Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 17T Tandem Kayak Review

I had to stand in line to get my first ride in Hobie’s Mirage Pro Angler 17T tandem kayak. The boat was at Outdoor Retailer’s Summer Market Demo Day (the largest outdoor trade show in the world) and it was getting a lot of attention. When my turn came, I grabbed the guy standing next to me and we pushed off onto Pineview Reservoir outside Salt Lake City.

Taking Hobie’s Pro Angler 17T for a Test Drive

The Pro Angler 17T is 17 feet long, 43.5 inches wide and weighs over 200 pounds fully rigged. At first glance, it doesn’t look like a kayak. But on the water, Hobie’s engineering makes the two-seater fast, quiet and easy to operate—a worthy complement to their long line of pedal-driven boats.

It’s Better to Pedal Together

My pedaling partner and I started out using the Vantage XT seats in the forward facing position. With both of us working our legs at a good clip, the boat zipped across the choppy lake. Turn the rudder and the boat responds with a surprisingly tight turn.

Then, the guy in the bow reversed the front seat to face the stern and changed the MirageDrive to the “social” seating position. Looking my new friend in the eye, we couldn’t help but try to out-pedal each other until laughter made it impossible to kick. The seats can also be arranged for a single pedaler working from the center of the boat.

Hobie Mirage Drive 360 Pedal Drive System

The 17T has Super-Sized Fishability

While the 17T is fun to pedal, the boat is built for fishing. Start with 10 horizontal rod holders and four molded-in vertical holders. Add Hobie’s new H-Rail accessory mounting system running up each gunnel of the kayak. Anglers can attach a rod holder, cup holder or tackle tray anywhere along the H-Rail. Fans of Hobie’s Pro Angler will appreciate the high gunnels and flat floor.

Three flat hatches in the deck allow the 17T to be packed with a week’s worth of camping gear and a covered front hatch with a removable liner is perfectly sized for a family picnic. There is even a battery compartment and available motor mount to convert the 17T into a proper motorboat.

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Try the Hobie Pro Angler 17T for Yourself

The line of people waiting for a ride was getting longer, so we pedaled back to the beach. I could picture families loading the 17T with a day’s worth of adventure and professional guides pedaling their clients to the most remote skinny water. From the looks of the queue at the launch, a lot of people were sold on the 17T.

Also, see our article on the best tandem fishing kayaks.

Video Review of the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 17T:

Paddle, pedal or motor—the choice is yours in the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 17T. | Feature photo: Courtesy of Hobie Fishing