Hi Cvin,
Realize this is late in the discussion, but I’ve been very happy with my Hobie i12s inflatable kayak, with Mirage 180 pedal drive. However, my uses have been primarily fishing trips, some exploration, and just this past summer I started more multi-day backcountry trips in Ontario. The Hobie inflatables line is very durable and they do have drop-stitch flooring. My last summer trip was an 8-day paddle and portage route to lakes on the eastern side of Georgian Bay. My biggest concern was being able to portage the boat on light kayak cart wheels, but I managed this by putting most of my gear on my back in a dry pack (about 50lbs) and hauling the lightened boat (I think it’s about 85 lbs with attached ergonomic Vantage CTi seat and the pedal drive strapped in for transport). I was travelling with friends who were in a traditional tandem canoe, but I was able to manage all my gear independently.
The three portages I had to do to get into the lakes I visited were fairly easy, with only slight gradient and no more than about 400 yards. More difficult portages would have required another set of hands to carry the awkwardly shaped kayak. I’m actually working on acquiring a pack canoe for trips deeper into the backcountry.
The sit-on-top Hobie i12s is remarkably stable, and I’ve had no problem is heavy swells, riding the crests and troughs of waves. In fact, the pedal drive with its fins under the hull provides great propulsion; I’ve also been able to use it on days when others are windbound and stuck at camp. I can stand on it in calm water to cast a fly line, but I seldom do this, as the adjustable ergonomic seat is very comfortable (gives you the choice of sitting 2 or 4 inches high off deck). There’s also a Stow-n-Go rudder system for steering. I do carry a double-blade paddle as a backup, but haven’t had to use it too often.
I think the capacity is around 500 lbs. I’m about 240 lbs and stand 6’2", so even if I’m liberal with gear, I should always have enough capacity. One thing I do have to be mindful about is properly trimming the weight distribution. The seat is pretty much in the middle of the 12-foot long boat, and there’s webbing both aft and forward.
My only caution about using a Hobie pedal-drive is that you should be willing to learn how to make adjustments or fix gear, but mostly for maintenance and some times upgrades (I switch for instance to turbo fins from standard ones). This is particularly important for extended trips. I carry the Hobie air pump on extended trips, but even on my 8-day lake trip I only used it once.
Setup requires a little elbow grease, but I can get it set up in about 20 minutes. Deflation is much faster and I can usually get everything stowed and into the back of my car in less than 10 minutes.
One more thing about Hobie is that thye only do repairs and warranties through their dealer network. In Ontario, that means there are only two dealers and usually just a couple deliveries per year. So if you’re ordering for next season, I’d recommend doing it soon. In my case, I ordered my boat in early spring, but did not receive the boat until January the following year. No regrets, though, and I’ve really enjoyed the places this boat has taken me.
Good luck!
