Campaign to keep the TI handles ...add your name here

I got stuck last night and needed to car top Ti by myself. The handles helped me out.

The benefits far out weighed the negatives regarding handles imo, the AI is a rotomoulded peice of plastic not a slick carbon fibre or GRP racing machine. The AI is used for a bit of slow adventure sailing. Its a wet ride we all know that, we the customers realise this, I'm guessing most of us AI owners are the wrong side of 40 therefore any help loading , moving etc is most welcome. To take away the handles imo was a unwise move, I personally would prefer a factory fitted handle.

I have a Walkerbay RIB it has handles, I had a 17 ft glass boat with rails that acted as handles, my bro has a Perception kayak it has handles, I'm getting a Safari h20 Murray to kill the time until I get my AI it comes with handles

TBH I wouldn't even consider a TI if it had no handles, the weight of the thing requires all the help possible..

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

I have two AI's pre ordered and would really like to see handles on them.

I think we should organize a march on the Hobie factory to show our support for wanting the handles back. A thousand people marching on them with signs and chanting would show them we mean business.
Anonamous

Edit:
The plan would be to march on the factory early, I think five minutes would be long enough, we would then all the go to Dana point harbor and go sailing as a group, actually. If we promise to get rid of the stupid signs and stop chanting they may even give us a tour. Now we just need to come up with a cool chant. Hopefully Hobie will feel real bad and feed us, and maybe hand out hats and shirts.

Like I said, since it seems too late to change the molds, why not a compromise. Supply user installed handles with clearly marked installation points. Then let the user decide whether or not they want the handles. But don't make us pay for something that should be there and was there on previous models.

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island Hibiscus
"Third Normal Form"

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

Flash mob ?
Occupy Hobie ?

Buckaroo :
Lets not do the hands in the air thing, or the lay down inside the chalk outline thing, or the umbrella thing.

BTW I figured out who on the Hobie advisory committee nixed the AI/TI handles, it was Captain Hook......

Anonymous


Humor aside:
Actually I like TI_Tom's suggestion. There are probably some dealers who will put them on for you, before delivering the new boat if asked.

I couldn't think of a song with the word "Handle" in it for a flash mob anyway.

We should stop, this is starting to look like a filibuster thought it isn't stopping the progress (regress ? ) of anything.

I'm still not convinced that "the cons outweigh the pros" but maybe I missed something in the conversation.

I was musing to my wife this AM that when I worked in manufacturing as a Product Engineer; if I had told our sales/marketing department that we were removing something from the product that our "early adopter" (dedicated most enthusiastic customers) overwhelmingly wanted to remain, and couldn't put it back because the Mold had already been changed. They would tell me to march right back to Manufacturing and put in as many hours as necessary to both fix the original problem and maintain the feature while not affecting the ship date.

Thanks Bob, I like my local dealer but not enough to let them near my boat with a drill.

- C

So what's the chances of the 2016 model getting the handles back?

I was thinking of upgrading my 2011 TI, but after this handle removal debacles there is no chance now I will be buying the 2015 model year.

.

I'm inclined to agree with you, unless Matt can assure me the the 2016 model won't have handle either..

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

This would work for me

My local dealer refused to believe me when I told him yesterday that the new AI has no port or starboard handles, his words were Hobie go forward not back, he then tried to assure me handles will most probably have optional fixing screw holes, when I said nope he again refused to believe me even arguing the point lol. Hes going to be in for a shock

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

That sounds fair to me also

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

While staying somewhat non-negative I'd like to ask why THIS group - the loyal and likely buyers/upgraders of the new models was not polled HERE or in Email whether or not we would

1) Like to keep the handles
2) eliminate the handles
3) Keep the molding for the handles but leave them to be Owner-installed
4) Have them as a dealer-installed option

quite honestly, I don't remember there being any discussion.

I would not like to see Hobie make this same mistake moving foward with ANY of their fine products. We LIKE drinking your KoolAide

WE are the HOBIE TRIBE !! WE buy your products and (mostly) Love them ..

WE are the ones who tell tens or hundreds of future customers per year what GREAT product and SUPPORT Hobie provides us when we get asked 1,000 questions setting them up

... Please ask for and include our opinions and desires in future designs

Thanks
AnyNomeeMous

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Alan W.

Papaya AI2 to replace my well worn V1
TheTwins - His/Hers 2007 Papaya Hobie Adventure Island's (v1.00.01)
.. and a Hobie Outback SUV

Handles are gone.

You have crossbars, seat bars and carrying handles on the ends. The boat is slick without the protruding handles. Wait till you see it. There are all kinds of grab points. Best thing is there is no disrupted water flow and no fire hose to soak you down. WELL worth it. We feel pretty strongly about their removal, so adding for 2016 would only be considered well down that road... if they don't compromise the main function... sailing.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)