Category: Hobie Cat Company

The Hobie Tandem Island Sail is a unique kayak designed and manufactured by Hobie, a renowned kayak brand that offers you exemplary kayaks. The Tandem incorporates an exceptional design, new technology, and premium features that make it perfect for kayakers, sailing enthusiasts, and fishing fanatics.

The new design transforms this sailing kayak into a high performance, unique sailing machine that does not disappoint, regardless of any situation. You can exercise by pedaling or paddling, go fishing, or raise the sail and let the wind do all the work while you sit back and enjoy nature. Let’s have a look in this Hobie Tandem Island review at the features and performance of this incredible piece of work.

Check out the Hobie Tandem Island Sail on Amazon!

[Check out our other Hobie articles: Hobie Adventure Island Sailing Kayak, Hobie Pro Angler 12 Kayak, Hobie Pro Angler 14 Kayak!]

How Does the Build of the Hobie Tandem Island Sail Hold?

As a part of the redesign, this kayak features a sturdy frame made with rotomolded polyethylene, which ensures a strong, fully adjustable, and customizable frame. It has a length of 18’6″ and a width of 30″, while the hull weighs 130 pounds with basics and 240 pounds when fully loaded with accessories. This kayak not exactly lightweight, so you might need a hand carrying it to the water and bringing it ashore.

Thanks to its quality constructed frame, the Hobie Tandem Island Sail will not only accommodate up to 600 pounds, but it will also ensure great stability while sailing in tough conditions, such as strong water currents or winds. The amas are large enough to offer great stability and can tuck in against the hull for easy and hassle-free docking, or they can be removed completely. The sails can be detached and stored in a carrying bag.

The cockpit can be easily transformed into a peddling platform when the weather conditions are not favorable for sailing.

This kayak features 2-piece carbon-composite masts, whose main function is to reduce weight while maximizing performance. The sail’s larger masts and sail area help provide smoother and faster rides, making your trip more fun and hassle-free. The kayak also boasts of a Lowrance Ready system that features a built-in Transducer Mount that will also greatly enhance your fishing experience.

Check out the Hobie Tandem Island Sail on Amazon!

It comes with Vantage CT seats that feature a 3-level height adjustment and can be reclined to a preferred angle for all day comfort. The kayak seating features lumbar support that provides superior comfort and support regardless of your sailing angle. That means you can stay out all day and remain comfortable all throughout. These seats are also quick-drying and can be substituted as beach chairs.

Features of the Hobie Tandem Island

This so-called kayak comes with a ton of premium features that offer great convenience and versatility. You will absolutely have a whole lot of fun on your water adventure because of this sailing kayak. It features two MirageDrives, one in the front and one in the back, which allows for increased speed and ease of use.

The Mirage Drive technology gives you the option of pedaling the Hobie Tandem Island Sail kayak when the sail is up and furled, once again enhancing your kayaking experience.

That’s not the complete package; it also comes with two sets of paddles for quick steering situations, which can be stored on the akas when they’re not being used. You also have the option of using the rudder steering controls in the front and rear cockpits.

The Hobie Tandem Island Sail is an incredibly designed kayak that allows you to paddle, sail, fish, and pedal with great ease and with maximum speed. Its pedal power makes it much faster when compared to most tandem kayaks on the market. With its 3 superior forms of propulsion, you don’t have to panic when the wind stops blowing.

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Also offering exceptional performance are the roller-furling systems and vertical battens, which provide a boomless surface sail and better lift. The retractable centerboards are expertly designed to reduce lateral slip, also ensuring a smooth ride. These centerboards basically fold up against the side of the Hobie Tandem Island Sail to ensure easy docking and transport, as well as maneuverability.

Storage

The Hobie Tandem Island comes with sufficient storage hatches, including four mesh-covered storage pockets, two molded-in rod holders, and 4 cup holders. There are bungee cords in the rear for extra storage that needs to be secured in place. One of the seats can also be removed, thus creating more room if you are going solo.

There are three twist and seal hatches, all three measuring 8″, as well as a very roomy bow hatch. You can purchase trampolines for the Hobie Tandem Island Sail for extra storage, and they can also be used to lay on, prevent water from spraying into the cockpits, or to invite kids or dogs along! They are made of a strong vinyl mesh that can be firmly tied to the kayak for reliable security.

