Hi Tempo Hobie Kayaks Blog

Kayak Safety – Rule Number 1

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:15:50 +0000

Spring has sprung, fishing season is open and the ice has been off the lakes for some time here in Minnesota and the fun has begun! But bear in my mind what Mom always told you before you head out on any adventure, “have fun…but be safe”. This Spring, the Minnesota DNR ran public service television commercials communicating the dangers of hypothermia. We all want to get out on the water and start enjoying it as soon as possible, but early season open water can be too cold and dangerous if you fall in. The public service announcements goal is to prevent drownings caused by people falling in to Minnesota lakes and streams that are too cold. The message is that you need to wear flotation devices in case you fall in to water that is so cold it causes a “gasp reflex” that involuntarily forces you to inhale water. As kayakers we need to be aware that ice-out and open water means kayak fun, but we need to educate ourselves and take all the necessary precautions to keep safe.

Kayak safety means having the correct safety gear and knowledge of safety practices

Recently I watched a video where a kayak fisherman barely escaped being struck by a power boat. The kayak fisherman had a bright yellow flotation vest on was following all safety practices. The power boat simply did not see the kayaker. I am strong advocate that you need a tall brightly colored flag that sticks up high above the water to help make you visible. Kayaks sit low in the water and they can be difficult for power boaters to see.

We’ll be adding more safety information to our blog, it’s important information

Hi Tempo and Hobie are dedicated to safe kayaking. Our friend Dennis Ferrier has produced a basic video on kayak safety. Please watch the video below to learn some basic safety practices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn8rlE6TnRs

Hi Tempo carries the full line of Hobie Kayak Accessories.
Visit our website: www.shophitempo.com
Or call the store for more information, 800-429-3446.

Learn About Bass Fishing And Hobie Kayaks

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:58:34 +0000

It’s just about show time here in Minnesota. There’s only one fishing / boat show left for us to show off the best fishing kayaks in the world. The water in our lakes is warming up to the point where hypothermia doesn’t threaten those who get out on the open waters that look so inviting. Get your kayak ready to hit the water and get to this show to learn how to catch more Bass this year.

Don’t miss the Minnesota Bass Expo April 20-22, 2012 at National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota

This show is specialized. It is tailored to Bass fisher people. Walleye fishing gets most of the attention here in Minnesota but Bass fishing holds a special appeal to many people. It has its’ own special gear requirements and the way you fish is specific to the species. And it has a strong tournament following.

Hobie Kayaks fit the needs of Bass Fisherman

Bass tend to like to get in to skinny water and skinny water is tough to get to in large motorized boats. Hobie kayaks can get in to shallow water easily and quietly. This makes them perfect for Bass fisherman who want to get to where bass hangout. We will have fully loaded Hobie Fishing Kayaks at the show. Stop by our booth, see why we have the coolest fishing machine for Bass Fisherman.

For more information on Hobie Kayak Fishing in Minnesota, call us at 651-429-3333 or visit our website at www.hitempokayaks.com

How Does The Hobie Mirage Drive Work?

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:58:41 +0000

We’ve been to many boat shows this spring and people are intrigued and fascinated by the unique and superior engineering of Hobie’s Mirage Drive. It is not like anything else in the kayak or boating industry. I recently ran across an old video from Hobie that shows an early prototype boat with the Mirage drive. The drive has been improved and enhanced but it is amazing how the original idea holds up to the test of time.

Watch the video below to see the early prototype of the Hobie Mirage in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu7K93lmQmo

Here’s how we explain the benefits and functionality of the Hobie Mirage Drive

Watch this video to learn how Hi Tempo owner explains the Mirage Drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b2uoLevJXU

For more information on the Mirage drive and Hobie Kayaks, Click Here

Or call us at 651-429-3333 or toll-free 800.429.3446

Last Day To Check Out Hobie Kayaks At The Northwest Sports Show

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:38:20 +0000

We’re showing fully rigged Hobie Fishing Kayaks at the Northwest Sport Show in Minneapolis, MN today (April 1, 2012) from 10am to 5pm.

Stop by and check out our Hobie ProAngler all tricked out with fishing accessories and ready to hit the water.

Or check out our website for complete details on the entire Hobie Fishing Kayak product line, CLICK HERE.

Are You Ready For Some Hobie Kayak Fishing?

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:26:34 +0000

It feels like the winter that never was here in Minnesota. Very little snow and cold made for an odd year for ice fishing. The fishing was actually pretty good…but the ice conditions were not great for getting out on the ice safely. With recent temperatures hitting the 70 degree mark, the ice on our lakes will most likely be gone much earlier than normal.

Look at early ice out as an upside for the kayak fishing season

Early season open water fishing is usually some of the best in Minnesota. The fish spawn and enter a period of ravenous eating. It’s time to get your kayak out of storage and ready to take advantage of the fact that the season will begin earlier this year.

Don’t miss our Hobie Kayak fishing events this year

We’ll be participating in boat shows and fishing events where you can talk with our Hobie Kayak fishing experts. Learn about new fishing kayak models and accessories. Learn how to catch more fish and get more enjoyment from your time on the water. Here are some upcoming events we’ll be at:

Northwest Sportshow, March 28 to April 1 2012 Minneapolis Convention Center.

Stop by and see us at booth Booth: 1428. Click here for the Northwest Sportshow website.

Minnesota Bass Expo, April 20-22, 2012. Schwan Center.

