Time to buy a Tandem Island

Hi

After making the decision to buy a TI about 12 months ago. I have been fairly quiet on the forum but I knew that to have any chance of getting my home renovations finished I needed to delay my purchase till I was closer to completion.

I'm still living in my caravan in the driveway but It's time to pull the trigger and buy a boat. Is a DIY / owner builder project ever really finished? I really wanted to be ready to sail at the start of spring but thought I might be able to get a better deal at the beginning of winter.

I've decided I want a Yellow 2015 or newer Tandem Island so I can have the new seats. I've had my eye on the classifieds and haven't seen any come up second hand so I will probably be buying new. I've never owned a new boat before so it's probably time I did

So if I'm going to buy new, where do I buy? I can see why it would be good to support the local dealer and that would be my preference, but on a $8,000 plus purchase I probably should shop around to see what kind of deal I can get. I don't mind travelling for the right price.

Any thoughts on this?

Also the Sydney boat show is coming up at the end of July. Is it likely that I will be able to pick up a "show special" there?

Cheers

Brad

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines

I think you will find that dealers in Aust don't have much flexibility in the price they charge for the boat. From what I understand the retail prices are set by Hobie Australia. The only time you really see sales is when there has been a major model change and they are offloading the old stock.

Where you might save some money is on any accessories you might get at the same time.

You could always ask if they have an ex demo boat for sale, but I doubt if any would be offloading the 2015 ones yet. Especially a TI.

As John said, there is little price flexibility around the dealers, but if you purchase the majority of accessories at the same time, you CAN save as lot of money. I put together s list of more than 12 items (PFD, anchor and rope, fish finder/chart plotter, flares, PLB, trailer, bilge pump, etc), and obtained quotes for the package.

The overall savings were impressive!

Also, ex-demo on es can come a bit cheaper, while boat show specials can save tyou money (but probably not as much overall as dealer bundling. I doubt you will see too many 2015 or later models on the classifieds, as most owners won't give up theirs without a fight!

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

We bought ours from Totally Immersed Watersports at South Nowra (bit of a hike for you), but there's also Hunter Watersports in Newcastle. We didn't really shop around - the Nowra folk were our 'local' dealers and demo'd ther boat for us, so we went with them.

The other folk are right - no real discounts to be had on the boats, but they will generally do deals on the accessories, such as tramps, trolleys, pfds etc. We got a pretty substantial discount on the overall price for our boat.

Greatest thing we have bought, so far!

Your renovations will actually speed up, as you will be so pumped up from using your TI that your enthusiasm, will blow into the renovation! I have never been so thrilled as I am with mine, and my sailing enjoyment surpassed what til now was a huge pile of very fond memories (Ron Holland quarter tonner, over 5k miles of inshore and offshore cruising/racing), 4 years of J24 racing, 33 charter weekends of mono and cat yachts in the 33-42 foot range, countless days crewing on other yachts etc).

I love the relative simplicity of sailing the TI, the ability to pull in ashore for a meal or just some sun, the independence of not needing crew (although I try to get passengers for the company, the ability to jump in the car with the TI on the trailer, and explore other locations with or without the company of other Island lovers, the versatility to take camping gear on board and enjoy multi-day excursions - ok, I'll stop now LOL

Oh yes, I just added Hobie's spinnaker kit to the mix, so I can get to play with more stuff if I want a break from the simplicity!.

Don't forget to let us know how much you like it once you have got your toes wet

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Thanks for the replies guys. I might need to get a list of accessories together and see what I can negotiate.

Hi Tony

My last boat was a Trailer Tri 720. It was fantastic to sail but the hour at the ramp lifting the 9 metre aluminium mast and all the other rigging while standing in the full sun, as well as the stress of getting it back on the trailer and another hour unrigging after a days sailing eventually cancelled out the fun.

The plan was to go "boat free" for a while but that didn't last long

I'm looking forward to the TI's simple rigging, flexibility and high fun factor

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines

Finally, it's about time Brad!
The new TI is much improved. The Vantage CT seats and redesigned seat well are well worth the extra cost as are the very smooth Glide Mirage drives. We have them on our new Oasis.
There are benefits with buying local and HWS's price matched our Oasis. James was very helpful and I would recommend their service.
As far as accessories, a cart and tramps are essential IMO, as is a hiking stick.

