I have seen a few kayaks for sale mostly Hobie that use a pedal system. However most pictures they show of people using them show what looks like water building up in the kayak. I would like to know if anyone knows about pedaling a kayak? How wet do you get? Does it work well? Does it add a lot more speed?
Shallow Water
I like the idea of pedaling a boat except the fins that propel the boat go pretty deep. The waters I paddle get very shallow.
They’re removable
The Hobie you’re referring to is a sit on top with a deep sit on area. The pedals work like fins and when you push your feet forward the fins move from side to side. You can kick up a good head of steam with them. I raced a tandem once and they had to be going near 10 MPH. In the summer it’s nice to get wet. As mentioned, in shallow water the fins would hit bottom, but you can just grab the pedals, pull up and you’re free to use the paddle. They just drop down into a slot like the dagger board on a sailboat.
L a 10mph tandem?! a Hobie fast? L
Well, maybe 8
but my Swifty was doing 4.5 and they were moving away from me at a pretty good clip!!!
Guesstimates no doubt high, but I’ll tell you, that was impressive moving! After all, two people peddling as hard as they were, they had twice the power to beging with.
Thanks but nobody has
answered my question yet. When you pedaling a kayak doesn’t alot of water accumulate in the cockpit? It almost looks like the things are going get so full of water they are going to sink.
hobie in expedition races
Nick Hall “Pelican” is using double Hobie with pedals and sail as a solo boat in WaterTribe Challenges: http://www.watertribe.com/Default.aspx?ucPtr=HomePageMain.ascx
You can ask him questions on WaterTribe forum.
In my reports from Everglades Challenges you can see him on video finishing the race in 2003 and on a picture somewhere inside Everglades in 2004 (I was paddling with him for a while there in my Sea Wind):
http://users.frii.com/uliasz/wayfarer/watertribe.htm
Completely dry ride.
In calm water with a 150 lb paddler, or should I say peddler. At worst, your heels may get wet if you take your feet off the peddles and rest them in the foot wells.
These boats are not fast, by the way.
Using leg power doesn’t translate into more speed here. As I remember, the Mirage gave me about 3.3 mph with easy effort, 4.3 mph at an exercise pace, and topped out around 5 mph. The double was maybe 1 mph faster, and would more easily keep pace with a decent sea kayak than would the single. The boats are a bit heavy and awkward, but are fun and relaxing once in the water.
the pedal system works but not
really anymore efficent than paddling. my wife has a mirage and very rarly use the pedals.
shallow water requires a paddle,and the “flipper pedals” can be recessed against the hull by placing the footpedals in the extended position,(one forward all the way and one back) so removing the system is not necessary for shallow navigating. the well area doesn’t get wet really, if anything it’s the driest sot I’ve ever seen.the top speed is more like 4-5 mph.
they are very sturdy and will last a long time.
see my review under product reviews.survived a hurricane. newer models have an easier to control steering system. the old old one required a fair amount of attention.and now drain plugs are on the deck instead of under water at the end of the stern. it’s a nice system and fun ,esp if you want a low impact leg workout.
I test paddled
the outback. It was not as stable as a traditional yak and, although initail speed was good, it was not sustainable. nor was it as fast as my 700…my legs got tired quickly. No thanks for this mode of movement. It felt awkward. A kayak paddle is much more elegant and efficient in my opinion. If you like using leg power, hop on a bike.
Paddle Kayaks
How are they in open ocean paddles???