Hobie Cat Forums

Forum Members - looking for some feedback of the PA in shallow water conditions. Specifically, have you ever found the Mirage Drive system to add additional friction or get caught on weeds, branches etc as you've fished in shallow water once its flat against the hull? I've seen where the Mirage Drive requires 18" of water for use. How do you like going from having the system engaged, peddling, to bringing in the system and paddling once you've reached shallower water? Once you're on a flat, how does it perform when you're padding? I would be fishing in the No Motor Zone, Indian River, and Mosquito Lagoon areas where it can be quite shallow. I love the versatility of the PA, but just want to make sure it would be the correct platform for the type of angling I'll be doing. Any help/suggestions from the Members would be greatly appreciated!

it is my biggest and really only complaint about the mirage drive, is the super shallow water....

can't tell ya how many drive rods i've bent and fins i've ripped in the shallows..

super skinny water is my bane in this, but yet it's mostly what i fish..I find myself either paddling (which isn't too bad) or just standing and poling around...I mainly fish in salt so weeds/branches haven't been too much of an issue...just dont forget to pull the drive out when doing so...

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2011 Hobie Pro Angler - Papaya
2012 Hobie Tandem Island - Papaya

I use my PA in less than a foot a water, with the Mirage Drive unit in place and under power. You feather them against the hull and take short pumps on the pedals rather than full strokes. I think it's a great shallow water craft overall.

If there are logs, weeds, etc., you need to be careful and keep an eye open for that kind of stuff. As it is, I occasionally hit something unforeseen, but I've done no serious damage thus far.

I also fish in a foot of water during the low tide, and I remove the mirage drive and pole around. I find that it makes it easy to sight cast to fish and when I want to stop I stakeout in the hole where to mirage drive was. The PA is of going in very shallow water. Make yourself a pushpole and you will be just fine.

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Kayak Corpsman, 2012 Hobie Pro Angler

I've had mine back in some shallow backwaters so far with no issues (1 foot depth) when navigating from one deep area to another. I do what Tom suggested and just feather the strokes to small shallow ones and I can do pretty well.

If I get worried about it being too shallow or the drive getting caught up in weeds, etc. I just reach down and latch my pedal retaining cord to keep the blades against the hull and use the accessory padel to move.

If you didn't have a fishfinder for depth readings, I can see where there would be uneasiness when going into shallow water.

The pole idea is a good one for shallow water as well.

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Steve Stubbs
USAF (retired)

2012 Pro Angler - Dune
2012 Revolution 11 - Papaya