Hey mtnsailor and Apalach!
Adding a jib to the AI would first involve solving some problems, but not insurmountable ones. First off, the main sail on the AI is roller- furling which means, of course, the mast rotates. Which also means the forestay, or leading edge of a jib, would nead to be attached to the top of a rotating mast. The lower end to the bow.
This problem of rotating mast and jib mod was solved by Eliseo, who lives in Spain and posted on KFS with pix of his mod, not on the AI but the tandem Hobie kayak. He had added a home made roller-furling main and I think he also used a roller furling jib, which would also be desirable for a jib addition to the AI. A discussion of his jib mod was made last fall.
The addition of a jib to my Hobie Sport was quite easy as the mast was fixed. Apalach always shows my first effort in adding sailing mods to the Hobie mirage kayaks. Later I added a larger rudder, larger leeboard, and longer bowsprit to accomodate larger roller-furling jib. Check out my postings on KFS for last Fall.
Since buying and sailing the AI, I've not taken the Sport out even once. I think it feels a bit forsaken wrapped up and stored outside next to my studio. Safely inside my studio, of course, and hanging from the ceiling is my AI, just waiting to get into the water.
I too, am anxiously waiting for the sailing season to begin here in the northern climes of New York.
Except for days with very little wind (less than 10 mph), I don't think a jib on the AI is necessary.
Norman Ernsting aka Punchinello on KFS
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