Truly, this sailing kayak lives up to its name: a kayak that you can sail in & even use a trampoline!

Pros

• Two MirageDrives and rudder controls in the front and rear for dual steering
• Multiple storage options with the option to add more
• It is sturdy, durable frame construction for long lasting use
• Excellent performance, versatility, and stability, which is made apparent in this Hobie Tandem Island review
• Hobie Tandem Island kayak is faster than most kayaks, easily maneuverable
• Vantage CT seats with lumbar support that are easily adjustable
• Optional 8-gallon live-bait tank for fishing and trampolines for extra storage space
• Available in 3 different colors

Check out the Hobie Tandem Island Sail on Amazon!

Cons

• It will be too expensive for many people
• Too heavy for people to use if they are heading out alone

Check out the Hobie Tandem Island Sail on Amazon!

Hobie Tandem Island Review Conclusion

The Hobie Tandem Island Sail is, without a doubt, a great sailing machine that will transform the way you paddle, fish, or cruise on the water in luxury. It is sturdy, durable, comfortable, easy to use, and very versatile. Its premium features, whether they are already included or added later, can make this the greatest kayak you will ever buy.

You can fish with a live-bait tank, pedal and paddle when you want exercise, or sail when you want to just relax out on the water.

If you are a beginner, there is nothing to worry about, as the Hobie Tandem Island Sail is perfectly designed for beginners as well as professionals. If you have never sailed before, this is the perfect way to practice the techniques that make sailing much easier and more enjoyable.

So if you are a fishing or water sports fanatic, you will certainly want to try this state-of-the art piece of work, expertly designed just for you.

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PS. Again, tons of information in this Hobie Tandem Island review. For that reason, we have included a video down below so you can see it in motion! Here is a neat video showing it off:

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”!

Check out the Hobie Adventure Island kayak on Amazon!

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.

Check out the Hobie Adventure Island Kayak on Amazon!

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

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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!

Check out the Hobie Adventure Island Kayak on Amazon!

It’s easy to see why kayak fishing is a fast growing sport. It’s the perfect way to unwind and spend a lazy Sunday on the water with friends and family. It’s also exciting because you get to cruise around in your own little boat and there’s always the chance you’ll get to wrestle with a monster catch. If you are having a hard time selecting a fishing kayak, we have great news for you…

In this article, our Hobie Pro Angler 14 review, goes in-depth to see if it is the best fishing kayak on the market and for all the reasons we discuss below! (PS to check out this particular kayak on Amazon, you may click the ad below for more details, plus pricing):

Hobie Pro Angler 14 Overview

The new Hobie Pro Angler 14 is the lightest, most efficient, feature-filled boat on the market today. It’s a revolutionary design breakthrough with extraordinary stability. It has everything you need to maximize your angling experience without sacrificing comfort, functionality or storage capabilities.

Whether you are drift casting, dry flying, or just exploring new salt water haunts, the boat’s super stable, standing-friendly, rotomolded polyethylene hull encourages all styles of fishing. The new Vantage seating system with Boa Lumbar support is the most comfortable seating platform on any kayak. And with fully adjustable back, bottom, height and lumbar support, you’ll find the perfect position in the Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak.

Its huge bow and stern lockers and on deck storage provide an impressive 272 kg payload. The Hobie Pro Angler 14 fishing kayak comes with the H-Rail cup holder and a horizontal rod rack. Other features include a tracing keel, a retractable skeg that improves tracking over long distances, XL padeyes, and the Lowrance-ready transducer mount.

Construction Of The Hobie Pro Angler 14 Fishing Kayak

Clearly the design and implementation came from people actually using fishing kayaks and adjusting the Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak accordingly. Everything is where it should be: every option makes sense, from the multiple lash points for tools, to the side soft pockets, and the tackle tray storage in the center hatch.

Measuring 14 feet in length, the beefy Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak will be ready to haul big fish. Given its huge size, you will confidently drag big fish to the deck without sacrificing stability.

