Looking into getting a Hobie Pro Angler 14 with the 180 drive. What's the general consensus on these. Pros -Cons & are they really worth the price. Currently have the Mirage Compass 12ft 180 drive looking to get one a little bigger & sturdier for bigger water.

I have a Compass and wanted a new kayak. I tried a PA but only a 12.  It was immediately clear it wasn’t for me. I tried the 360 actually.  It was so cumbersome and slow feeling.  And loading it into a truck while doable, wasn’t a joy. 
 

I backpedaled and bought an Outback instead.  I wanted the option to install motor  if it ever seemed like a good idea. 
 

good luck in your search. 

     Pro's:  I have a 2018 PA14 with the 180 drive. I like it for a lake boat. It is very stable and is fairly fast in a straight line. I can cruise at 3.5 mph or so. It'll go faster but I'm not up to the effort it takes to go that fast for longer periods of time. 4.5 mph for a length of time requires some serious output on my part. It's a great fishing platform and allows me to take a ton of gear/batteries for electronics & motor/cooler and it is very seaworthy even loaded down. 

     I've got a Torqueedo 1103ac trolling motor mounted on the back and love it. It makes getting to the other side of the lake fun. Making major moves from spot to spot much more efficient. Top end is about 6mph but not something you want to do for any long period of time. I get to where I want to fish. I can raise the motor and go to the pedals. It's decent in the wind. Heavy enough where your not blown off position where you want to fish. In the breeze you can feather the pedals and hold position in either reverse transom or bow into the wind. 

 

     Cons: It's a pig. Like driving a semi. It takes some serious effort to turn it around. You have to have forward speed to get enough pressure across the rudder to turn.  It's heavy. You really need a trailer to make launching and retrieving painless. I float it on and off at the ramp and can launch almost as quick as a bass boat.  

Fishingmickey

 

23 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I have a Compass and wanted a new kayak. I tried a PA but only a 12.  It was immediately clear it wasn’t for me. I tried the 360 actually.  It was so cumbersome and slow feeling.  And loading it into a truck while doable, wasn’t a joy. 
 

I backpedaled and bought an Outback instead.  I wanted the option to install motor  if it ever seemed like a good idea. 
 

good luck in your search. 

Thanks for the info. Yea loading into the back of a Chevy pick up would be the burden. I might just stay with the compass. 

23 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

     Pro's:  I have a 2018 PA14 with the 180 drive. I like it for a lake boat. It is very stable and is fairly fast in a straight line. I can cruise at 3.5 mph or so. It'll go faster but I'm not up to the effort it takes to go that fast for longer periods of time. 4.5 mph for a length of time requires some serious output on my part. It's a great fishing platform and allows me to take a ton of gear/batteries for electronics & motor/cooler and it is very seaworthy even loaded down. 

     I've got a Torqueedo 1103ac trolling motor mounted on the back and love it. It makes getting to the other side of the lake fun. Making major moves from spot to spot much more efficient. Top end is about 6mph but not something you want to do for any long period of time. I get to where I want to fish. I can raise the motor and go to the pedals. It's decent in the wind. Heavy enough where your not blown off position where you want to fish. In the breeze you can feather the pedals and hold position in either reverse transom or bow into the wind. 

 

     Cons: It's a pig. Like driving a semi. It takes some serious effort to turn it around. You have to have forward speed to get enough pressure across the rudder to turn.  It's heavy. You really need a trailer to make launching and retrieving painless. I float it on and off at the ramp and can launch almost as quick as a bass boat.  

Fishingmickey

Some 

23 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

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 Some of the smaller ponds I fish are very tight quarters. A big rig with huge turning radius might not be the ticket. But it would be sturdier on bigger water like a river. Thanks.

I just picked one up and haven't had it on the water.  I can tell you that it's a tank.  Its heavy and big but I can get it in and out of the truck pretty easy. You just have to be careful about how you do it. It has a ton of storage and I have put ten rods with rod sleeves in the vertical holders just to test. The seat from just sitting in it for a few minutes is super comfortable.  I don't know what it will feel like after fishing all day.

 

So far the big down side is the cost of the H-Rail accessories and Hobie's accessories in general. I haven't bought any yet but it will probably cost me $75-100 just to put a fish finder holder/mount on it.  The ones I have seen a lot of guys buy are the big tackle bin and the bucket for the middle hatch. 

I don't own the 180 but I do own the PA 14 360. I have had it since release and have enjoyed the two seasons.

 

Minus the drive differences here is my feedback and hope it helps:

 

Love the platform as a taller guy (6'5) plenty of leg room and the chair is incredible with the different height positions. No issues wearing my pfd and being comfortable. I do stand a ton though. It's a very stable standing platform but don't go too wild. The secondary stability kicks in nicely.

 

I transport it in a Sierra 1500 with a simple bed extender. I made a garage storage cart with pvc equal to bed height and it slides in and out with much hassle. Transporting to launch I bought the Boonedox Groovy system and dealer installed. The wheels make moving it a quick task.

 

I run a Hook 5 and the estimate above is an accurate guess on the h rail gear. I don't use a crate but keep a plano weekender bag tethered and tossed in the back well.

 

Easy, easy hull access and pre cut for electronics. The front space is huge. I also recommend the drop in bucket for the storage by the seat. 

 

I carry 5 rods in the horizontal storage and like to leave one spot open to quickly lay down when on the move. The longest I use is 8ft and fits just fine.

 

I cannot think of anything I would change from the vessel. Expensive, yes, but well worth it to me.

 

 

17 hours ago, FishTank said:

I just picked one up and haven't had it on the water.  I can tell you that it's a tank.  Its heavy and big but I can get it in and out of the truck pretty easy. You just have to be careful about how you do it. It has a ton of storage and I have put ten rods with rod sleeves in the vertical holders just to test. The seat from just sitting in it for a few minutes is super comfortable.  I don't know what it will feel like after fishing all day.

 

So far the big down side is the cost of the H-Rail accessories and Hobie's accessories in general. I haven't bought any yet but it will probably cost me $75-100 just to put a fish finder holder/mount on it.  The ones I have seen a lot of guys buy are the big tackle bin and the bucket for the middle hatch. 

I have found through experience for mounting a fish finder. I use the Ram 1.5" ball mount for the "H" rail. and then get the double ball long clamp and mount a upside down 1.5" ball on the bottom of the fish finder bracket.  It makes for a neat clean install. It's quick and easily removable for transport by loosening the "H" rail clamp. I disconnect the power, transducer and live scope cords and store them in the horizontal rod holder.

FM 

 

P.S. Do not get the 1" ball. It just doesn't grip well enough. 

25 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I have found through experience for mounting a fish finder. I use the Ram 1.5" ball mount for the "H" rail. and then get the double ball long clamp and mount a upside down 1.5" ball on the bottom of the fish finder bracket.  It makes for a neat clean install. It's quick and easily removable for transport by loosening the "H" rail clamp. I disconnect the power, transducer and live scope cords and store them in the horizontal rod holder.

FM 

 

P.S. Do not get the 1" ball. It just doesn't grip well enough. 

 

Thanks.  Anyway you could post a picture so I have a better idea of what it looks like?