Paddle-Free Steering Is the Latest Innovation in Fishing Kayaks

(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- Other than patience, the key to fishing is precision—nailing the angle, position, and stealth required to not scare off your prey. Hobie Cat Co.’s MirageDrive technology, a foot-powered propulsion system for kayaks that came out in 1997, was a much welcomed tool for this pursuit, allowing an angler to maneuver while keeping a grip on his rod. But it allowed only forward and backward motion. The MirageDrive 360 system solves that problem. Making its debut in September on Hobie’s 12- and 14-foot Pro Angler kayaks, it offers left- and right-turn capability to further integrate man and machine.

THE COMPETITION

• The 34-inch-wide, pedal-propelled Native Watercraft Slayer Propel 10 ($2,200), with its sturdy standing platform, is great for casting. At a mere 81 pounds fully rigged, it’s easy to transport yet still able to handle 400 pounds.

• Comfort reigns on the $1,800 Perception Pescador Pilot 12.0, which has adjustable-seat and gear systems, tension knobs, and a sharp-looking modern design that allows for ample cargo space, with four molded-in rod holders.

• Stretching just over 13 feet and featuring a rotational pedal drive, the $2,500 Old Town Predator PDL allows backward and forward mobility and comes armed with a cool knob-controlled rudder. It does weigh in at 117 pounds, so it may not be the easiest boat to carry.

THE CASE

There are cheaper pedal kayaks on the market, but none boasts the mobility of the Mirage Pro Angler 360. The patented drive system is simple to use, with a hand-operated knob, giving users full movement—forward, backward, and side to side. (Doing doughnuts is especially encouraged.) Hobie has also introduced retractable kick-up fins, allowing you to charge over underwater obstacles without fear of damage. And with a 600-pound carrying capacity, there aren’t many creatures from the deep that could sink it. From $4,650

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Gaddy at jgaddy@bloomberg.net

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.