Hobie Cat Forums

Wondering how others tackle this, or if they simply use a different boat more suited to a shallow shoal filled river. I am guessing that if I wanna try this, I need to simply just remove the mirage drive and go strait up paddling.

I just dont wanna tear up my fins/rudder.

Perhaps, you need to define 'shoalie' a bit better. I fish in a saltmarsh that shows oyster beds & sand bars at low tide .... which are hidden at high tide. When the water gets to 1.2 feet, I remove the MD & paddle. Of course, in new water, I go very slow with an eye on my sonar. It is easy to get surprised as my transducer is mounted thruough the scupperhole behind my seat (PA14) so I can crash into oyster bed / sandbar before the sonar shows it.

If you are in a river with current & rocks or logs or shallow, rocky bottoms that you can hit, then you are correct. Paddle until you are free of shallow water, but remain cautious.

My fins are pretty beat up & get a frequent redressing of gorilla tape & goop.

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PA 14; 2012
Cape Fear River - NC

meaning there are frequent shallow rapids/shoals that sometimes require dismount and drag

I fish on a couple of tail water rivers. The elevation can change 4'. I converted a canoe paddle for use on my PA. When shallow I just pop the mirage drive out and paddle.
My fins have been very well used and some think abused. They are pretty tuff and easy to repair.
Jim

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The PA is not the ideal craft for shallow, rocky rivers.

I think the PA is a great shallow water boat.

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Not in rivers where you have a strong current pushing you. If you hit something, the water is going to keep pushing you against the fins. I once got pinned between a rock and a canoe. It took 4 folks to get me freed.

Paddling instead or Mirage good idea. And I would spend five minutes and remove the rudder. every thing else is like any other kayak and will get scratched regardless sooner or later.

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Hobie PA14 with a mod or two

Some random Modification Pictures

I try not to but expect to hit the fins on something every time I go out regardless of flowing river or windy lake. When I mentioned the PA being a great shallow water boat I was mainly thinking about the amount of water it takes to float without dragging. I did replace the stock paddle with a aluminum handle paddle. I use it to push off the bottom alot. It also works fairly well for paddling the boat too.
It sounds like you were in a nasty jam with the rock and the hard place. In much current the PA would be hard to pull out from under something. It is heavy by itself. In that same situation any canoe or kayak is hard to retrieve. Hopefully I can steer around those spots.
Jim

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