[Paddlewise] Mirage Sea Kayaks

"Any thoughts out there on the Mirage line of sea kayaks from Sydney
Australia? "
You've probably looked at the website: http://www.mirageseakayaks.com.au/?
Mirages have a reputation for being quick boats. A couple were used on a
significant trip reported in Sea Kayaker in 2000, in SW Western Australia.
I should probably encourage you to buy one without hesitation, to
boost Australian export earnings :-), but...
"...wondering if the 580 is as good a rough water boat as advertised."
I'd suggest testing the boat yourself. The paddler is the main variable.
I am not enthusiastic about Mirage boats, but I have a couple of friends
about to buy Mirage 580's, who have tested many boats, and like these best.
They are both solidly built guys, estimated Body Mass Index >30. Maybe the
580 is a big guy's boat. My friends say the Mirage felt most the stable of
the boats they have paddled, in choppy conditions.
My misgivings:
The integrated rudder is a problem, IMHO. The thing isn't deep enough in the
water. If you are going to have a rudder, (and I don't, I prefer a boat that
works without one), have a deep one that will still have some blade in the
water in a following sea. And it presents problems for beach/surf launches,
where maybe the blade has to drag through the sand as you launch. I
suppose Mirage owners cope.
The last Mirage I paddled had a coaming that was half off on the right side.
It's fair to say it had been used in a hire fleet for a while, but it's not
inspiring.
Check the build quality carefully. If you do buy one, get VCP hatches,
not the leaky options. The large oval rear hatch is neoprene-on-coaming,
covered with a fibreglass lid. The lid is poorly held down with bungies,
and there are reports of them coming adrift and allowing flooding of the
rear
compartment. If you can get the manufacturer to fit an oval VCP hatch, much
better.
Otherwise, fit solid straps to retain the glass cover, and be careful how
you
arrange your spare paddle. Carry secondary buoyancy in the rear compartment.

PT, Melbourne, OZ.





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