2015 AI

The new AI I sailed with, had the 159 KG on the decal.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Thanks for that Bob. Interesting. Maybe with the CE certification process it was simpler for Hobie to just run with the old specs?
BTW- I'm looking forward to your comparison between old/new as well!

Hhhmmmmmm. this one says 400lb/181.44kg.?????????

Also says, **Not available until the 4th quater of 2014**

Yeah right.

Wow, they also have them in stock!!!!!! They must have hired their own plane to get them over here. I wonder how they got them and Hobie Australia could not?

Coffs Outdoor World must be VERY clever.

http://www.coffsoutdoorworld.com.au/kay ... ating.html

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Thanks for that Keith. I think that settles the capacity issue ...definitely increased with the fuller hull and larger ama.
Hobie need to correct their website specs!

That is rather strange... Previously, the capacity of the AI was stated as the same for the Adventure, suggesting that capacity was for the main hull only, given that Hobie cannot control whether the amas are attached or not. (A similar scenario applies to the TI, whose capacity of 272kg appears to be that of the main hull only)

It sounds rather surprising to me that the new AI hull should have a capacity of 184kg compared to 159kg, just by slightly fuller bows...

I would like some input from Matt on these numbers

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

Isn't the 2015 a little longer as well?

I'm afraid the "capacity" issue for the AI 2 is not finished. Despite what my CE label says and the card that came with my AI 2 (Capacity* 400 lbs/181 kg). The * may be the catch. On the card, it says, "*Refer to Website for complete details." If you look at the Hobie Website for the AI 2, it shows the capacity of 350 lbs/159 kg. I don't think the Website is a mistake. Some of the specs match the AI (like capacity), others match the specs we have seen earlier for the AI 2. Here are the AI 2 specs taken from the Website today, Feb 15, 2015. I've annotated them to try and note where the specs of the AI 2 match the AI, and where the AI 2 specs are different.



The AI 2 hull is significantly larger than the AI. Volume-wise, it could take an extra 50 lbs. Some of these specs are hard and objective--like the length--others, like the capacity, have a subjective aspect. Clearly, it seems to me, Hobie is scaling back the "specified" capacity--for now. I don't have a problem with the 350 lbs capacity. The AI 2 is a much heavier boat than the AI. Keeping the load down will make it a bit easier to lug up/down beaches, but the higher volume should make it easier to load. It is a win-win situation.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Tony:
That is an interesting dilemma that Hobie has that you point out quite well. Ie... the fact that Hobie has no control whether people have the AMA's (and/or tramps) on or not, and since any specific boat is only allowed one CE plaque, the capacity plaque displayed on both the AI and the TI are both for the Kayak alone (without the AMA's or tramps(minimum configuration)).

Though clearly a TI can readily handle 3-4 adults (with the tramp option), even Hobies own literature often shows more than two people on board TI's, one of their pics on the web site has six people on board (in the background).

We have had as many as 6 people on our TI many times, 2-3 adults and several children). Of course my TI is not stock (I've done several mods to mine to make it more capable for offshore).
I have been checked out by the CG and local patrol a few times, I think their main concern is that the boat is not clearly overloaded (like 8 people in a 16 ft powerboat half submerged ( LOL), and they want to make sure everyone looks safe and has a PFD, and that we are not too far out in questionable conditions (3 ft waves way offshore, etc), otherwise they usually leave us alone. Thankfully it appears the CE plaque is only a guideline, at least around the SW FLorida and the Keys in our experience, I don't know about elsewhere.

Not sure what Hobie can do differently liability wise with the tramps, it appears to be just an un-written understanding that you can carry more people with the tramps, I'm not sure what else they could do.
Bob

Yes, Tom, the AI 2 is at least 6-7" longer. I have the 2 boats side by side. My AI 2 hull length--stern to bow--is very close to 16' 0" (rudder & rudder housing not included).

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Funny the length still being called 16 feet as the old AI's were called 16 feet and the new boat is definitely longer.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Only thing I can figure is that the AI's length included the rudder, an extra 6-7". In other words, starting with the AI 2, they have changed their way to measure the length. Don't ask me why, ask Matt Miller.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Keith,I look forward to you putting your new AI2 through it's paces. Mine is at least a couple more weeks away, and that doesn't count any additional problems with the port slow down.

I would be curious on your take on the weight difference as I didn't notice it when helping unload it from a truck rack. I wonder with the additional width and length, and probably firmer thicker hull bottom that "maybe" the extra weight will become a non-issue. Also, how much of a non-issue the missing side handles will be. Now that the boat is "in the wild", I haven't heard much complaining on ether issue we were concerned with on it's announcement.

Congratulations and enjoy your AI2!

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

As Bob said, good points Tony. I was forgetting the capacity relates to hull only. So it can only be the increased hull volume that accounts for the higher capacity.
We know the hull is fuller but is it really longer? I wonder what the difference between the two models is in the bow to stern (gudgeon) length? I'm a bit confused whether the 16' included the rudder?