So I just want one post to keep tabs on all the stuff I am doing going to do with my PA 17T. So here it is! I bought it from Select Sail in Omaha, NE. Great peoples and if you are looking at getting one I HIGHLY recommend them. This is my second Hobie just sold my 14 Outfitter and I am going to give it some more time but I see a Revo in my future.... use this PA as the party barge and fishing machine and excursions with a Revo maybe even just a sport we'll see.
I took it out for it's maiden voyage today and got my butt whooped by the wind. 13 gusting to 28 is what my phone said. Took me about 15 mins to get from one side to the other side of one of our little pond/lakes here in Omaha and then took me about an hour to get back. Still fun but would have been nice to have had 2 sets of legs in the yak.
http://youtu.be/b8bzwhAef6Y <-- boring video but you can see the chop
Initial thoughts: I like it.
Solo on a windy day not so much fun but doable.
Turns about the same as my outfitter did.
Skeg.... not sold on that every time I put it down it would push the yak broadside into the waves, i guess you don't put it down in chop.
Tons of room (as expected).
Trailer will take some getting used to it's so small and hard to see when backing up. I am going to have to put some flags on it.
Some water in the hull after not sure where it came in from but there was water in the front hatch liner and I never opened the lid so I don't think it's making a good seal.
Seats have a ton of settings and I still haven't figured them all out. But I was on setting 3 on the pedals where I was on 5 on the outfitter, just have to play with it as I don't feel like I was getting full strokes .
Build Plan:
- Build a rack for the Trailer
- Lowrance Elite 4 and battery kit (almost installed)
- Micro Power pole - Still deciding on the power if I'll tap the same battery or get another
- Railblaza tracport 900!
- Lots of Ram mount stuff (go pro/ rod holders)
- Maybe a trolling motor
- Lights of some sort
- Seadeck when they come out with the 17T deck
- Custom pad thing to put in center drive to level the deck so the kiddos can play
More to come