Check this out.. 2 guys ripping up a creek

[boylesboats]

Two old guys rip through a creek near Oriental NC on a Hobie Tandem souped up with Mirage Turbo Fin drives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws4PdgABuoI

[skuthorp]

Then there's the pedal submarine races
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL8UCPPAWEQ&feature=related

[boylesboats]

Then there's the pedal submarine races
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL8UCPPAWEQ&feature=related

Imagine getting mistaken for torpedo :eek:

[boylesboats]

I am thinking about rigging one those on a pirogue

[leaotis]

That’s my brother and I in NC.

The wake we threw showed me how much power was being wasted by a hull that evolved for arm power. I ask here if someone would design a hull to take advantage of the efficiently offered by leg power and the Hobie Mirage drives. OldSurferDude did. I built his “Strider” last year. My GF and I have averaged 4.5 knots for two hours according to the GPS.

One day the Water Police came along side to fine us for not showing registration numbers… then they saw we had no engine.

Here’s a sprint:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42YYFVYU720

[boylesboats]

That’s my brother and I in NC.

The wake we threw showed me how much power was being wasted by a hull that evolved for arm power. I ask here if someone would design a hull to take advantage of the efficiently offered by leg power and the Hobie Mirage drives. OldSurferDude did. I built his “Strider” last year. My GF and I have averaged 4.5 knots for two hours according to the GPS.

One day the Water Police came along side to fine us for not showing registration numbers… then they saw we had no engine.

Here’s a sprint:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42YYFVYU720

Wow, are you serious?... :eek:
I stumbled onto it when I was searching for tailboat and peddle fin drives..

You guys sure did create some cool wakes from human powered craft.. :D

[leaotis]

yeah, big wakes from the Hobie, not much from the Strider.

The Dragon boaters and rowers who share the dock pretty much ignore us, maybe because we don't shout and yell and on hot days we cruse along with a cool drink in one hand and a spritzer bottle in the other, or a phone or a muesli bar. It's nice to have your hands free.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1xa4ZG-5AM&feature=related

[boylesboats]

leaotis,
:D cool video...
I been browsing around in Hobie site, they surely don't want to sell the drive unit alone..
How did you guys come up with it?

[leaotis]

Dealers will sell the drives. I ordered from Pamlico Paddle in NC and with shipping was still cheaper that buying local. The turbos retail for $475.. Shipping to AU was @$50. ea.

Doing a search will probably find a dealer near you.

[boylesboats]

Dealers will sell the drives. I ordered from Pamlico Paddle in NC and with shipping was still cheaper that buying local. The turbos retail for $475.. Shipping to AU was @$50. ea.

Doing a search will probably find a dealer near you.

I'll check into that... I think it'll be fun to have a unit mounted in my pirogue

[Canoez]

Leotis,

How is the steering handled with the mirage drive?

[boylesboats]

Leotis,

How is the steering handled with the mirage drive?

From the Hobie site, there is a lever on the side controls the rudder..
More info.. http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_sport.html

[leaotis]

steering is by Sea kayak rudder and tiny finger operated tiller mounted under the side deck (moving fore and aft). I have another slightly larger tiller or lever to raise the rudder for beaching.

[crawdaddyjim50]

Now that is cool!

[switters]

I'll check into that... I think it'll be fun to have a unit mounted in my pirogue


let see it. I have been thinking about the same thing since my little brother got his outfitter, alas, if I want one with pedal drive I will have to build it.

I would love to have one for fishing. There is always some wind around here so I usually paddle into the wind, set up a drift and repeat. With the pedals a person would be able to fish, cover some ground, and not be at the mercy of the wind as much. So if you make a go of one there are some of us out here cheering you on. I thought of putting one in a wherry but the flat bottom of a pirogue would be easier to build a case on. If it were a small sail boat (skiff) you can leave the drive in, lock the pedals in the down position and use it as a center board.

[Michael Beckman]

Reverse?

[switters]

No reverse, that's why you still need to carry paddles.

The pedals don't go round like they do on a bike, they just move back and forth.

[Dan St Gean]

No reverse, that's why you still need to carry paddles.

The pedals don't go round like they do on a bike, they just move back and forth.

True, but you can reverse the unit in its case and pedal "backwards" if you need to.

Dan

[Andrew]

True, but you can reverse the unit in its case and pedal "backwards" if you need to.

Dan
No. .

[boylesboats]

True, but you can reverse the unit in its case and pedal "backwards" if you need to.

Dan

No. .

That is right answer "NO"... Unless you're fast at bailing water..

Who need reverse anyway on a canoe? :confused:

[Chris Ostlind]

I have to confess that I'm the Old Surfer Dude in the post by Leaotis. The boat he built is patterned, loosely, to have the visual appeal of a harbor launch with a dual Mirage drive propulsion system.

Yes, it is really easy to get reverse out of the Mirage, as Dan says, by simply lifting the Mirage unit, rotating 180 and then pedaling as one would do normally. No bailing, as the unit is in a nice trunk anyway, and the boat simply goes backwards with full rudder control.

Want to fish from the boat... OK, do as suggested and toss a drogue chute if there is wind and stand, comfortably, in the hull as you cast in any direction you choose.

Leaotis has put up some very impressive speed figures with his new boat in the Melbourne harbor area. So impressive, that I'd like to do a slenderized and windage-ized version of the launch hull and see just what it can do with two, really gifted leg men aboard.

Chris O

[boylesboats]

I have to confess that I'm the Old Surfer Dude in the post by Leaotis. The boat he built is patterned, loosely, to have the visual appeal of a harbor launch with a dual Mirage drive propulsion system.

Yes, it is really easy to get reverse out of the Mirage, as Dan says, by simply lifting the Mirage unit, rotating 180 and then pedaling as one would do normally. No bailing, as the unit is in a nice trunk anyway, and the boat simply goes backwards with full rudder control.

Want to fish from the boat... OK, do as suggested and toss a drogue chute if there is wind and stand, comfortably, in the hull as you cast in any direction you choose.

Leaotis has put up some very impressive speed figures with his new boat in the Melbourne harbor area. So impressive, that I'd like to do a slenderized and windage-ized version of the launch hull and see just what it can do with two, really gifted leg men aboard.

Chris O

Are you serious Chris? :eek:
You guys, sure did make good speed and coverage pumping those pedals..

[leaotis]

I don't know how accurate my GPS is but it recorded a top speed of 8.2 knots, only for half a second but still...

That was with myself and another 50+ yo guy. There is a lot of potential here. Cruising speed (4.1-4.5kts) is still limited by hull speed. All in all, Chris has developed a very efficient hull.

[boylesboats]

At 8.2 knots.. well hell, that doing good....