Hobie outback or old town.

[Steve_M]

OK here we go again. I know this topic has been brought up in the past. But now everyone has plenty of experience and both of these yaks.. Looking for a yak for an older kayak fisherman. It will be used in large bays and rivers. I don’t know too much about the drives in the old town or exactly what your model to look at. I know he has bad knees. i’m sure both are great kayaks. To the drives in the old town add fatigue? Is the stability safer than the whole be out back? And is one kayak easier to pick up speed? What model old town is comparable to the outback? Thanks for your help and your opinions.

Edited April 18, 2021 by Steve_M

[EricM]

The old towns are making kayaks with electric motors in them now. If the knees are bad, you probably can't go wrong with that.

[cheech]

Bad knees; the treadle like motion of the Hobie may be kinder than the high cadence of pedalling circles. Have them try both.

  Probably better off paddling or motoring if their knees are really bad.

[Steve_M]

Thanks guys. I appreciate your help

[fishguts430]

had an outback and have a predator pdl now. Personally the rotation of the oldtown is easier on my knees than the hobie. the hobie to me was like walking up steps. it actually hurt my hips sometimes too. I agree with above try both if you can

[rgonzalez72q]

I just bought a 2021 Hobie Outback. It looks to me very stable, smooth and comfortable but expensive when adding all the accessories to be ready to hit the water. It's very easy to add an electric motor and transducer mount comes ready for Lowrance tripleshot.

[dave sharkman]

I have an old town top water 120 pdl, way more stable than my wilderness systems radar. The pedal drive is great and you can't beat the hull lifetime warranty and 5 year warranty on the drive unit. 

[hybrid hunter]

making circles is not bad for the knees. I have a Sportsman 120 PDL, it's a great kayak, very stable. I also have an Autopilot which is stable and has an electric motor. The only downside with the Autopilot is its weight - it's a beast. You need to have convenient launches, no pulling it over long sand dunes or anything crazy.