Dolly cart or plug in

Hi guys what are most of you using? From what I gather here in Australia we get a choice of plug in or $250 towards a dolly cart, is this a new Hobie thing? I'll be using mine on the sand and on tarmac and boat ramp from time to time.

I'm getting the new 2015 AI it will be somewhat heavier than the old AI. Thanks for your help

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

I am a big fan of the "Apple-cart" i.e. dolly type cart. Pending on where I launch I use both Wheeleez tires and no flat ones. The scupper cart is just too difficult for me to place back under the YAK in colder weather (where I launch). I like Hobies universal cart much better than the scupper.
- Apple cart pros: Easy to slip under the YAK & change out tires.
cons: Hard to stow on the YAK, last trip out to thje beach had a narrow beach access path/cart was too wide.

Since I switched away from Cradles and now trailer with PVC bunks, I am getting ready to make a "Apple-cart" (small dolly) out of my front cradle. My intention is to be able to store it on the YAK rather than walk my current one back to the car. Downside: AMAS will need to be bungied to prevent dragging in this mode and I will be pulling/carrying more weight.

I use my C-Tug with sidewinders a lot for boat ramp launches. No complaints with it at all, just wont work on the beaches where I am in the soft sand. Cant retro-fit wheeleez tires on it...

Enjoy the new AI! (different topic here, but I love my spine boards!!!!!)

Here's a couple killer DIY ideas,..

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=46391&hilit=batcart



http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=34323&hilit=batcart

I use the heavy duty plug in cart with my AI. I prefer this for storage on the AI while out at sea. For launching and landing it's convenient. I leave the cart inserted upon launch and install back under inserted before landing ( a little tricky but doable with two hands and practice). Is much more easier to quickly pull the AI out of the water away from the breaking swell here in Costa Rica. I do so on a sandy beach. Also you don't have to fight getting some wheels under the kayak once upon shore. It's by far my preferred method.

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Mark
Tandem Island- 2013
2 - Sports - 2014

Thanks guys, I must say I'm a big fan of the plug in carts, but I'm just a bit worried about stress on the scupper holes, especially with the new 2015 being that bit heavier

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

The current TI has reinforcing sleeves in the scupper holes.
That should prevent my problem of punching a hole through not inserting the cart completely.
I doubt if Hobie will go backwards in 2015.
So it is a balance between convenience of storing when out or ease of fitting the cart.
I use a hand cart and leave it on the beach in Australia.
If it is very public, I just remove the wheels so the kids can't play with it.

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Cheers, Brian in South Australia
Tandem Island -

Hi Roller

I've got a 2012 AI and for the first year and a half I used the plug in cart. I've recently started using the beach dolly, and it is so much better. A few main advantages:

Bigger diameter wheels means it rolls over rocks, etc far easier.
The fact it sits under the weight centre means that you only don't have to hold up the weight as well as pull or push the kayak. After 50m the weight kills me.
It supports the amas.

The disadvantage with the dolly is the size. It is quite a bulky unit, but I'm able to lock mine to my trailer.

If you can handle the storage issues of the beach dolly, I'd get one.

Cheers
Colin

Where we sail is right next door to the Sarasota sailing squadron which is a sailing club. On sailing weekends there can be as many as a hundred sets of cat trax and beach dollies just laying around on the beach where we all launch. They all look the same to me I have no clue how people identify their own carts (lol).
Nobody seems to worry about them getting stolen and I have never heard of any problems there. I don't feel the same way when we launch at smathers beach in key west, and be leave anything on the beach a lot of homeless people there just hanging out).
At least around here if we launch where a lot of other sailers launch, our stuff is ok, but if it's a mixed crowd or a public beach I lock my stuff up.
Bob