For the general features, advantages, and disadvantages of the Hobie Mirage Revolution see the general features page.
Previously I had installed a horizontal bar system just aft of the mast hole on the Revo. To this horizontal bar was mounted a RAM ball mount for a FF/GPS on the left side and a Scotty Rod Mount on the right side. While this worked quite well for 3 years, it put the accessories slightly out of my reach, and the rod holder was in conflict with the pedal drive. For someone taller than I the bar mount might be perfect. See the description here.
In 2012 YakAttack released its GearTrac GT175 rail system, a 1.75" wide rail system with mounting options accepting the most popular mounting systems, RAM and Scotty. While the G175 was too wide for installation on the gunwales of the Hobie Revolution, YakAttack promised a narrower version. In 2013 they released the GearTrac GT90 rail system, a 0.9" wide system.
I purchased the following products from YakAttack:
Running under the gunwales of the Hobie Revolution are various rudder control cables. Fraying of these cables must be considered when installing anything to the gunwales.
The screws supplied by Yak Attack are 3/4" 8x32 hexhead stainless. Why they decided on hexhead drive rather than phillips I do not know. Be careful of stripping out the hexdrive. The Revo could get by with 5/8" long screws which would provide more clearance for the rudder cables.
While the GearTracs are 0.9" wide the FullBacks are only 1/2" wide, aluminum, and not just drilled, but threaded. This means no washer, no nylock nut, no positive retention, and a potential for stripping by overtightening the stainless screws.
The 8" fullback has 5 holes and provides 4 square inches of backing down the centerline and extending out only 1/4" from the centerline on each side. The GT90 GearTrac is 0.9" wide. That is, the GT90 extends 0.2" beyond the backing. This reduces their ability to resist side to side torque, and this was of concern to me since I needed to mount a rod holder for trolling using the 12" trac.
The 8" fullback has 5 holes and provides 4 square inches of backing area. The 12" fullback has 7 holes and provides 6 square inches of backing area. 5, 1" washers provide 3.93 square inches of backing area and 7 such washers provide 5.50 square inches for the 12" trac. While the washers provide slightly less backing area, because they are essentially as wide as the trac they provide more horizontal torque resistance. I used washers rather than the Fullbacks.
Be very careful tightening the screws as the tiny hex head drive is prone to stripping. The full length of the gunwales can be reached through the front hatch.
The installation was trivial.
I mounted the 8" trac on the left side and used the 1.5" screwball to mount my Humminbird on a RAM arm. The 12" trac on the right received the "Mighty Mount Track Mount Kit" (MMS) to mount my Scotty deck mount for the rod holder.
See photos. The paired holes forward of the tracs were for the bar mounts. They have been plugged with Marine Goop. At this time the 8" trac is only secured by 4 screws. This allows me the option of moving the trac 1-1/2" further aft if necessary after a checkout cruise.