Reviewer:

Tag

Rating:

4

Date:

6/9/2013

Review:

The Oasis is an excellent kayak for my needs. ACK delivered the product in a very timely manner. I had a couple rudder issues that eventually were resolved, but it took longer than it should have.

Reviewer:

Mike S.

Rating:

5

Date:

9/28/2011

Review:

Awesome little boat. Great stability. Fast. Fun. Lots of great features. Plenty of storage. Beautiful. The only downside is the weight, but even at 70- something pounds, I am able to get it on top of my car by myself. Best buy I've ever made. Buying from Austin Kayak was also great. Quick and delivered to my driveway.

Reviewer:

bonbon

Rating:

5

Date:

7/11/2011

Review:

great site, fast service, awesome experience with ACK, awesome Hobie yak

Reviewer:

Robert D

Rating:

5

Date:

6/16/2011

Review:

I was very happy ordering from Austin Canoe & Kayak. Delivery was quick and tracking info was provided as soon as it was shipped, although I was surprised to find that the shipping company would not lift the kayak off the truck and put it at my door, so I had to ask my brother-in-law to help. This kayak can handle 3 people (children) as long that it adds up less than 550. I just order the Hobie Sail for this kayak from Austin because it would be awesome and I know Austin would provide excellent service. The first week I took it camping, all 20 people took turn using it. Before the first use I would recommend you to get some UV spray protection from an automotive store because the tiny bottle that came with it is not enough. The insert cart is also a must have with this kayak, makes life a lot easier. This is a Hobie so I also recomment getting a lock and cable ($19 at Home Depot) to secure it where ever you go. I think my gear bucket was taken when I had it on my roof rack over night. People will be eyeing for the name Hobie. I also bought the Hobie fish finder kit and turbo fins.

Reviewer:

Mike

Rating:

5

Date:

11/18/2010

Review:

My wife and I are new to kayaking so we don't have anything to compare it too other than a Hobie Outfitter that my sister has. We love it. It is fast. Wife and I went out with a co-worker & his son on their canoe. Before we knew it, we were several hundred yards ahead of them on our Oasis. We really like the dual steering, that has come in handy several times. If you have room for the extra 2 feet, you will like the extra storage that the Oasis has over the Outfitter too. The 2011 Oasis comes standard with the large sailing rudder so don't order one like I did!! No worries though, ACK handled the return without problem.

Reviewer:

John hayward

Rating:

4

Date:

8/15/2010

Review:

Overall I am extremely happy with purchase. My only complaints would be one that I anticipated and one that I didn't. You do have to be cautious with the fins in shallow water. As I use my kayak primarily in tidal salt marshes and flats the tide charts are all important. The kayak is so much fun to use with the mirage drive that at low tide I wont bother going out. The other complaint I didn't anticipate is that when seaweed and eel grass get caught on the fins it is as if someone dropped an anchor. One day coming back in with tide we were having to pull out and clear the drive every few minutes. Not much fun.

Reviewer:

Peter Morrison

Rating:

5

Date:

7/16/2010

Review:

A great Kayak, superbly designed and engineered

Reviewer:

USS Peleliu

Rating:

4

Date:

6/14/2010

Review:

We love our new Oasis. We have rigged it for fishing as we live on the North California coast. It is plenty stable and once fitted out makes for a great fish hauler. The only problem I have with it is trying to get the awkward weight of it up on my Volkswagen Vanagon. The Thule Hullivator has helped a lot. The boat is very fast and we are learning to take all the drives up and rudder up when going in the kelp.

Reviewer:

PNWkayak

Rating:

5

Date:

11/14/2009

Review:

The Hobie Mirage Oasis Kayak is fabulous! Drive system works like a charm. Accessories are great. Rudder pin is cheap plastic. The kayak needs more carrying handles for its 75 lbs size, but you can buy those and add them on yourself.

Reviewer:

Microboater

Rating:

5

Date:

9/2/2009

Review:

