The drive itself is made from many parts, all of which are replaceable should any part break.

The Hobie Outback has undergone a complete re-design for 2019 bringing together a new hull shape with the latest advancements in kayak fishing features and technology.I just had to get my hands on one! The hatch features a rectangular gear bucket which is the perfect size to fit the Medium 3600 size Plano Waterproof Tackle Boxes. It is elevated off the hull so it provides a good dry seating position. In the centre there is a small black plate and a 3-Way Thru Hull Fitting. A handy spot to chuck a rod whilst dealing with a fish.Back to the seating area. It will comfortably fit two Medium and 1 Small Plano boxes. I was a bit concerned at first due to the way my Subaru Crosstrek was set up with factory roof racks. The ovalised arms are an improvement on previous designs and have a tough anodised finish.

The front of the seat can be raised or lowered by pulling the grey webbing loop beside the kick stand toggle. There is a screw-in cleat on the rear wall of the cargo area. The stern is also Power-Pole ready with pre-drilled inserts. You won't struggle for storage space on this kayak! The control line is found tied to a pulley on the black plate beneath the seat. Operating these controls is very easy. There are 4 short legs stowed within the seat frame, which can be pushed into the 4 corners of the frame to form the chair! Hobie have set the bar very high for fishing kayak standards going forward. With lots of volume in this area you get lots of primary stability - this is the stability you feel as you sit in a kayak and rock it from side to side.

With a trolley stored at the back out of the way, it creates extra storage space behind the seat and means you can use a Livewell.Turning the Outback over we can see the rudder blade. These can be left sticking up or tucked under a small loop of bungee cord at the bow end of the hatch as shown in the image below. The seat has a space mesh construction for good ventilation and quick drying. The Outback certainly has gear storage areas by the ton! Now things gets really tasty! Rod Holder install..... easy. Standard dual-beam, CHIRP and DownScan transducers can be mounted above the plate using the attachment point and fixtures supplied with the kayak. On the left hand side beside the Mirage Drive you will find a Cam Cleat with Toggle labelled 'Rudder'. Took out the new 2019 Hobie Outback for it's maiden voyage after having a paddle only kayak. The transducer can sit above the keel line of the kayak until you reach water deep enough to deploy the transducer! The user operates the Mirage Drive by stepping to and fro on pedals in the footwell of the kayak and the fins drive side-to-side beneath the kayak, propelling the kayak through the water with incredible efficiency. designed for comfort for a wide range of user sizes up to a maximum capacity of 425lbs / 192.78kg.The hatch is orientated to be opened vertically allowing for easier opening between your legs. The main feature on the under side of the Outback is the new Hobie Guardian Retractable Transducer Shield.This feature brings a positive advancement in fishing kayak design. It simply plugs into the Click-N-Go ports. In the forwards pedalling position the fins look like this below the kayak.....The fins themselves have a hard plastic trailing edge with a hard plastic skeleton running beneath a flexible rubber main fin section. There is plenty of room to take the Hobie H-Crate or Hobie Livewell with still room for more! The pedal pad features an adjustable pedal strap to hold your foot to the pedal. The new Vantage CTW seat provides extra width for unmatched room and comfort. For Hobie Mirage Outback and Revolution. A Hobie-Werner collaboration would be superb.... perhaps a future possibility?Beside the seat we find moulded-in gear trays, a relic from the last Outback and quite useful for holding terminal tackles / weights/ lures etc. Great article! Side-scan fish finders presented even more problems as the transducers are large and need to sit proud of the hull. Before we move on from the cockpit/footwell i will point out two control cords. The problem is that transducers are not all the same size and shape. Fish finders are a common accessory used on fishing kayaks and many kayaks now feature moulded-in transducer scupper holes. A large carrying handle makes transport a breeze while providing the perfect mount for your GoPro. I like fast. Hobie Kayaks are by no means cheap when compared to other fishing kayaks. Removing the seat reveals a few more features.

Now featuring our Kick-Up Rudder system with dual steering capabilities, combating drift and navigating tight water has never been easier.Revolutionary hands-free propulsion system. It was commonplace for people to install these in the older Outback so Hobie have made this a standard fitting in the new Outback. Reinforced scupper holes are found at the front end of this area to allow water to drain out.