Hobie Mods
 

So this past summer I picked up a Hobie (2013 Mirage Revolution I think?) kayak. First off- I absolutely love it.

So far my only complaint is that no matter how hard I try to stay dry, my back-side always gets soaked. As much as I wanted to fishing November for Blackfish, I was too concerned with getting soaked and being miserably cold.

Anyone have the same kayak with a raised seat? Do they make a raised seat to fit?

How much do you weigh ? Over 250 ?
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I have a 2014 and I barely used it even though I fished 4-5 nights a week. When I did use it for tautog in the cooler months I wore waders. In the summer months fluke fishing I didn't mind being wet.

My problem with the higher seat is you lose the lower center of gravity (especially in the revolution) and we get very view calm days in buzzards bay.

I'm sorta in the same "boat" eskimo. I didn't mind being wet during the summer, and wore my wetsuit during the fall. I was a little concerned about wearing waders in cold water. Just in case i turn over, I don't want the waders pulling me under.
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There was a thread here a while ago where someone was talking about wearing waders in a kayak and people (myself included) were telling him it was bad advice. He posted a video of a guy in a pool basically trying to drown himself in waders with no PFD and he seemed to do just fine.

I can't seem to find the thread but It changed my opinion that waders can be worn safely in a yak in the right locations. Not sure if you could chase down a yak that is blowing away from you or swim a long way to shore but with a good PFD you won't sink.

Waders are fine if you fall in the water and have to swim. The problem is getting out of the water. If they are loose you could be holding a hundred pounds of water in them.
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Here's the video link I think that you are referring to. Wader Myth

your supposed to wear a chest strap
that cinches the waders just tight enough
that water doesn't get in so easily.

The 2014 Revo comes with a new seat design that can be set at different heights and is much drier than the older design but the Center of Gravity is higher so you need to be more careful. I have an older Revo and I take it out in some crazy weather conditions and have never rolled it by mistake.

Many Hobie fisherman wear Kobatat pants instead of waders. They allow you to wear shoes or booties for extra warmth in the cold weather. There are a few very hard core Hobie fisherman who (Slappy a Arlington MA guy for one) fish all winter long in the salt wearing Kobatat lowers and dry tops.

I have the outback ,, a little wider ,, but do you use the scupper plugs ? I do not , The kayak will hold water and puddle with them in . No scupper plugs and the water runs right out .

Unless you are a full figured fisherman (285#) like myself and if I don't plug the rear scuppers under the seat, the water comes right in. I do keep the front scuppers by my feet open though. Normally I can keep my butt dry, but my lower legs get wet.

I'm not that big a guy (6' tall, 190lbs). I've been keeping the plugs under my seat open, but I think sitting on them holds the water back. So far I've been pretty wet every time I've been out, even in relatively calm water.

Some kayaks are considered wet rides...no matter your weight.
When I kayak fished, I owned a Malibu x-factor which was very dry. My
buddy had an Ocean Kayak prowler and was always in water. I think
those low riders are typically faster kayaks.

Regardless of wet or dry ride, if you are in any decent swell and
launching in the surf you are bound to get water in the cockpit. In
cold weather I would lean to a clothing solution over a modified
kayak solution for staying dry.

If it were me, I would not mess with scupper plugs or raised seats.
Both of those solutions are probably gonna have negative tradeoffs in
stability and safety. The scuppers are there for a reason...same with
the position of the seat. Its not like the revolution is a new design, I
think its been around for around ten years.

As noted, Kokatat makes some splash pants. I have had both the
type with latex ankle gaskets and the velcro only closurers. I hated
getting into/out of the latex gasketed cuffs. Its like you have to be
Houdini. The only thing good about them is that you can jump out of
the kayak and not get water up your leg. Frankly, neither design is
perfect and I think a bib design is a bit better as it covers and
overlaps the waistline when combined with a splash top.

If I were to fish the northeast in a kayak. I would probably lean to a
wetsuit and/or wear a modified grunden's bib pant by sewing on
some velcro closures for the ankles. If you have an old pair of
waders you could make a cheap bib by cutting the booties off. For a
wetsuit I would look for a farmer john style with a front relief
zipper....for obvious reasons...

I hope my thoughts are helpful.

I'd rather have a stable kayak and a wet butt, vs a tippy kayak
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