cruising
We tested the Elite in 1m surf at Narrowneck and found that it performed admirably. It was very predictable as it moved down the face of the wave and with its flared bow never looked like nose-diving. It also punched out through the surf easily with its sharp bow design. Once swamped I noticed that the scupper holes drained the kayak quickly and completely. The larger diameter scupper holes in the rear well were an excellent inclusion and worked well.

We didn't get the opportunity to load the Elite up with gear but the kayaks performance suggests that it would handle the gear and the load easily.

The Wash-Up
It was difficult to find faults in the Elite while paddling it. Lifting it wasn't quite so much fun. It is a bit on the heavy side, but is to be expected of a poly kayak of this size. If you had to carry it any further than 10m a kayak trolley would be a wise investment and would stow away easily in the front storage compartment once you get to the water. It was also noted that the position of the rear carry handle made for an uncomfortable carry.

A good performing, comfortable, stable & dry ride is what you can expect from the Prowler 4.5 Elite, and with its many features it makes a great package for the devoted Yak Angler. Whatever type of fishing you're into whether it's trolling and jigging out in the big water or cruising through the estuaries throwing lures this kayak has a good feel and would be ideal for either application.

Want One!!
The Prowler 4.5 Elite is priced at $1899 with a rudder.

Reviewer
This review was conducted by Craig McSween, Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor with Australian Canoeing. For feedback on this review you can contact me at Adventure Outlet (Kayaking & Outdoor Store) in Southport on (07)55712929 or info@adventureoutlet.com.au
Watch for more kayak reviews in next month's edition.

Kayak Review as written for the Fishing Monthly Magazine

Outback

By Hobie

Manufacturers Goals:
The Hobie Mirage Outback was designed for hands-free fishing, hunting, and photography and other on-water-activities.
Hobie

Specifications:
Length 3.68m Width 89cm
Weight 28kg (plus 3.68kg for Mirage Drive) Capacity 180kg

First Glance
I was pretty sceptical the first time I saw a Hobie kayak fitted with a Mirage Drive peddle system. The idea of pedalling rather than paddling seemed rather strange. I've spent years teaching people how to paddle a kayak and now here is a kayak you don't even have to paddle!!
The Outback has an impressive fit-out for fishing that includes 4 molded-in rod holders, 2 drink holders, adjustable high back seat,hand-controlled rudder with kick-up feature, molded-in storage wells around the cockpit, including 1 with a mesh cover to hold things in place, and 3 hatches. All hatches have quick and easy closures and I found the centre hatch great for storing fishing gear especially with the tackle tray insert that is standard on the fishing model.
The Mirage Drive pedalling system is a wild piece of equipment! It is easily fitted, and removed from the kayak and works by peddling, alternatively left and right, to drive two underwater flippers. They work much like a penguin's fins to propel the Hobie Mirage with surprising speed and ease. The Hobie Mirage steering controls are positioned at arm's length, giving precise control of the kick-up rudder.

Comfort
The seat & backrest are probably the best I've seen in a kayak. I found that due to the higher position of the feet as compared to a conventional sit-on top kayak that the backrest was really essential. Normally I would sit fairly upright in a kayak and hardly use the backrest but I found that in the Outback you really lean back into it.
Once pedalling you need to trim the rudder controls to get the Hobie to travel in a straight line. Then you can sit back and do what you like!! The pedal and rudder combine to give you true hands free kayaking. I was able to cast and retrieve, fiddle with the Fish Finder (fitted as an extra to our demo kayak) and after choosing between the 5 rod holders at my disposal, was able to sort through my tackle box for the next lure I wanted to try, all while I was still cruising across the lake!

Stability, Manoeuvrability, Tracking & Speed
At 89cm wide stability is not an issue in this yak, you could stand up and fish if you wanted. Without the rudder in the water the Outback didn't track real well. With the rudder in, both tracking and manoeuvrability were excellent. Now speed........if you look at the dimensions of this craft, do the sums on what its potential hull speed should be, and just paddle the craft, things are not that inspiring. The pedal system though is quite extraordinary. It not only propelled the craft faster than possible with a paddle, it seemed to give the craft lift and exceed what I thought the Outback's potential hull speed would be. A cruising speed of 5 km/hr is easily achievable.

The Wash-Up
The Hobie kayaks fitted with the Mirage Drive peddle system are no ordinary kayak. They have an exceptional fit out and deck lay-out and although they look a bit cumbersome perform really well. Remember the flippers are based on the Penguin.........have you seen how fast those things can go!! As I'm a paddler, not a bike rider I found it a little tiering to try to maintain a fast pace for an extended period. This kayak is a leg workout, not an arm or upper-body workout. I was really impressed with how effective the pedal system worked and really enjoyed my time fishing on the Outback, even though I couldn't entice any Bass to smash my piece of plastic I towed around. We had the use of one of the Hobie trolleys for the demo and also found these to be extremely effective. It was possible to wheel the kayak completely in to the water and then simply float the trolley out and stow it on the rear deck. This eliminated the need to lift the kayak and also seamed to protect the flippers on the bottom of the craft.
After an afternoon on the Outback I'm not ready to through away all my paddles and start pedalling. However I think that the Hobie kayaks do have a lot to offer. True to their claim they offer hands-free fishing, hunting, photography and other on-water-activities. I was impressed with the quality and detail throughout the craft and look forward to my next PEDAL on a Hobie.

Want One!!
The standard Hobie Mirage Outback retails for $2390

Reviewer
This review was conducted by Craig McSween, Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor with Australian Canoeing. For feedback on this review you can contact me at Adventure Outlet (Kayaking & Outdoor Store) in Southport on (07)55712929 or info@adventureoutlet.com.au
Watch for more kayak reviews in next month's edition.

Kayak Review as written for the Fishing Monthly Magazine

ADVENTURE

By Hobie

Manufacturers Goals:
This is Hobie's fastest kayak. It features everything you want in a touring kayak; speed, tracking ability, comfort and enough room for gear. It is well set up as a fishing platform and ..............did we mention that you can not only paddle it but also PEDAL and SAIL it!
Hobie

Specifications:
Length 4.88 Width 70cm
Weight 28kg (plus 3.68kg for Mirage Drive) Capacity 159kg

First Glance
If you read the July ‘07 edition of Fishing Monthly you'd have seen the review on the Hobie Outback. This was my first look at Hobies Mirage (Pedal) Drive System so you'd have noticed an element of scepticism. Things have changed.............I now fish regularly from an Adventure (as well as a few other kayaks).
The Mirage Drive works by alternating pedal steps which drive two underwater fins that work much like a penguin's flippers. The flippers flex and take the shape of a propeller blade, then reverse this shape on the alternating step. If none of this makes sense go and have a look at one in the flesh.......its pretty difficult to explain!
The hull of the Adventure comes standard with carrying handles, large bow hatch, sail mount, mesh covered stowage pockets, 8 inch twist & seal hatch in front of the paddler, twist and stow rudder, paddle parks, molded in cup holder, lever for rudder control, rear cargo area with bungy tie downs, scupper holes and 2 rod holders. The impressive part of the Hobie deal is the long list of other inclusions: the Mirage Drive, a plug to fill the void of the Drive System if you only want to paddle some days, Deluxe High Back Padded Seat with detachable gear pack, Hobie 2 piece paddle, drink bottle, dry bag and 1 gear bucket that fits neatly inside the rim of either of the 8 inch hatches. This bucket has a sealed lid and makes great storage for small tackle such as lures, soft plastics, jig heads, etc.
The list of options is just as impressive: sail, daggerboard, bimini sun cover, outriggers and trolley. Special note: the Hobie trolley plugs in to the scupper holes on any Hobie model and are simpler and easier to use than any other kayak trolley that I have seen on the market. . It is possible to wheel the kayak completely in to the water and then simply float the trolley out and stow it on the rear deck. This eliminated the need to lift the kayak and also protects the flippers on the bottom of the craft.

Comfort
Hobie's padded seat and backrest are as ‘comfy' as it gets. The real advantage of the Hobie is that the Mirage Drive allows hands free kayaking. This means that you can be moving around flicking your lures or soft plastics, perfect for your typical estuary fishing. Even if you are trolling hard bodied lures in open water it gives you the luxury of having your rod in hand so that you can give the lure a better action and feel the strike.
The placement of everything on the Adventure is well thought out. The 8 inch twist & seal hatch can be opened and closed easily with one hand, the rudder control is at your fingertips, the mesh covered stowage pockets are fantastic for pliers, braid cutters or even sunscreen.
The rod holders are a little further back on the Hobie's than on other fishing kayaks but I found them to still be very accessible. I'd look at adding a forward mounted adjustable rod holder to allow further storage options and to allow you to vary the height of the rod tip.

Performance
The Adventure is a speed machine! Its waterline length is greater than any other plastic fishing kayak on the market, hence if you put in some effort, either pedalling or paddling, this thing will move. If you have a real need for speed try fitting the Hobie Sail and daggerboard! Leave your rods behind on the first sailing trip, in 15 knots of wind this can become a wet sport. If this doesn't quench your thirst, check out Hobie's ‘Adventure Island' trimaran.
The turning circle on the Adventure is quite good for such a long kayak, either using the rudder or the paddle. If you want to just go for a paddle you are best to remove the Mirage Drive and insert the plug that fills the void of the Drive System. I found it best to paddle without using the rudder, otherwise you have to stop paddling to trim the rudder control. The Adventure tracks quite well when paddling without the rudder. The Mirage Drive can be stowed in the front hatch while on paddling trips, just in case the arms cease up!
The stability of a kayak is determined by not just the width of the craft. Factors such as height of the seat, hull shape (rocker & chines), hull displacement, weight that you load into it and the height of your own centre of gravity are all important. I'd rate the Adventure as very stable but a really big guy, with lets say average balance, would need to test one first to ensure they were comfortable to not only paddle/pedal it, but also fish from it.

The Wash-Up
The Hobie Adventure is not your average sit-on top kayak. The Hobie's are exceptional in both quality & fit out. Not only can you paddle these yaks but you also get to pedal, sail and of course fish. The Mirage Drive utilizes the large muscle groups of the legs and provides an alternate means of propulsion that is both effective and easy for anyone to do. The Mirage is quiet, dry (no drips from the paddle) and leaves you hands free for fishing, or anything else you'd like to do while out on the water.
If you are thinking of fishing from a kayak the Hobie Adventure should be given some serious consideration.

Want One!!

The standard Hobie Mirage Adventure retails for $2490.

Reviewer
This review was conducted by Craig McSween, Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor with Australian Canoeing. For feedback on this review you can contact me at Adventure Outlet (Kayaking & Outdoor Store) in Southport on (07)55712929 or info@adventureoutlet.com.au
Watch for more kayak reviews in next month's edition.

Kayak Review as was written for the Fishing Monthly Magazine

Catch 420
By Mission

Manufacturers Goals:
The Catch 420 has only just been released on to the Australian market. The aim was to take a lot of the unique features of the Catch 390 and develop a longer, faster and fully featured fishing kayak that is extremely comfortable to both paddle and fish from. The 420 is designed to be suitable for both flat and open water with generous volume and rocker in the bow. The kayaks hull shape combines the speed and efficiency of a sea kayak with the stability and ease of use of a sit-on-top kayak Mission Australia

Specifications:
Length 4.2m Width 73cm
Weight 28kg Capacity 180kg

First Glance
The Catch 420 is a good looking craft. Moulded in carry handles at the bow, side and stern is a trade mark feature of the Mission brand of kayak. At the stern, the handles are integrated into the swallow tail housing for the rudder. This housing provides good protection for the rudder while retracted on to the deck in the surf zone and is a standard feature of most of Mission's sea kayaks. Both the bow and stern do remind you more of a touring kayak hull than your typical sit-on top fishing kayak. It is when you start to examine the cockpit that you start to see the Catch 420's fishing prowess.
In front of the paddler's feet is a 10" rubber hatch that provides access to the internal front compartment. This compartment has a bulkhead stopping items such as rods and other fishing gear from sliding back under the cockpit area making them hard to retrieve. This front bulkhead, and another rear bulkhead, are fairly unique features in fishing kayaks and do add to the safety and sea worthiness of this yak. There is an optional fish sock that can be fitted to the rim of the hatch coaming allowing you to store your catch without making a mess inside the craft. If you prefer your fish in the rear, the tank well is long & deep thus providing tons of storage for fishing and is also suitable for dive cylinders.
The foot pedals are easy to adjust for different leg lengths and provide solid support for bracing into the craft in the surf. In between your shins is a unique fish finder area with adjustable bungy controlled pop up lid and internal self draining transducer scupper hole. (Only smaller fish finder units fit into the compartment. I found a Humminbird 363 was a perfect fit, allowing you to fold the unit back so that the lid could close, protecting your sounder from being damaged or splashed in smaller surf.
Below your foot pedals are two side recessed compartments with mesh covers. Other features include four D-ring attachment points suitable for thigh braces & rod leashes, another 10" hatch between your knees, 6" hatch behind the cockpit allowing access to the hull mounted battery mount, 2 rear recessed rod holders, paddle parks either side and 2 rod parks that are recessed into the deck just forward of your knees.

Comfort
The moulded in seat and backrest both have a foam pad attached, providing a balance of padding and support. The backrest isn't as high as backbands on some other fishing kayaks which may not provide as much support while fishing but does allow the torso to still rotate for efficient paddling technique. It also allows an easy re-entering of the craft by climbing on at the rear of the craft, straddling the kayak cowboy style, and sliding forward to the cockpit area. This is difficult on kayaks with high luxurious backrests. The seat doesn't have any adjustment that can be made without gluing in more foam so I'd suggest that you spend some time sitting in it to ensure that you're going to be comfortable.
The fish finder storage compartment, and lid, does sit close to the inner calf muscle of both legs. I found it quite comfortable but when sitting paddlers of various leg lengths in the craft I received a mixed review regarding the comfort and pressure on the inner calf. Again it is something you would need to check by actually sitting in the kayak for yourself and make sure you were comfortable.
The 420 has places to put all your fishing gear, and hopefully some fish! I wasn't sure about the position and angle of the rod parks but found they worked well while changing lures and found I was even able to paddle with rods in these upright parks, all be it a little restricted.
When lifting the kayak solo from the recessed side carry handles, the reviewed kayak was a little bow heavy......something else just to check.

Stability, Manoeuvrability, Tracking & Speed
The Catch 420 rates well in stability, tracking & speed, but are not particularly easy to manoeuvre. This is due to the very pronounced keel in the rear that helps it stay in a straight line without using the rudder. This is a good attribute for an offshore kayak as anything with as many moving parts as a rudder is susceptible to breaking at the worst time. Some similar kayaks, with less of a keel at the rear, could be a handful to keep straight without a rudder. Even when using the rudder I found the kayak a little slow to turn. The stability and speed of this fishing yak are very good, neither the most stable nor the fastest fishing kayak out there, but certainly a good compromise of both.

In the Surf and Cruising
In the estuaries the 420 is capable of covering larger distances with ease. The hull shape is quite efficient through the water, cutting through with only a minimal bow and stern wave created. (When you're looking at the hull of a kayak, trying to work out how fast or efficient it will be, there are 3 main factors. The first 2 are length and width of the yak, the longer and skinnier, the faster it will go. The third has more to do with the shape of the hull and how efficiently it moves the water from where the bow cuts the water, to the widest point at the cockpit and then tapers to the stern. Have a look from the bow, looking along the hull at the water line level and you will be able to imagine how efficient a particular hull will be through the water.)
In the surf the 420 is more than capable. Good volume in the bow limits the craft ‘nosing in' when coming in on a wave and soft rounded chines on the hull make the craft pretty manageable when broached sideways on a wave. The Catch 420 has 10 scupper holes throughout the craft that drain water out of the cockpit and rear well very quickly after being swamped by a wave. I found that if you straddle the kayak and slide forward to sit on the centre hatch it was easy to access rods and fishing gear from the front hatch. A 2 piece 7ft rod easily fit in the front compartment when split. When accessing this compartment it was important not to shift your weight too far forward as it would tend to bring the water level in the footwell up pretty close to the bottom lip of the front hatch. I think a guy that is 100kg + may need plugs in the scupper holes in the footwell to avoid flooding the front compartment when accessing gear from it on the water.

The Wash-Up
The Catch 420 does live up to expectation and the manufactures aims when designing the craft. It has a good balance of speed and stability and some nice features that do make it a suitable option for both offshore and inshore fishing.
Mission also offers this craft as an Xstream Pro 420. This is the same hull but comes without a lot of the fishing extra's and is $300 cheaper. This may be a good option for fisho's who like doing their own fit out and wish to customise the kayak to their type of fishing. There is also a non-ruddered version known as an Xstream 420 that saves a further $200. If you're mostly a fair weather fisherman this yak would be fine without a rudder due its tracking and straight line performance.
Other optional accessories for this fishing yak include a fish finder attachment kit, rear well cover, rear well insulated bag, thigh straps and anchor rig running system.

Want One!!
The Catch 420 retails for $1699

Reviewer
This review was conducted by Craig McSween, Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor with Australian Canoeing. For feedback on this review you can contact me at Adventure Outlet (Kayaking & Outdoor Store) in Southport on (07)55712929 or info@adventureoutlet.com.au
Watch for more kayak reviews in next month's edition.