Hi Stringy

The original plan was to get the house finished then buy, but summer could be over by then I'm getting used to living in the caravan so I think it's time to go sailing! The plan is to be on the water by spring.

I'm happy to hear that HWS are good to deal with.

I had intended to get a cart and trampolines. I didn't know that Hobie had a hiking stick as an accessory but I found it in the parts catalogue. I should put a list together and see how I go with a price for a complete package.

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines

Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

I've put down a deposit on a Yellow Tandem Island today.

The dealer at the Sydney Boatshow made me a pretty good offer but in the end I decided to go with my local dealer. Their package price for the TI and the accessories I wanted was competitive however the main thing was the convenience for warrentee work. I also like the idea of supporting them with my business as I'm sure I will want to buy parts from them in the future.

Delivery will be around the end of August - after my carport is finished - just in time for Spring!

Cheers

Brad

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines

Don't know what you plan to do to trailer, but reading your reason to get in a TI after going boatless <shudder!> for a while, one of the best "accessories" worth investing in, IMO, is a tandem kayak or canoe trailer customized with the cradles for your TI, and the fitted TI cover. The ease with which you get on and off the water is directly proportional to the number of times a busy person will actually enjoy the boat. I think the formula is something like (FUN / AVAILABLE TIME) x HASSLE FACTOR = RETURN ON BOAT INVESTMENT

We bought our 2013 TI used, and I looked at every sort of cheap used, jury-rigged trailer option before giving in and investing another $1200 for a custom trailer. But the ease of setting up on the trailer and pushing off at the launch ramp, then reversing when we come in eliminates the hassle factor exponentially -- which of course not only adds to our enjoyment but also encourages us to get out often. Michigan summers are short, so we take the opportunity for a sunset sail after work whenever we can. We back the trailer down the ramp and slide the boat right in, and simply do it in reverse when we're done. It slides right onto the cradles, well, like it was meant to be there.

We keep ours parked full time at our local Yacht Club, so when we can sneak in even only an hour or so to set up, sail, and stow. (We do bring the Mirage drives home every time, along with seats, paddles ... anything not fully stowed under the cover.)

I look forward to hearing how much you enjoy this boat. We've had ours a year, now. It's honestly been one of the most enjoyable investments we've ever made.

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........~ media1der ~........
............. Chris .............
2013 Hobie Tandem Island
--- Muskegon Yacht Club ---

Hi Chris

This is excellent advice, thanks. When I moved from light racing dinghies to my first ski boat about 15 years ago one of my neighbours gave me the same advice. He was an older guy who used to have his boat in the water about 3 times a week so he could fish off shore.

He told me I should be able to get the boat in the water without assistance and without fuss as this would promote marital harmony and encourage the the family to want to come boating with me.

Unfortunately my last trailer sailer did not meet this rule.

When I decided to buy a TI I started with the trailer. I had it virtually finished before I decided I should put the purchase on hold till my house renovation was complete.

I bought a Jetski trailer and lengthened it.




I've now had it galvanised and all I have to do now is assemble it and fit some PVC tube supports.

Cheers

Brad

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines

My new TI was delivered this morning!

Unfortunately the wind is blowing pretty hard and they have just released a severe weather warning for gusts up to 90 km/hr. It looks like it's going to blow hard all weekend too

I need to get my trailer cradles finished and cross my fingers that the weather improves!

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines

Woohoo!!!
Yeah, not a great day today Brad.
It would be good to catch up for a sail up your way sometime
Slaughter should be emerging from hibernation soon and may be keen as well.

Sounds like a plan. I'm pretty keen to get on the water.

Hopefully I should have my trailer sorted this weekend so will be able to meet up wherever you like.

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines

The new TI is on its trailer. Only a couple of jobs to do (like wiring the lights) before I can use it. It also needs a bow support and tube bunks.







The kayak on top is my girlfriends fishing kayak.

_________________
Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines