Oceanside, California – September 9, 2015 – Hobie introduces their collection of inflatable kayaks including the new Hobie Mirage i11S with MirageDrive® technology. The i11s, introduced to the trade at the recent Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, took center stage in the Hobie booth. Like the other three kayaks in the inflatable line, it combines Hobie’s Vantage Seating System comfort and their patented MirageDrive with Glide Technology propulsion. Unique to the i11 is its distinctive low-profile design. The i9S and i12S single kayaks and i14T tandem, long staples in the line, were also visible with totally new looks and features. Read more

FLIPPIN, ARK. – Inshore anglers living near the coast have the best of both worlds: redfish and specks nearby, plus the option to pursue bass and other freshwater species when the bite is hot. With a wealth of prime fishing waters within reach, these anglers need a versatile, performance-oriented rig that can withstand the rigors of inshore saltwater angling and still deliver the features necessary to be a bona fide freshwater craft.

The new Ranger Aluminum RP190 measures 18 feet, 8 inches in length and is rated for 115 horsepower. Available with a wide range of factory-rigged outboards, the center-console design boasts a 96-inch beam and features a foam-filled hull and wood-free construction to ensure a quiet, stable boat with absolute fishability in skinny backcountry waters or open bays. Built atop a pad hull, the RP190 delivers the kind of lift, handling and performance typically reserved for much larger boats. Read more

Uncompromising comfort and performance for big, demanding waters

FLIPPIN, AR – From Lake Erie to Sam Rayburn and places in between, some of the country’s biggest fish make their homes in some of the nation’s biggest and most demanding waters. Cranking offshore ledges, dropshotting deep rock piles or even making check-in time while conditions are rough is no place for undersized – or underpowered – boats.

Whether anglers fish in big waters or just like the comfort and capacity of big boats, the new Ranger Z522D represents the largest bass-fishing platform ever produced by the legendary boat brand. Measuring an expansive 22 feet, 7 inches in length and sporting a 102-inch beam, the new boat revolutionizes big-water performance with what it has below the waterline. Ranger designed a completely new platform that’s longer, wider and built atop a hull that incorporates a deep V reminiscent of the brand’s acclaimed Fisherman Series renowned for unparalleled performance in demanding conditions. Read more

CLEVELAND — A float plan was the key to sucess in the rescue of three people and a dog who were found stranded on their grounded boat on Middle Sister Island in Lake Erie Wednesday afternoon following a search by the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards, multiple state and local agencies, and a good Samaritan.

“It’s important for mariners to remember to bring along proper signaling gear, such as a marine radio, flares or even a cell phone,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Gabriel Settel, the assistant command center chief at Coast Guard Sector Detroit. “Letting someone know where you are going is just as important as safety gear, and in this case resulted in lives saved.”

Just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, the watchstander at Coast Guard Station Toledo, Ohio, received a report of an overdue 17-foot yellow, black and white boat with three people and a dog aboard. The reporting source stated the boaters had left the previous evening from Lake Erie Metropark and had yet to return. She said the last she heard from them was shortly before 10 p.m. when they stated they were having trouble finding their way back to shore. Read more

Oceanside, California – Starting November 2015, a new orange Hobie® will be seen on waterways around the world …but there will not be many of them. In celebration of the 15th birthday of Hobie’s iconic Mirage® Outback, a limited edition model with visually distinct special features was just introduced at ICAST…the Hobie Mirage Outback Limited Edition. Each of them will be individually numbered one to 500. The Outback, Hobie’s first boat with molded-in rod holders, is what kicked off Hobie’s entry into the kayak fishing market and is now being used by anglers across the globe. Read more