Hobie Sport Kayak Review
Answers by Janette Weintraub
How long have been fishing the Hobie Sport?
May 2004 I started fishing the Hobie Sport.
Why did you choose this boat?
I chose the Hobie Sport because I don't have the arm strength that the men have to paddle a kayak with ease.
Have you owned other kayaks? Which? Discuss your progression to the Sport.
My husband won a Ocean Drifter in a tournament and traded it for a tourer for me. I tried the tourer but because I am not a heavy person it was real tipsy in the water for me. So we traded the tourer for a Fish N Dive. The Fish N Dive was so stable on the water that I felt like I was sitting on shore. I fished out of my Fish N Dive for 3 years and if you are a bigger person the Fish N Dive is a great kayak, but if you are 5'1" and weight less than 130 lb it is a lot of boat to paddle against the wind and the currants. Then I heard about the Hobie Sport and thought I would try it out. Once I tried the Sport my beloved Fish N Dive had a 4 sale sign on it the next day. I sold my Fish N Dive and bought the Hobie Sport the same week and haven't looked back since.
What are the tradeoffs of this kayak?
Only three things come to mind. First, the hatch in the middle of the Sport cannot be used for dry storage. There is no way to put a bucket or a bag in it because it has no lip to hang anything from. (So we have installed a Cobra Hatch with a bucket in my Hobie Sport) Second, I just would like a little more padding on my kayak seat. Third if you are just using peddles, to turn the kayak around you have to go in a pretty big circle. (to avoid this you can just pull out the paddle.)
What are the strengths of this kayak?
It has peddles and a paddle. I have a lot more strength in my legs and I can peddle all day long and not get tired. It only weighs 45 lbs and is only 9' 7 "long. It is very stable and can hold up to 245#. (not that my husband would appreciate that)
What is it that keeps the Hobie Sport above the rest in your mind?
It let's me have both of my hands free pretty much the whole time so I am better tuned in to the fish that I am catching instead of trying to fight with the paddle.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I wouldn't trade in for the WORLD. On the other kayaks I would get frustrated form fighting the wind and my husband would look and me and say what's wrong. With the Hobie Sport my husband looks at me at the end of a long day on the water and sees the same smile still on my face that he saw when we launched that morning.