By Mary Webb
We began the summer by pedaling in the Hobie Revolution kayak in June and ended it by trying its streamlined version, the Hobie Revolution 11. Once again, Tim Boyer, owner of Dana Point Jet Ski and Kayak Center, accommodated us with his knowledge and crew of friendly staff, setting us up and out to cruise the Dana Point Harbor on a pristine California day.
Pedaling my way out towards the water ways in the Revolution 11, I immediately noticed the differences from the Revolution, now known as the Revolution 13, we reviewed earlier this spring. With a lighter hull, I was able to navigate quickly around the water ways. Don’t be mistaken, while the Revolution 11 is almost 25-percent lighter than the Revolution 13, the same stability that is found in the Revolution 13 is evident in the solid polyethylene plastic construction of the Revolution 11.
The lighter weight makes it easier to load on and off the top of your SUV without sacrificing durability out on the ocean. Storage is less of an issue in your garage and your important fishing poles and tackle won’t be competing for more space.
At this junction, I’d like to mention an important feature Hobie has added in the 11 series. Mid-boat carrying handles make getting the kayak from the car to the water a breeze. The handles are made of a soft rubber and they feel nice to grab onto when the current picks up a bit along the Pacific.
While the length is half a foot shorter than its Revolution 13 companion, it was not evident in the bow hatch, rear cargo area or twist-and-seal hatches with removable gear buckets.
I placed my backpack in the rear cargo area and my belongings were safely stowed in the sculpted depression with bungee tie downs. There was plenty of room. The cords are forgiving to accommodate different sized belongings, while still providing a firm hold on your items.
The bow hatch has roughly the same storage capacity as the bow hatch in the Revolution 13; however, it is deeper and more compact. I like this design better, as it seems fishing gear and jackets would be more accessible. The hatch is reinforced with cords that secure the hatch shut, very handy when you pick up speed out in the open water.
The Revolution 11 comes with two 8-inch twist and seal hatches for your catches! Removable gear buckets are supreme for organizing your special lures and lines. These gear buckets are ideally located right in front of you, so you will be hooking up on your next halibut in no time.
We have only skimmed the surface on the user friendliness for fishermen and fisherwomen in the Revolution 11. A pair of rod holders are molded into the hull! This is great news, because now more items may be stowed in the tank well.
The same features we enjoyed in the Revolution 13, such as the sail mount, mesh-covered stowage pockets, drink holder, two-piece paddle, high-back padded seat, rudder control and carrying handle are all of the same quality in the Revolution 11. There is, however, an added feature to ease the installation of the Mirage drive into the boat. Guide pins have been installed to allow you to plunk the Mirage drive securely into place, making it a snap to switch out your pedals.
Hobie continues to expand their line of accessories and enhance their kayaks to suit the needs of their dedicated customers. For a starting price point of $1749.00, you can start to tailor your Revolution 11 kayak for sailing, fishing or just leave it the way it is for venture on a photographing excursion along the shoreline.
The Revolution 13 and the Revolution 11 series would be a perfect duo for couples who like to explore and fish coastline secret spots. While the more petite of the two may be angling in the 11, he or she may be bringing home the biggest catch of the day! For more information, visit www.hobiecat.com.
Hobie Revolution we reviewed last spring
Specifications
Length: 11′ 6″ / 3.51 m
Width: 29″ / .74 m
MirageDrive® Weight: 6.6 lbs / 3 kg
Hull Weight: 47 lbs / 21.32 kg
Capacity: 300 lbs / 136 kg
Crew: 1
Hull Construction: Rotomolded Polyethylene
Colors: Caribbean Blue, Golden Papaya, Ivory Dune, Olive and Red Hibiscus
Options for the Revolution 11
- Sail Kit
- Bimini
- Dodger
- Plug-in Cart
- eVolve™ Electric Motor
- Livewell