The National Sports Center will be hosting the first annual Minnesota Bass Expo at the Schwan Center in Blaine, MN. Visitors can see and purchase the latest in bass fishing tackle, eletronics, gear, boats and seminars. Click here for the Minnesota Bass Expo website.

Interested in a Minnesota kayak fishing tournament?

We’ve heard from many kayak fishing enthusiasts that would be interested in participating. We’re looking for more people. We are looking at several options. Online tournaments where you can send photos of your catch and some get togethers where we all fish the same lake. If you are interested in participating in a kayak fishing tournament send us your information, click here.

Hobie Kayak Fisherman Saves Wounded Dog

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:53:29 +0000

I follow news on Hobie Kayaks and Kayak Fishing. Most of the time the news is on technical specifications, who caught what and what the latest hot spot or tournament is. This You Tube video showed up in my alerts and I watched it and was warmed by the genuine concern actions taken by this guy. Check it out!

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX6UhgboDgc&feature=player_embedded[/tube]

Hobie Mirage Adventure Island Kayaks Featured In Minds In The Water Film

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:18:13 +0000

Minds In The Water is a documentary following professional surfer Dave Rastovich and his friends as they strive to protect dolphins, whales and the oceans they all share. Dave’s five-year quest took him around the globe from Australia to the Galapagos, Tonga, California, Alaska and Japan. He documents instances of the slaughter of protected marine life. He uses Hobie Adventure Island Kayaks to get up close and admire the whales and dolphins that need our protection.

The movie trailer is very provocative. It really gets you thinking about the stewardship we need to act on to keep our worlds oceans healthy.

Click here to visit the Minds In The Water Website and view the movie trailer.

Hobie Kayak Anchors Festival Foods Display In Minnesota

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:26:12 +0000

It took some time but summer has finally arrived in Minnesota. WoooHooo! Hot weather means we’re all heading to the lakes and Hi Tempo has the hottest lake toys from Hobie to have fun pedaling, sailing or fishing our Minnesota Lakes.

We teamed up with Festival Foods to help dress up the “Sail In To Summer” holiday display at their Hugo, MN store

The display features a bright yellow Hobie Mirage Sport with sail kit. The kayak is flanked by all sorts of snacks and beverages to keep your energy up during the long holiday weekend.

We’d like to thank Festival Foods for allowing us to lend them the Hobie Kayak for use in this display. I would personally like to thank Rod Borden for his help in making this happen. Over 2000 customers per day in the next 2 weeks will walk through this store. If your up in the Hugo area stop in to Festival Foods for great grocery and check out the “Sail In To Summer” display.

Hobie Kayaks are available at Hi Tempo Kayak & Sailboats, click here for website.

Review Of The Hobie Kayak Torqeedo Electric Motor

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:43:42 +0000

Last week I had the pleasure of heading out to a local lake with a Minnesota Fishing Blogger. The blogger wanted to take a test drive in a Hobie Pro Angler and and a Hobie Outback with a Torqeedo motor. The Torqeedo produces quiet, clean, and efficient electric propulsion for Hobie Kayaks. You can use the Torqeedo for hours and not drain the lithium manganese high performance battery. We operated the drive for 3 solid hours at varying speeds and the LCD display (that shows range traveled, current speed and GPS data) still showed battery power at 75%!

The Torqeedo motor is available as a rudder mount or as a Mirage Drive well drop in. We were using the rudder mount version. The first thing all the users noticed was the responsiveness and power delivered by the drive. The 3 testers who used the Torqeedo that day range in size from 170 pounds to 270 pounds. Each of us noticed that when you punched the throttle down the kayak’s bow “jumps” out of the water. It’s pretty obvious what Hobie means when they named when they named the drive “Torqeedo”, there’s ample thrust put out by this drive. Nik, the youngest guy (a mechanic and motorhead) responded “that thing is sick!”, meaning crazy, cool, insane!

What really impressed me was the precise increments in speed I could achieve. Fishing success depends on several factors. One factor is the speed at which you retrieve a cast or troll your bait. The speed can entice lazy fish or aggressive fish to strike depending on conditions. Fishing was not on fire that day so I used the Torqeedo to precisely change the speed I was trolling my crankbait at. I dialed my speed down to 1.1 m.p.h. and fished a while. No strikes so I cranked up the Torqeedo to 1.9 m.p.h. still no action. I started messing around and found I could precisely control my speed in .1 m.p.h. increments! Finding the speed strike zone repeating that speed can be very easy.

If you want to test drive a Hobie Kayak or the Torqeedo drive, visit our demo page, click here.

If you are interested in buying a Hobie Kayak visit our online store, click here.

A Very Cool Kayak Fishing Movie

admin — Mon, 30 May 2011 13:14:02 +0000

Last weeks Kayak Angler email news included a movie that absolutely left me awe struck.

The Power Of Kayak Fishing To Connect With Friends And Family

Ah, the memories! I fished with my Dad and Brothers growing up. I have raised my Son to enjoy the camaraderie of fishing and to appreciate the outdoors. I just got back from a 9 hour outing on the water with my Son and one of my Brothers when I played this video. Oh man, the tears started to swell as I recalled all the great times we’ve had together over the years.

It’s More Than Just Kayak Fishing

A big THANK YOU to Blue Ridge Kayak Fishing for sharing this. It brings back memories of my Dad rowing the boat while we trolled our bait. He’d teach us what to do and what to expect. He’d tell us about the fish we caught. But most importantly we created bonds, friendships and memories.