Hobie BOS to Allow Motors in ’24: Is This Good for the Sport? by Justin Largen
Hobie has announced that the Bass Open Series will allow motors for most of its tournaments in the 2024 season. Hobie will host two no-motor events, but all others will allow anglers to use a motor during competition. This represents a significant change for Hobie, which previously only allowed motors to be utilized during the pre-tournament practice period. For much of the kayak community, this is a welcome change, but I have to admit that I’m feeling ambivalent.
First, I’m not surprised that Hobie implemented this rule change. Many anglers have been asking for it for a long time. As recently as the ’23 TOC, use of motors was a hot topic of discussion among the anglers. There was chatter that a move like this could be on the horizon, and I understand the reasons for it. Turnout was down from the ’22 season and Hobie wants to maximize participation. Full fields benefit everyone, especially a tournament’s top finishers. And, while there are many factors that could’ve impacted the turnout in ‘23, I suspect that the growth of the Bassmaster Kayak Series – where motors are permitted – was the biggest. While Hobie’s attendance slowed, turnout at Bassmaster events increased dramatically from the prior year. The BASS brand transcends kayak fishing, and they gave anglers who want to use motors an alternative to Hobie. What bass angler – bank, boat, or kayak – hasn’t dreamed of winning a trophy with the Bassmaster logo on it? Also, it’s just a fact that motors are becoming more common on kayaks. I joined the party and added one to my Outback in ’23, and it instantly allowed me to travel further and faster with less fatigue. So, I think Hobie is making a smart business decision. It’s listening to consumers and paying attention to the market trend.
On the other hand, I can’t help feeling a little sad about the change. I’ve competed in Hobie, Bassmaster and KBF events over the last three years, and I enjoy all three trails. I know that the Hobie BOS will continue to be a great trail, but I’ll miss the manpowered aspect. It allowed me to take full advantage of my Outback’s Mirage pedal drive. Knowing that most anglers aren’t willing to pedal or paddle five miles to get to a starting spot during a tournament, I would often seek out places far from any ramp. I could use my Mirage Drive to try to outwork (and sometimes “outstupid”) the competition. Part of me will miss the feelings of exhaustion and accomplishment after making crazy runs. That strategy won’t make much sense when everyone is equipment motors. My second gripe is, admittedly, equally selfish. I’ve found myself getting lazier as I get older, and manpowered-only events forced me to stay more active. Long days of nonstop pedaling and casting helped me stay in good physical condition. So, as I rely more heavily on my motor, I’ll have to find some other form of exercise to replace all that pedaling. And, as I said, I’m lazy, so I don’t want to.
My last reason for ambivalence toward the rule change is a little less selfish. I’m worried about the direction the industry is moving. Competitive kayaking is getting more expensive, and I worry that we’re going to eventually price out potential anglers. Kayaking is still far less expensive than boating, but the cost is climbing. I don’t mean entry fees. They’re more than fair. I’m talking about all the tools we need to be competitive. The average kayak is getting bigger and more expensive. By the time we rig it with a motor, high end sonar, lithium batteries, and get a trailer to pull it, we’ve spent some serious coin. I’m not saying that you can’t compete without these things, but you’d be stacking the odds against yourself. Sure, there are many examples of anglers in a simple, paddle-only kayak earning checks or even winning major tournaments. I’ve had my butt kicked by these anglers more than a few times, and I’m sure that there will still be occasions where the bare bones kayaker triumphs. I just think it’s going to be much tougher for budget-conscious anglers to be consistently competitive in a motor-friendly trail.
Before I seem overly biased and pessimistic, I want to make one final point in favor of motors. The most compelling argument I’ve heard came from a seasoned angler who told me that pedaling all day was becoming physically taxing. This was something I hadn’t considered before. There are plenty of young guns in our sport, guys who will be making headlines for many years to come. But we also have the OGs that paved the way for the rest of us. I want those guys to continue competing for many more years, and motors will help them do so. Though father time is undefeated, motors will allow us to hold him off for a while and enjoy the sport for as long as possible.
Ultimately, I don’t know how to reconcile all these thoughts. Selfishly, I’ll miss aspects of competing in manpowered-only tournaments. At the same time, I want Hobie to succeed – along with BASS and KBF – and I’m glad they’re making a savvy business decision. I also want competitive kayak fishing to be accessible to as many people as possible. I want the older guys – myself included – to stick around for a long time, and I want to see newcomers flocking to our sport. If there’s a perfect solution to the motor-or-no-motor question, I can’t see it. There’s no way to make everyone totally happy, but Hobie made a great effort. By allowing motors in most of the ’24 tournaments, they appealed to the majority of anglers, and they’ll be rewarded with increased turnout. Simultaneously, by keeping two manpower-only events, Hobie extended an olive branch to those of us that enjoyed the old format. So, while I still have mixed feelings about the change, my opinion of Hobie hasn’t changed. It’s a well-run organization with great people, and I’ll continue to support it in ‘24. I hope that other manpower-only fans will do the same.
