Will these upgrades be found on 2015 TI & AI?

The TI usually is the model that introduces design changes. One hopes they are saving a punch for this important update.

Maybe we'll see a jib option engineered in. Or a bigger/badder tri. (Better not forget the handles this time @ ~230lb).

I'm a little dismayed the haven't included a skid plate in these 2015 molds.

I agree with Fusioneng that Hobie has brought the AI up to the TI level (at the cost to the AI of 25# plus additional weight.) It seems to me that the "upgrade" to the TI will be a jib or something of the sort. To increase the size and weight of the TI (proportional to the AI increase) will take the TI out of the weight-range of many people. That would be unfortunate.

For me, I'm hoping that Hobie will bring out a sufficiently enticing TI in December, so that some used 2013-14 TIs will be available at a reasonable price to use in western freshwater lakes. I only need one.

Speaking of jibs, I expect a jib will be available for the AI next year, or even by Dec 2015. Bulking up the AI in the bow to handle a jib would explain some of the large weight increase on the 2015 AI.

Keith

_________________
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

Not sure whether to read anything into this or not but ...in the standard features description for each kayak the TI no longer has a + sign over the side handles that opens a pop up describing its features.
All other updated models with the exception of the AI have retained the handles.

Thats true to a point, but I also found water spraying up my arm sleeves to be a royal PITA. It didn't just funnel water into the seat well, at times it funneled it over the user. I agree that fixing the funneling issue would have been a good idea, but removing those handles completely doesn't bother me one little bit. I don't clean & jerk the entire hull over my head and only ever use them to tip the kayak on its side, and webbing handles will perform this function perfectly.

As for the lack of Vantage seating in the TI, this is what Hobie Australasia had to say about changes to the TI:

Tandem Island: We have carried over the family look by updating the main hull and amas with the same fresh reverse-angle bow look as on the new Adventure Island.
Elevated Seating: the Vantage CT Seat will add more comfort and dryness to an already stellar experience.
Lowrance-Ready Built-in Transducer Mount has been added to the Tandem Island also.

So unless that info is incorrect, I'd say that the TI page just hasn't been updated yet. Close inspection of the other models shows that a lot of the specs haven't been updated yet, even though the images have. The new kayak catalogue also shows old images of the AI, but the website shows new. I suspect marketing material just hasn't fully caught up with the full amount of additions and changes

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Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au

Actually, AI owners might miss the handles more. They tend to solo car top (flipping the hull) and tilt the hull often to insert the scupper carts, and to clean and maintain the hull. All of those moves require soft, secure grips to do safely.

TI owners likely use a trailer (and love them). But God help those who don't, when the new, heavier TI arrives without grips.

Thanks for the heads up, Josh.

Agreed Nohuhu.


I agree Josh that water splashing up from the handle was a problem, but getting rid of the handles is a backward step and major inconvenience.
Aside from using them to turn the hull over they are:
-great to grab when pedalling hard to improve performance
-indispensable for hiking out when sailing the AI in kayak mode
-great to hold onto when conditions get rough
-indispensable for retrieving the TI onto a dolly cart. My wife and I had perfected an easy in water recovery by each grabbing a rear handle and lifting slightly to slide a dolly cart under using the cart straps.
I fitted webbing handles to our old Tandem (Oasis) and though they improved handling, the stiffer, padded,ergonomic, integrated handles were much better.

Thanks for the 'official' confirmation (dealer update???) that the TI is indeed getting the same improvements as the AI. Looks like there will not be an increase in sail area, hull length etc. The TI was already pushing the limits with regard to mast bracing ( as the higher numbers of gear failure compared to the AI prove).
The seat change/Venturi scupper is very welcome and it will be interesting to see what difference the reverse bow makes.

I know Hobie's lips were sealed before 1/9/14 but it would be great to get the official word on all model changes ASAP!

As a future owner of a 20I5 TI I concur wholeheartedly!

Stringy, all those issues you raise are easily countered by adding a webbing handle and you have the added benefit of putting them precisely where you think you need them. This is all you need:

Along with some good stainless hardware, including big backing washers to accommodate.

_________________
Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au

I second Mark the Shark.

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island Hibiscus
"Third Normal Form"

• Trampolines
• Hobie cover
• Davis Spar Fly
• Kayakbob's Sprayskirts
• Spine Board Hakas

Dear all,
I am tryng to better understand the differencies between the new and the old AI hull.

I overlapped the two images and this is the result:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-N6ED ... sp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-N6ED ... sp=sharing

I hope it can help the discussion.
I tried to do my best to resize both hulls in the right proportions, if you find some mistake please let me know.

Bye

_________________
Biagio

I suspect you are in a no-win situation there, if the 0215 image is a photoshop as has been suggested. Better to wait until the real thing is available IMO

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

I am aware it is just an exercise, and maybe the overlapping is totally wrong, but I can't stop my mind to think about it .

It looks that the distance between the 2 akas has been reduced, does anybody know the new distance?

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Biagio

Exercise #2, TI-2015 vs AI-2015
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-N6E ... authuser=0
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-N6E ... authuser=0

Bye

_________________
Biagio

Can anyone see Blasius's pics? I can't.




Yes thanks for that Josh. I do have a couple of those leftover from previous kayak upgrades.
Never thought I'd have to use them again.

I would have much rather Hobie kept the handles but when the redesigned handle failed they designed a plug like that used in the AI daggerboard slot to stop the water when underway.

I can't.

Keith

_________________
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