You should not have to drill any holes in the Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak. But just in case you need to, there are “boards” on each side where you can drill to insert any piece of gear. If the day comes when you don’t like your setup, just order new boards. It even is set up for a sail kit and livewell tank. There are waterproof connectors for your fish finder and a drop down transducer mount too.

What Makes The Hobie Pro Angler 14 Special & Better?

Stability

For most fishermen, stability over speed is a sacrifice they’re willing to make. Considering that much of the time spent in a fishing kayak is spent fishing rather than racing around, stability is often one of the most important features to consider.

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 offers a level of stability and utility that surpasses everything else on the market, featuring a seat design closer to what one would expect to see on a boat. The wide hull of the Hobie Pro Angler 14 provides a stable platform for standing, which allows for great sight fishing.

Designed For The Fisherman

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 is designed with the fisherman in mind. It’s already equipped with numerous features to help fishermen out, such as the rod holder and storage spot for their paddle and other things.

Perfect For All Fishing Environments

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 is the perfect fishing boat for all environments. From lakes to rivers to the open ocean, this boat knows no boundaries. You can stand and fish with incredible stability, securely store six rods horizontally and two vertically, and access your tackle with ease.

Rudder Tension Adjustment System

This allows for simple fine tuning of the rudder lines with the twist of a knob. There is a larger rudder available as an extra option, which provides tighter turning and improved tracking.

Comfort

As if the MirageDrive and H-Rail didn’t already make this kayak a top winner, the seating really takes the Hobie Pro Angler 14 to the next level. The Vantage seat has a fully adjustable seat back with lumbar support, and the whole thing collapses, making more room to do stand-up kayaking. This seat is more comfortable and more adjustable than your office and beach chairs. Maybe it’s time to move the office onto the lake!

Hand Free Propulsion

This model features the MirageDrive, a hands-free propulsion system that enables the use of your legs when propelling so that your hands are free to complete other tasks.

Pedaling, rather than paddling, makes sense because leg muscles are naturally larger than arm muscles, so they won’t be as tired when you’re boating over long distances. If you are normally happy using a paddle for propelling, then feel free to do that, but this system will make it a whole lot easier.

The pedals are connected to turbo fins, which means you can move fairly quickly and easily, even over choppy water. Primary and secondary steering handles allow the boat to be steered from either the port or starboard sides of the boat.

Utilities

The deck area incorporates every feature you will ever need on your fishing trip, like retractable rudder controls, storage spaces, a work area and drink holders, which are all at your fingertips.

Well Organized Cockpit

There is plenty of standing room in front of the seat with no annoying protrusions to get in the way. The rectangular hatch, tackle management system, H-Rail mounting system, replaceable mounting boards, and horizontal rod holder all serve to keep your cockpit well organized.

Hobie H-Rail

The Hobie H-Rail system has an all new aluminum dodecagon rail that offers a strong, corrosion resistant mounting platform to mount more gear in more places.

Storage

You do not need to carry anything like a crate or cooler with you, because there is ample storage space for everything that you need while fishing or simply kayaking in the Hobie Pro Angler 14. For dry storage, there is a huge bow hatch for storing bulky items and an 8 inch round hatch located in the stern tank well. It’s perfect for carrying a cooler or a live bait well.

Pros

• The Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak is extremely stable and almost hands free
• Many built in features
• The MirageDrive is fast, compared to paddling
• Hobie Pro Angler 14 has 2 hidden flip-up Plano tackle boxes built in
• The rudder steering can be done with your left or right hand

Cons

• Its sheer size can be problematic for people trying to move around in small, cluttered bodies of water. Make sure that the massive Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak will fit in your fishing spot before purchasing it.

Check out the Hobie Pro 14 Fishing Kayak here!

Hobie Pro Angler 14 Review Final Verdict

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 is the ultimate fishing kayak in the Hobie range of boats. In this Hobie Pro Angler 14 review, we have covered a lot of details.

Many of their kayaks have features for fishing, but the Mirage Pro Angler 14 is the only one designed with the angler exclusively in mind. Looking for an affordable, durable, lightweight, ultra-stable, built-for-anglers personal watercraft? The Hobie Pro Angler 14 is top of the line.

Enjoy the ride!