Broken TI

I have just came back from a great 2 days of sailing. As I was cleaning my TI I notices cracks! Have a look at the pics





My TI is only 4months old and has only been out about 10-12 times.

I will be ringing my dealer tomorrow and have it down to him Monday. I do not think this can be effectively repaired. It seems as though the pressure of pulling the TI is too great for the thickness of the TI. you can see where the pressure has pulled (pushed) the plastic around the holes until it cracked.

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

Wow.

Where are the cracks? My TI is only a month old, and I guess I don't know it well enough to recognize those holes. Are those where the Aka's plug into the main hull?

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

Sorry to hear your problems Paul. I'm sure Hobie will sort it out.

I too experienced some issues with my 1 month Old TI. The Aka on my TI kept detaching from the crossbars, especially in rougher conditions. One incident casued me to capsize.

I'm waiting from my dealer for an answer from Hobie to see what can be done to fix it.



Gringo, these looks like the holes where you insert the Hobie cart. Though I could be mistaken.

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H@mmer
"Intelligence is nothing without imagination"

Another scupper cart injury Paul? Sorry Man,..

The plastic does look thin.

Odd that they would be at the top of the hole. Was the cart inserted there, upside-down, while sailing?

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

I think Flaneur's damage was at the top too. The bottom of the scupper seems to be acting as a fulcrum, forcing the cart rods against the top. A number of people seemed to think Flaneur was somehow at fault, because he attempted to lift the boat off the cart. Was this the case with you Paul?

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I bet you were gutted Paul. Hope it all works out.

I think you hit the nail on the head Chris. There is a lot of pushing and pulling going on with the cart posts. Has the top of the post dug into the top of the hole ? Hasn't the TI cart posts got a half spherical knob on the top so that this won't happen ?

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Sorry to hear your bad news.
Hope it gets sorted out to your saisfaction and isn't a fault that could develop in the TI.
I am/was currently contemplating buying one with a view to introducing novices to the AI/TI.
I will be interested to hear the outcome of your problem.

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Mickey
2016 AI Hibiscus
purchased NEW Nov 2021 - My 5th
Adventure Island Sailing since 2008

NOHUHU, these are the middle scupper holes, top view. I sail with the cart in the rear scupper holes.

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

chris j,

No I have never lifted the boat with the wheels.

It does appear that the 'drag' "The bottom of the scupper seems to be acting as a fulcrum, forcing the cart rods against the top". And the weakest area has failed.

Slaughter,

I am not sure it is the in and out of the wheels. I think by looking at the cracks, the pressure placed on the upper side of the hull while pulling the TI has caused such great pressure and this is why the cracks have appeared

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

But it's DEFINITELY related to the cart?

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

Given my recent incident of also having damaged scupper holes due to the cart, I've read a lot on scupper carts and the damages they can do. These carts are known to cause such issues as shown here. With the enormous amount of weight of the TI over other kayaks using these carts, Hobie should seriously consider offering other cart options for this boat and recommending against the use of scupper carts. I've decided to quit using my scupper cart, and I am pretty close to purchasing a C-Tug cart. Not many carts have specs claiming to support the weight of the TI. This one has a 300 pound capacity.
http://c-tug.net/index.php

Using an under hull cart is not without its problems either. I have the C-tug cart and it does not mould to the shape of the TI hull. As a result it will distort the hull and I would not like to use it for other than a short distance. Used in combination with some type of cradle to evenly support the hull would be best. It can also slip if not secured properly and getting the hull on the cart initially can be difficult.
Despite the problems described here I will continue to use the scupper cart. Over the last 4 years I have wheeled my kayaks (Oasis, Adventure, AI, TI) over a thousand kilometres using scupper carts and have had no problems.
The TI does push the limits of scupper carts. IMO none of the Hobie carts are really up to the job. My Trax2 cart has developed cracks around the welds and the balloon wheels only just handle the TI's rigged weight.
A heavier duty scupper cart with a moulded cradle to evenly support the hull would be a welcome accessory Hobie!

Paul,

Ouch! I think we're all feeling your pain. Just got back from vacation and your post got me to inspect the scuppers on my TI. Especially since I solely use a scupper cart to transport my TI through bumpy terrain. Thankfully no cracks were found. I'm hoping those cracks you got were a result of a rare mfg defect that'll help get your hull replaced at no cost.

Aloha,

cliffs2yak

That's interesting Stringy. I've used my C-tug with an OK Prowler, an OK Tandem and my AI and it has adapted perfectly to the different hull shapes. I would have thought that the variable angle of the cradles would have made the C-tug as adaptable as the roofrack cradles that people use to transport their TI's. What is it about the TI's hull shape that makes it less suitable?

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Since the problem seems to be caused by the tops of the cart rods being levered forward against the fronts of the scupper tubes, I wonder if the problem may not be caused by excessive drag rather than bumpy terrain. Pulling the boat through soft sand would be an obvious potential hazard here.

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