Quest 11
This Product Has Been Discontinued
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Quest 11 Description
The casting kayak has everything you need to fully unwind, sans unnecessary, distracting stuff. The Quest 11's clean, appendage-free underbody glides on the mere suggestion of water and its svelte hull weight and user-friendly handles make portaging a snap. While versatile enough to please and crowd, the Quest 11's angler-friendly pedigree includes covered bow stowage, molded rod holders and a crate system to a Hobie Livewell. The only unresolved questions are when and where.
Quest 11 Specs and Features
- Structure: Rigid / Hard Shell
- Cockpit Type: Sit on Top / Open Cockpit
- Seating Configuration: Solo
- Ideal Paddler Size: Average Adult, Larger Adult
- Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Ideal Paddler Size: Average Adult, Larger Adult
- Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Hobie
Quest 11 Reviews
Read reviews for the Quest 11 by Hobie as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community!
I bought this kayak about 2…
I bought this kayak about 2 years ago and I have used it many times during rough weather on the ocean and on calm days at the lake. I have no complaints. None. Several weeks ago I embarked on a 7 mile ocean paddle in New England waters. It was a hot, windy day (18 knots with gusts up to 25 knots). Whitecaps everywhere, seas building...no one else around. It was exhilarating. The kayak would rise over the 4ft waves and then accelerate down the backside of the waves and then rise over the next approaching wave and then accelerate down the back of that wave, and so forth and so on. I felt very connected to the ocean and to my own self. I felt ALIVE!
Then the thunderstorms from the west came in... Suddenly the winds shifted, the sky turned black, lightning bolts cracked and booming thunder roared. The reality of the situation turned dangerous. The wind was now blowing me offshore, against the oncoming waves. Torrential downpours. The rain felt like millions of little hammers pounding my face. Visibility was poor.
It took every ounce of strength I could muster to get back to the shore. But I made it back safe and sound. Thank goodness I wasn't out in that mess with a lesser kayak! I owe my life to the Quest 11.... Awesome kayak!
Picked one up used. Have…
Picked one up used. Have been in dead calm, up to 30 mph winds with strong currents. It handles very well and easily cuts through the water, wind, and current. I have 5 kayaks total, this is by far the best I have... and most importantly I've come with more and usually larger fish then the guys coming back in boats. Would recommend it to any beginner or pro.
Best small kayak made hands down!
This kayak has the most comfortable seat made since they recently changed from a clip in to a lawn chair style seat- it's height/tilt/lumbar adjustable for awesome comfort and support without interfering with a proper paddle stroke. The fit and finish and features are unmatched. Some of my favorite features are the side mesh pockets, 3 large easy to use sealed hatches, comfort carry handles, molded in rod holders, very comfortable and large rotating foot rests, dual paddle keepers, 3 water bottle holders, gear bucket for mid hatch, replaceable skid plate and the list goes on and on. The kayak is surprisingly stable even with the seat at it's highest setting( I'm 6' and weigh 200 lbs) The Quest 11 has very good speed and glide and also tracks fantastic- no need for a rudder since it's so short. I recently demoed a 14' sea kayak while my wife paddled the Quest 11 and she kept up with me just fine. It's relatively light and easy to move round out of the water especially with a scupper cart. Hobie has reinforced scupper holes so plug in cart use doesn't void the warranty. This kayak is more expensive than other brands but it's because it's a better quality and well designed paddling watercraft. EPIC win for Hobie on the Quest 11.
I found my Quest 11 at a…
The adjustable foot pedals are great, I can move them up or back when I want more stability. I find the storage convenient, and the weight (about 50#) tolerable. I chose stability and quality over light weight. It paddles like a dream, tracks well and scoots across still water. There are elastic straps to hold the paddle! I love that.
It's a solid boat, I feel safe and secure. The seat is comfortable and adjusts three ways to suit your posture. It is worth the extra money to buy a Hobie.
Great kayak that cuts through…
It's a well made good looking and performing kayak with great features. I have a bad back and would like the seat to be a little higher in the back for more support. Other than that it's near perfect for a recreational sit on top.
This kayak is not made for…
This is a great little boat.…
After years of searching for…
Being used to paddling much longer yaks I was a little concerned about the shorter length. The 11 actually tracks straighter than the Quest 13 due to the fact that the center rib in the hull is deeper than the rest and tapers back to a keel in the stern. On the 13 the bottom is fairly flat. Tracking is good, even when power stroking the nose only deflects about 2" side to side. It is well behaved even in a combination of 15mph+ winds and heavy tidal currents. The stability is awesome, you would have to forcibly try to flip this yak to get it to go over. At the same time it has good glide for such a short yak and the manuverability is very good. The yak is very dry for a SOT, the seat stays dry and even in heavy chop the bow deflects the water away, the only water you get in the yak is from wind spray or paddle drip. The supplied scupper plugs do a great job and the yak can be paddled without them in with a slight amount of water in the footwells concentrated at the scuppers. I have yet to find any water inside the hull. You can move around in this yak with no thought or concerns the stability is so great.
The layout of the yak is awesome for fishing. The mesh side pockets will hold more bagged baits than you will ever need. I carry a small double sided tackle box in the center console that is held in place by the attached bungie. Right in front of the seat is a 8.5" watertight hatch that has a supplied covered bucket that is handy for anything that you want to keep dry. There is a similar hatch in the stern. The sternwell has plenty of room and the bungie system that covers it is very easy to detach and use. The gas pedal style footbraces are very comfy and easy to adjust. The built in rod holders are in a good location and the stern bungie can be hooked over the reel handles to hold them in place.
The yak is easy to load up at only 47 pounds. The only negative I can find is the stock seat loses its cushioning at 3-4 hours, I threw in my gel pad and it is good for all day. There is a supplied Hobie paddle but it has a good amount of flex in the blades, so you will want a better one of your choice, a 230cm works great.
Overall a well thought out yak that I wouldn't hesitate to buy again.