The Hobie Adventure Island Sail is a neat, light multi-hull kayak with a gentle maneuvering capability. This sit-on-top vessel is made with efficiency in mind. The optional addition of a sail makes it is not only capable of sailing, but also fishing and tracking. The kayak introduces personalized handling factors that make it very easy it to operate.
The sailing system of the Hobie Adventure Island Kayak is something that most kayakers would enjoy using. To its credit, the kayak also comes equipped with a transducer for fishing. You can forget about buying transducer lines and going through the hassle of manual fixes. Truly, you will find the Hobie Adventure Island Kayak to be one of a kind “kayak”!
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Let’s further explore these features in this Hobie Adventure Island review:
The Hobie Adventure Island Sail’s Frame
The Hobie Adventure Island kayak has a build that is is quite different, both in form and size. The kayak’s main hull measures 16’7” in length. The outrigger hulls (the Amas), are of relatively the same length as the main hull.
One good thing about the Hobie Adventure Island Kayak is the ease with which you can detach the amas, in case you don’t want the additional support, and for transporting the kayak.
The Hobie Adventure Island Sailing Kayak’s body is made of remolded polyethylene, which gives it a rigid build. The upper bow hull area has a strong pocket to hold the sail’s mast.
On the floor of the Hobie Adventure Island kayak, just below the mast hole, there is a brace that holds the base of the mast in place. This ensures that you can control the sails without the fear of the mast slanting out of place.
[Check out our other Hobie articles: Hobie Pro Angler 12, Hobie Pro Angler 14].
The Hobie Adventure Island is only meant for one person. It provides an elevated seating position that helps to create a good opportunity to paddle. The paddles, based on Hobie’s patented MirageDrive 180 technology, allows for efficient movement in the water. At the same time, it is much easier to paddle than most bicycles, due to its power gearing system.
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Should you need to port the kayak while on shore or generally out of the water, the Hobie Adventure Island kayak has comfy handles for that purpose. There are two handles, one in the front and another at the furthest end of the of the upper stern area.
Features Of The Hobie Adventure Island Kayak
A good kayak has to offer comfort in addition to performance. The Mirage Hobie Adventure Island Sail designers seem to have this in mind all throughout.
To begin with, the Hobie Adventure Island is retrofitted with a comfortable Vantage C seat, which is easily adjustable. It is easy to disengage from the kayak to use somewhere else. Just below the seat, the kayak is built with a Venturi self-draining system that allows excess water in the cockpit to run off into the sea or the lake. Apart from providing you with comfort, this helps to keep the cockpit manageably clean.
The Hobie Adventure Island Sailing kayak also comes fixed with an easy-to-control rudder system. The rudder steering control is close to the kayaker’s seat, and located on the other side is a toggle used for lifting and lowering the rudder into the water.
With two rod holders just behind the kayaker’s seat, the Hobie Adventure Island Sail just became more fun to use. These molded-in holders can be used to hold your fishing rods and nets in place. You can also attach your fishing gaffs (a pole with a hook to help pull in big fish) here and continue with your sail as you await a catch.
Check out the Hobie Adventure Island Sailing Kayak on Amazon!
With a retractable mast, you can be sure that transportation and storage of the kayak will not be a problem. Additionally, the furling–mast main sail system allows for maximum control of the Hobie Adventure Island Sail. All you need to know is when to fold and open the sail and you are good to go, as far as speed is concerned. Meanwhile, knowing how to turn the sail with and then against the wind will help you in navigation.
Check out the Hobie Adventure Island Sail on Amazon!
Is There Sufficient Storage in the Hobie Adventure Island Kayak?
The Hobie Adventure Island Sail has a nice amount of storage areas. First of all, it has the main 8” screw top hatches, one of them being conveniently situated close to the seat. Its position makes it ideal for items that need to be accessed quickly, like raincoats, angler knives, first aid kits, snacks, etc.
The Hobie Adventure Island Sail’s stern hatch is a little bit further from the seat, which might make it hard to access, especially during windy conditions or in unsettled waters. Nevertheless, if you feel safe enough, you can still get to it, even under such conditions.
This particular hatch contains a gear drum which is suitable for stuff that you don’t want to get wet, like items with batteries, cell phones, clothes, shoes, etc. Plastic bag them before you drop them in there, just to be sure.
Check out the Hobie Adventure Island Sail on Amazon!
Just before you get to the stern hatch, there is an open molded-in cargo area. This area can be used to stores things like bags and hold unused nets in place. To ensure that your items are intact, the cargo of the Hobie Adventure Island Sail is fitted with elastic nylon and fabric straps that are attached to either side of the kayak. On the front side of the kayaker’s seat are two cup holders, one on both sides.
In the cockpit area, there are two meshed stowage pockets on either side of the seat. These are used to hold items that a kayaker might need to use a lot during the sails. These pockets are spacious enough to hold your sunscreen, some binoculars, your cell phone, and other items.
An extra large tank hatch is situated at the extreme end of the Hobie Adventure Island Sail’s bow. This hatch is the best place to store those huge items that are not widely in use, like camping gear. This section’s lid is tightly held in place using the same straps as those used in the cargo area.
Check out the Hobie Adventure Island Kayak on Amazon!
Should you need more space in this beastly boat, you can add an Aka trampoline on either side of the hull to hold your extra items. This is also a good way to increase the Hobie Adventure Island Sail’s buoyancy, if the trampolines are balanced in weight on either side of the vessel.
Pros
- Able to achieve high levels of speed due to its sail
- The Hobie Adventure Island Kayak Ama, with elongated Akas, give it extra buoyancy
- The Hobie Adventure Island kayak MirageDrive 180 system grants easy paddling, unlike the traditional paddling system
- A relatively efficient rudder system which is easy to use
- The Hobie Adventure Island Sail has multiple storage points, making the Hobie Adventure Island Sail suitable for long trips
- The addition of the transducing lines
- Comes in 3 colors
Cons
- As compared to a number of other kayaks, the Vantage CT seat might be rigid for some
- The Hobie Adventure Island Kayak price tag is a little bit on the higher end
- Not suited for normal paddling, even when your legs get tired of pedaling, while the sail and hulls are attached
- The Hobie Adventure Island Sail has a cockpit that might present quite a challenge to certain users
Check out the Hobie Adventure Island Sail on Amazon!
Hobie Adventure Island Review Conclusion
Check out the Hobie Adventure Island Sailing Kayak on Amazon!
The Hobie Adventure Island Kayak is a serious and fun loving kayaker’s must-get item. It’s comfortable, spacious and has the speed to top other kayaks. However, it does not seem appropriate for just any kayaker, depending on what you want to use a kayak for.
Additionally, the lack of a second space to accommodate a child or pet makes it more of a ‘loner’s choice’. The price tag of the kayak is high, as already mentioned in this Hobie Adventure Island review, but it’s still not the most expensive kayak. And besides, it’s well worth the price, as you can use it for any purpose, whether it’s for fishing, exercise (both pedaling AND paddling), or to just sail along on a lazy peaceful day!
