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I suspect the main reason the old 2006 design of the AI-1 was upgraded was because the floor fell out on AI sales after the updated TI design came out in 2010 (based on the same Adventure boat theme that Hobie invented (and we are all glad for that, they had to start somewhere....). All these boats are a totally new concept in boats and by far the most versatile things on the water today. The AI 2 was developed to take advantage of all the success's of the TI design (quite probably the most popular boat on the market today). My opinion is everything that was lacking in the old and dated AI1 design (sitting below water, AMA's too small, and not enough floation on the bow). All these recent AI-2 improvements bring both boats on par as the most succesful design out there today.
The only choice you need to make anymore is if you only ever sail solo, there is no need for the TI's capacity of up to 4 people.
In our situation our TI is our general purpose family boat that we use for anything and everything and really enjoy the extra capacity when we need it. Most weekends I'm out there solo and to me there is no downside to having the reserve capacity available to me for when family comes down to visit from up north.
However our situation is different than most, we are former powerboaters and kayakers who only ever used tandem kayaks previously (all tandem kayaks are big and heavy just by nature). The difference in weight between the AI-2 and the TI is very small, rigging time is pretty equal, most of us launch from trailers anyway so the actual boat weight (within reason) is a mute point to us (keep in mind we only ever use tandem kayaks anyway).
Considering our only other choice out there was the Windrider 17 which weighs in at 450 lbs and can't possibly be car topped (we car top our TI all the time). Disclaimer: obviously our TI is not stock, with a little imagination and knowhow it's easily converted to a complex sailboat (complex meaning a boat with main, jib, spiinakers,etc (like the Windrider or Weta)), we have been running ours that way for 5 1/2 yrs now with no issues, it takes me less than 15 minutes to rig and launch even with all my mods (try and do that with a windrider).
99% of the AI/TI owners out there are perfectly happy with the off the shelf performance of these boats, ours was only upgraded to suit our own specific needs (mostly offshore in So Fl and the keys, we don't use it for much else anymore). Just look on any map, the area is vast, as destination people we often cover 50-60 miles on a good day, you simply can't do that at 3mph (the only reason for our mods is we seldom go out in winds over 7mph (no wind at all is most preferred) which is most typical here ten months out of the year, obviously I will never be a hard core man vs sea purist.
Thru most of the summer ours is typically the only sail boat out there...(technically it's a human powered hybrid). That tri-power stuff really works (Hobie invented that too, before they dreamed it up I don't think anyone seriously ever thought about it before). By combining human power (mirage pedal power), and sail power, and supplimental propulsion (either hybrid or electric) using all at the same time opens up a whole new world to all of us (no boundaries). thanks Hobie. Anymore I just use their stuff and love it, I'm out there most weekends in total awe and amazement at what these boats can really do (I'm dead serious).
My 2 cents
FE
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