Kayak: Austin Kayak has been fabulous all the way for this mail order and very helpful with followup questions. We are so pleased with our Hobie Oasis we have talked about getting another one for other family members. We have put over 300 miles on the boat in 7 months, on the Colorado River and on lakes. The boat is literally a tub compared to traditional skinny sit-inside paddle kayaks, but the extra power of the Mirage Drives more than makes up for the slow design of the hull. In good weather, trips of 15-20 miles in a 7-hour afternoon are now routine for us. No kidding. And we are not athletic types. The Mirage Drive is a godsend for me (55, with bad shoulder problems) and for my wife (59, a polio victim with one bad leg and weak arms). Without the pedal system we would not be kayaking. Period. We call the Oasis the “geriak”. The semi-recumbent position is very comfortable. You can even slouch down, stretch your legs out, and take a nap, or maybe even spend the night if necessary (Everglades?). If you’re thinking about getting the Revolution or Outback, consider the Oasis as an alternative. It’s great as a solo boat—all that gear space up front. You’ll have the option of carrying guests when you want. If you have the discipline to live with its lack of a large hatch, you will find the Oasis to be a serious expedition-capable boat. My son and I did a 7-day, 107-mile, entirely self-supported journey on Lake Powell. Our longest day was 23 miles, fully loaded. We traveled backpacking style with all of our food and gear packed into the hatches in 7-1/2” drybags, plus some on the rear deck. We were literally running rings around paddlers in traditional long, skinny sea kayaks who seemed quite concerned about waves that just made us wish for more stimulation. For the sake of discussion, I’ll propose that with two Mirage drives pumping, the Hobie Oasis is the safest kayak on the water in the hands of anyone short of powerful diehard pros who have developed a full set of sit-inside kayaking skills, especially a bombproof roll. I’m no expert kayaker, but I have read a lot about how average people get in trouble kayaking (best collection: “Sea Kayaker Deep Trouble”), and aside from errors in judgment and preparation, the biggest problem seems to arise from that fact that kayaks are inherently tippy and badly underpowered in bad conditions. The Hobie Oasis is probably the most powerful kayak on the water, of any type. Power equals speed; power in the wind and waves, power to make headway against headwinds and to steer, speed to make progress ahead of weather or fading light. Yes, it catches more wind than a sit-inside, but also has a lot more power to handle that wind. The Mirage Drive is submerged down deep below the turbulence zone and out of the wind. And no paddles trying to act like sails. Only one kayaker needs to pedal, so the other can rest. A sick or injured kayaker can be transported. Pedalers don’t need to pedal in sync; just pedal when you can, rest when you want (and given post-polio syndrome, my wife needs to rest often). No need to struggle with steering by paddling strokes: the big sailing rudder does it all. The boat is so stable you can sit in it sideways and dangle your legs over the side. No special edging or bracing skills needed. No boat to bail out after a capsize. As for the Eskimo roll . . . how many kayakers have a reliable roll and a reliable, quick reentry method in bad conditions? Do you? The Oasis is wonderfully seaworthy. I haven’t had it on the ocean yet, but I have had it ALONE on a lake playing joyously in 3-4 foot waves and 35-mph winds, going head into the wind, with the wind, and broadside to the wind and waves—no problem making progress in any direction (with Turboins), no capsizes, no problem steering. Imagine what it would have been like with two pedaling. On Lake Powell , with the boat fully loaded for overnight camping, I went 3 miles ALONE in winds clocked at steady 40 mph with waves I estimated to four feet. The only real problem I had was trying to turn the boat head into the wind during gusts I found out later were clocked at 60 mph. I think it would have been no problem had I had a second person on board to double the pedal power and to hold the bow down out of the wind. The biggest problem we have with this boat is finding bodies of water big enough to make it worthwhile deploying and finding some place with waves to play in. In Utah, we live too far from the ocean. Essential options: You will need the sailing rudder to really command the waves. It will slow you down a bit, and draws more water, but you need it. A kayak cart is essential; this is a heavy boat, and you won’t want to scratch the bottom dragging it. Eventually you will want the Turbo ST fins for astonishing maximum power, but might want to condition your legs with the “lower geared” standard fins first. Carry a couple of extra plastic shear pins for the rudder, and a spare mast for the fins. Use paddle tethers. In bad conditions, tether yourself to the boat, since a boat can blow away faster than you can swim. While some agile people can right a capsized Oasis by jumping on top of it and pulling on the far side or the fins, in practice drills we have found we need flip lines to right the boat (we have never capsized in actual use, except once in a whitewater situation). We use two 9-foot x 1” cam-type river straps from Northwest River Supply, looped in strap eyes screwed outside the gunwales on one side of the boat, approximately in the middle of the length of each cockpit. The straps can double as reentry stirrups for the less-agile. I rigged bungee cords with brass snap hooks to hook onto the Mirage drives to allow us to pull the drives up in shallow water without risking losing them overboard. Essential. If you are serious about going places, I suggest you decline the Outfitter. It’s slower (shorter + wider + heavier = slower, and more effort required), and has less storage space, despite the cute fishing lure and rod pockets. The Oasis has all the stability you need. In fact, I believe the boat could benefit from being made a couple of inches narrower and a foot or two longer, with a big hatch in front. If such a boat were held to 17’ or under (to ride the ferry to the Islands), that will get my money. See also my separate comments under: Mirage Drive; turbo fins; sailing rudder; sail kit; dodger; seats. Other pleased owners: http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php? f=11&t=13583&sid=3956721560010e1005adcf3976ccaf25

Reviewer:

GG

Rating:

4

Date:

10/17/2008

Review:

Lots of fun this summer with this unit but am having difficulty finding information on rigging it up for fishing. I wonder where Dan S. mounted those fly rod holders... would love to see a picture. Best regards G.

Reviewer:

Alison K

Rating:

5

Date:

8/3/2008

Review:

My husband and I have had so much fun with the Oasis that we added to our fleet with a Revolution. Now our German Shepherd gets the front spot on the Oasis. It is fast for the amount of effort and is quite maneuverable. The transport cart is a must and is easily stored on the kayak for quick entry/exit at the launch area. All of the essential accessories are included, so you don't feel 'nickeled and dimed' -you're ready to go the minute you unwrap the package.