The Hobie Cat Co. remains a prominent manufacturer of sporting equipment used in kayaking, surfing, fishing and sailing. The technology of Hobie boats branches away from the traditional kayak models by offering attachable sails and foot pedals. The Hobie kayak caters more toward sea kayaking as opposed to whitewater kayaking.
History
Hobie Alter founded the Hobie Cat Co. in the early 1950s after converting his parent's garage into a wood-working shop. In the early years of the company, Hobie focused primarily on the design and production of surf boards. Hobie released his first boat model in the late 1960s. According to the Hobie Cat website, the early Hobie boat model was an adaptation of the Polynesian catamaran. In the following years, the company would create various designs and models of lightweight kayaks.
Function
The kayaks from Hobie serve functions ranging from exercise to transportation. The sleek design of the Hobie kayak allow you to travel long distances across open stretches of water such as lakes and oceans. You rig up the sail of the Hobie kayak when your arms get tired of paddling to convert your boat into a sailing vessel.
Features
The Mirage Drive kayak models from Hobie offer a feature that allows you to increase the speed of the boat using foot pedals. The Mirage Drive series feature a set of fins fastened to the underside of the kayak that propel the boat forward as you engage the foot pedals. The Mirage Adventure model from Hobie features a cushioned seat and drink holder. Hobie also offers tandem kayaks that can seat two passengers. The Mirage Outfitter model features a wide hull to evenly distribute the weight of two boaters.
Types
The Mirage series from Hobie can adapt to the various disciplines of kayaking. The Mirage Sport model from Hobie is designed to enable you to have a leisurely paddle or a sailing adventure. According to the Hobie Cat website, the Mirage Revolution model is designed for high-speed maneuvers and offers storage for an all-day outing. Hobie manufactures a conventional type of kayak that does not feature the Mirage Drive foot pedaling system. The Maui model of paddling kayak from Hobie offers a simpler design for traditional kayaking.
Size
Hobie kayaks vary in size to accommodate children and adult boaters. The Mirage series from Hobie ranges in size from 9 to 16 feet in length. The tandem kayaking models, including the Mirage i14T, have a width of approximately 3 feet. The paddling kayaks from Hobie have a length that varies from 9 to 14 feet.
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