New TI almost here!

I am pretty excited. My wife ordered a new tandem island as a surprise birthday gift for me. It should be arriving here on island this weekend, and clearing customs on Monday. We have been using our i14t for over a year now, and can't wait for the new toy.

She bought the yellow one, with a trailer, spare turbo flippers, and the trampolines.

Anything I need to know before launching into assembling this wonder?

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Island life in the Devil's Triangle:
http://2gringos.blogspot.com/

Congrats on your present and your great wife!

If you know which trailer your getting, you can usually download the instructions from the manufactures site to prepare. The instructions are complete, but not great, so reading through a few times will help it make sense when you're assembling.

It took me over two weeks after assembly before I could use my trailer because of paperwork issues needed for inspection and licensing, so be prepared and check what you need in your area, and what order you need to do things.

Start gathering your gear, which will probably be much more than you use now, as you can easily head miles off shore. So add a portable Marine radio, maybe a EPIRB etc. (see http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=33319 for a current discussion on gear)

And enjoy! Post pic's and updates. Welcome!

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Thanks for the info, we have actually gotten more mileage that you might believe from the i14t. We have taken it to several other islands here, including West Caicos, which is only six miles offshore but still.....for a reefy area with uncharted coral heads we thought that was pretty good in a rubber inflatable.

We do take lots of pix. There are thousands of them online on this blog thing we do about this little island nation.

We are okay as far as the regs here. I don't have to register the trailer, inspect the trailer, register the boat etc. It doesn't even matter if the trailer has lights or not. And as for a VHF...well...I had planned to pick one up as a spare for our power boat, but it's really not that much use in a country with no sea tow, no navy, and no coast guard. We are kinda on our own if we are out of cell phone range!

Its a whole nuther world living and boating here compared to the US. But we are really looking forward to the TI. Been wanting one since they first came out. I heard rumors there was a rudder issue, but I am sure there will be a fix for it.

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Island life in the Devil's Triangle:
http://2gringos.blogspot.com/

Truck just dropped it off. I am going to try a time-lapse movie of us putting the TI and trailer together.

Pretty cool birthday present. our blog is about to get a lot better.

Two days to clear customs....and 40% duty!! Ouch.

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Island life in the Devil's Triangle:
http://2gringos.blogspot.com/

Congrats and looking foward to the video

I'll be down to Provo over New Years with my wife. Would love to get together if you are game. Could also use some reccomendations on restaurants ...

Im giving your blog a read over lunch - quite a distance away from me sitting in my Manhatten office overlooking 3rd Ave & 47th St. - and I dont mean measured lineage ... seems you're living the dream I've been whispering in my wife's ear for several years now

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Alan W.

Papaya AI2 to replace my well worn V1
TheTwins - His/Hers 2007 Papaya Hobie Adventure Island's (v1.00.01)
.. and a Hobie Outback SUV

Well, the video was a bust. camera did not do the time lapse. took one photo and stopped. in any case, we managed to get the trailex trailer 90% together. Simpler down here, where I don't think I will even bother to put the lights or license plate bracket on it.

tomorrow morning I turn attention to assembling the TI. Already have some slight confusion. "Bag of small parts" listed on pg. 4 of the Assembly manual lists 11b, two Nylon Screws and Nuts. And indeed, I have them. But nowhere in the manual can I seem to locate any use for them. Any ideas on what they are for? shear pins of some kind?d

Also, there is a mysterious gray plastic rod about 7 inches long, and it's not mentioned in any form what so ever. Does anyone have any idea what it is, or what it's used for? I have read through this manual three times, and still do not know what this thing is.

there is also an allen key, and although there's no mention of what it's for...I am assuming that something someday will come loose and it will be apparent. Of course, by then it'll be rusted to smithereens.

PS Alan, what kind of restaurants do you like? there are a few around. where are you staying?

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Island life in the Devil's Triangle:
http://2gringos.blogspot.com/