Paddle-Free Steering Is the Latest Innovation in Fishing Kayaks
Hobie's Mirage Drive 360 system allows anglers to maneuver left, right, or in circles—all without having to pick up an oar.
The Hobie Pro Angler fishing kayak with MirageDrive 360 technology.
Photographer: Sergiy Barchuk for Bloomberg Businessweek
Other than patience, the key to fishing is precision—nailing the angle, position, and stealth required to not scare off your prey. Hobie Cat Co.’s MirageDrive technology, a foot-powered propulsion system for kayaks that came out in 1997, was a much welcomed tool for this pursuit, allowing an angler to maneuver while keeping a grip on his rod. But it allowed only forward and backward motion. The MirageDrive 360 system solves that problem. Making its debut in September on Hobie’s 12- and 14-foot Pro Angler kayaks, it offers left- and right-turn capability to further integrate man and machine.
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