Yachting USA – August 2019

 A

The Hobie Mirage Passport 10.5 comes standard with two rod holders and an accessory mount for a Bimini top or sail.

kayak. At $1,299, it’s not intended

to compete with the company’s

$3,500 tricked-out models for

hardcore anglers. Instead, the

Mirage Passport 10.5 is an all-purpose

kayak for exploring and shoreline fun,

but with just enough standard features

and removable options that die-hard

fi shermen also will be happy when they’re

the ones heading out. ¶ “The Passports

have a track system on either side of the

cockpit, on the gunwales, so you can use

any accessory that fi ts into the track: a

camera mount, extra rod holders, tool

holders, a fi sh-fi nder mount, fl ags, lighting

systems—we sell all of them,” Promnitz

says. He adds that everything can be re-

moved for safekeeping when the fi shing

is done and the kids want to play on the

kayak. ¶ Key accessories for yachts-

men who want to fi sh, he says, include

Hobie’s H-Crate, which fi ts in the back of

the kayak with tackle stowage, as well as

four rod holders and a way to clamp on

accessories.“We also make a livewell,

which actually has a battery and a pump

in it with three rod holders on the back,”

he says. “It plugs into the rear scupper

holds. If you want to fi sh with live bait,

you can put it in this livewell and take it

with you.” ¶ For owners who off er their

yachts for charter, the kayak is not only

versatile, but also built to take a beating.

Unlike Hobie’s roto-molded kayaks, the

Mi rage Pa sspor t 10. 5 is made w it h t her mo -

forming technology, which means a

machine heats the plastic to create two

polyethylene pieces that are welded

together. The process lets Hobie off er the

kayak at a lower price while maintaining

strength. ¶ “It’s a plastic that is very, very

durable,” Promnitz says. “You can bang

it into rocks or drag it over boat ramps,

and it’s going to hold up for a long time.”

STOWABLE RUDDER

This kayak has a rudder that

folds away or can be removed, so

the kayak itself can stow

fl at in a yacht’s lazarette. Multi-

ple kayaks can be stacked to take

up even less square footage in

the toy department.

MIRAGEDRIVE

Hobie’s Classic MirageDrive

pedal system lets kayakers

use their legs instead of their

arms (and a paddle) to move.

The system keeps hands

free for holding rods or baiting

hooks while kayak-fi shing.

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CURRENTS> GEAR> Hobie Mirage Passport 10.5

10'6"

LENGTH

OVERALL

2'10"

MAXIMUM

BEAM