HomeHobie Mirage Drive Pedaling System
Here's how the MirageDrive actually works: you pedal by stepping alternately left and right,
not unlike an exercise stepper, to drive two underwater flippers. They work much like a penguin's fins to
propel the Hobie Mirage with surprising speed and ease. All of which lets you go into kayaking. Feet first.
- Revolutionary new propulsion system
- Pedal driven
- Hands-free kayaking
- Adjustable mechanism accommodates a wide size range of pedalers
- Durable construction of injection molded plastics, anodized aluminum, stainless steel fittings
- Self-cleaning mechanism (resists wear from sand and other particles)
- Easily removable for transport and storage
The MirageDrive "sails" flex and take the shape of a propeller blade then reverse their shape on the opposite stroke. This sweeping action (versus a complete revolution as with a standard propeller) allows the MirageDrive to utilize large, powerful blades in a shallower configuration. You can also use very short strokes, with the blades against the hull, to propel the boat through shallow water.
The blades can be "tucked up" against the hull for beach landings.
The MirageDrive is easily and quickly installed or removed, is lightweight, extremely durable, and fully adjustable to fit many sizes of pedalers.
 |
 Videos Below are some videos for you to learn how the MirageDrive works... > Mirage Drive Described - Video (6.32 MB) Watch to learn how the Mirage Drive system works! > Mirage Drive Tug of War - Video (3.05 MB) See the propelling force of the Mirage Drive Pedal system demonstrated in this video where a single Hobie Mirage Single kayak easily overpowers a tandem-paddled kayak in a tug-of-war! (To save videos, right-click, then "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" to a folder on your computer). Requires Windows Media Player for viewing. |
The MirageDrive is simple and easy to use. Your feet rest naturally on the pedals and you pedal effortlessly similar to a bicycle. The larger muscles in our legs produce more powerful propulsion versus arms using a paddle. In addition, correct paddle usage requires training and practice. You also stay drier as pedaling eliminates drips that you get from using a paddle. The MirageDrive is quiet and creates no splash. The Hobie MirageDrive leaves your hands free for fishing, photography or holding a drink.
PerformanceThe Hobie MirageDrive propels the boat easily and smoothly, and reaches hull speed with minimal effort. It also generates significant static thrust.
EfficiencyEven Hobie was surprised at the efficiency of the MirageDrive. In a test to compare the efficiency of the MirageDrive, they measured the heart rates of several kayakers at varying speeds in several paddled kayak models. In every case, the heart rate-or effort expended to maintain a particular speed-was three to ten percent less for pedaling versus paddling. Translation? The MirageDrive converts the effort of the human body into forward thrust more efficiently than a paddle! And there's more...
The MirageDrive creates less turbulence in water. This becomes apparent when you compare the wake of a Hobie Mirage to the wake of a paddled kayak. With each stroke of the paddle, you'll see two vortices, or whirlpools, on the surface of the water. These vortices are connected underwater, and there is considerable energy in these rotating masses of water. There are vortices in the wake of the MirageDrive, but since the MirageDrive acts on a much larger volume of water, they are much smaller and therefore contain less energy. To create forward thrust on the water, a boat must move water backward. It can either move a little water quickly, or a lot of water slowly. The key to efficiency is to move a lot of water slowly with the least amount of turbulence. The volume of water that the MirageDrive acts upon is approximately proportionate to the area that the fins sweep in one cycle, or about 226 square inches. The volume of water that a paddle acts upon depends on the type of stroke. A basic stroke would act upon a volume of water proportionate to the area of the paddle, or about 90 square inches. This is just a fraction of the area "swept out" by the MirageDrive, which explains the difference in efficiency.
Why not use a propeller?
- Human-powered propeller drives are typically smaller and therefore less efficient. Hobie compared the performance of the MirageDrive to a propeller drive, and found the MirageDrive to be faster and more efficient.
- Studies on tuna and penguins show that oscillating foils such as the MirageDrive are more efficient than propellers. Oscillating foils can make use of vortices that are naturally shed from anything going through the water to offset the vortices that would normally be generated by fins. This equates to less turbulence in the water.
- The MirageDrive fins "feather" into the flow when not pedaling and create very little drag; a propeller creates significant drag when it is not spinning.
- The back-and-forth motion of the pedals provides a long, smooth stroke. Pedals that go in circles on a boat have a much different feel than pedals on a bike. On a boat, there are portions of a circular motion that are more difficult, so the cycle is not smooth.
- The back-and-forth motion allows the pedals to be positioned much lower in the cockpit.
- The MirageDrive allows any length of stroke desired, and performs well with both short and long strokes.
- The pedals easily adjust to accommodate different size pedalers.
- The oscillating motion allows the use of a simple chain and cable system that is unaffected by sand and dirt, without the use of complicated seals.
- The fins shed seaweed because they do not make a full rotation.
- The MirageDrive fins fold up next to the hull for beaching and in shallow water by simply putting one foot forward.