The AI is perfect just as it is.

Now that I've had my AI for a while, I felt that it was time that I weigh in on some fears that I had about the boat due to reading these forums.

Don't get me wrong, these forums are great, and certainly helped me decide on which boat, and what features, but sometimes someone starts a thread, and we get some very passionate views expressed, and it leaves a new user to question whether these boats are flawed in some way. I want to address a few of those issues, and in doing so, I hope that no one takes it personally if I address an issue that you feel passionately about.

Issue #1 The Diving Hull
One of the things that was a HUGE topic on the boards when I received my boat was the "Diving Hull" It sounds like a really serious problem, I mean, Who wants a boat who's hull dives into the water?" After having experienced my boat for a while I've changed the wording on the term from the "Diving Hull", to the "Cutting Hull".

The hull on the boat isn't optimally designed to ride up and over waves. It's designed to cut through the waves. It's not a flaw, it's a design decision that makes the Kayak handle in a particular manner. From reading the forums, I had just assumed that Hobie screwed up on their design and us users were forced to live with this flaw. When that same hull is in full AI mode, it still cuts the waves creating a unique sailing experience. When the waves get larger, and the boat rides over and into waves at sailing speed, the hull can go into the waves, and it can slow you right down. Is this a flaw? Or is it a characteristic of the design? To me, it's just part of sailing a boat like this. If Hobie was to launch a second generation boat, should the Hull be designed differently? Perhaps. But if Hobie made a retrofit piece to keep my hull from cutting into waves as it does now (or as some would say, diving into larger waves) would I buy that piece? Well, personally, I wouldn't. I'm happy with the way it sails, and I find the characteristics of it's design to be part of the ride, and not problematic.

Issue #2 The Soft as Butter Hull.
Reading the forums, you see all kinds of posts of people worrying about their soft hulls. Nobody wants them to warp, everyone is afraid of them being so fragile. My experience tells me that these should not be looked at as fragile, soft hulls. They are tremendously durable in most situations. Do they need to be handled with care when out of the water, absolutely. Are they as fragile as some of these forum posts would make you believe. Not quite. Hobie recommends that you never store the boat on the beach wheels because it can damage the hull. The reality is that my dealer stored my demo boat like this for MONTHS and the boat is perfectly fine. Does that mean that I'll store the boat like this over long periods of time? No, but if I go sailing 3 times in a day when I'm camping, I'm not taking the AI apart and storing it on its side or upside down. It's sitting on the beach wheels for the day, and I'm not going to worry. I haven't had a problem yet, and I don't expect to have a problem in the future. (My wheels are modified with the tennis balls on the shaft as per other posts... don't know that this matters, as my dealer was storing the boat incorrectly on the HD cart without the tennis balls for so long)

So my advice to new users in this regard. Store your boat according to Hobie guidelines, but don't worry, these boats aren't known for how fragile they are, they're actually known for how tough they are.

Issue #3 Weight
So many users complain about the weight of the boat out of the water. Is it heavy? Sure. Is it that much heavier then a similarly designed rotomolded kayak? Not really. And with Hobie's available carts that simply slide into the scupper holes, they're quite easy to move around. Are they difficult to get onto the roof of some vehicles? They can be, but a quick search of the forum will give all kinds of hints on how to do this and what you find is that the weight really isn't a problem for a healthy average strength individual.

Issue #4 Speed, Handling, Fragile parts.
I'm a former kayaker who moved to an AI. A sailor asked me if the AI is fast... my answer, it really depends on how you compare it. Is it fast compared to a Hobie 16, no. Is it fast compared to an average single handed sailboat... It can be... sometimes it's faster, sometimes it's slower. Is it fast for a kayak? YOU BET IT IS!!! Is it fast enough to be a BLAST to ride? ABSOLUTELY.

Occasionally I've had fears of the boat tipping, failing, or pieces breaking off. I've also had concerns about weatherhelm, and the way the winds can "ruin" the handling. In enough wind, does the boat experience weatherhelm? yup, but does that take away from the fun? nope!

My fears with tipping (which were not true fears, but were concerns raised from reading the forums) were based on people describing that it could be really hard to get this boat over. I think some people buy the boat because they don't ever want to end up "in the drink". To me, if you're sailing a small boat, part of the experience is being prepared to end up in the water. My solution, dress according to the conditions, and know what to do in case of an emergency. I've seen some video's on YouTube showing how easy it is to right the AI, and I have NO worries that if an Aka was to collapse and I went over, that I'd have no trouble righting the boat.

Speaking of Aka's collapsing. You hear of issues with akas collapsing, and rudder pins breaking, and all kinds of bad things happening. The new rudder pin seems to be pretty strong. Is it important to have a back up? Sure, why not. Will you need that rudder pin, not likely! I've sailed in some varied conditions, and I've never worried about it. The boat is strong. Aka's don't just collapse for no reason, and if they do, you've either missed an important step of ownership involving inspecting your boat regularly, or you've hit something solid, VERY solid. It's not worth worrying about.

So that's my LONG winded take on some of my fears that were created in these forums. I love these forums, and think they're an excellent source of information. But I just think that as members of these forums, we have to keep in mind that many new users browse these forums long before joining them, and it's important that information is accurate. We tend to gather in threads to discuss improvements to our AI's in ways that make the boats sound incomplete, or inferior. As a new user, that's just not the case, these boats are great! They're incredibly well designed and very capable, safe boats.

So I hope new users read this thread in addition to all of the ones where people debate various issues in strong language, and I hope this thread helps.

One more note about colour... (and we all know which one is faster!) I own a red AI, and it's not that I don't like the yellow AI, it's that blue-ish colour on the sails of the yellow boats that really turns me off. I'll take the gray section of sail on my red AI any day!

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Well said! (even if you do sail a red AI)

We've all got to remember, this is the place where all the problems are discussed, but the majority of AI sailors may never see many (or any) of them. But it does us well, especially us users who sail farther from shore or easy landing spots to be aware of what could happen, and be prepared. I carry a LOT of tools, parts and self-rescue gear in hopes I never have to use them.

Be safe, and enjoy.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Guy’s Even Hobie knows that the yellow TI is Faster!!!!

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“Remember life is short- eat dessert first.”
The world is 70% water – So that means we should spend 70% more time sailing than mowing lawns!
Larry

X2 on ALL of what augaug said, especially the diving hull part. Well not all, he has the misfortune of the Red. Chicks dig the yellow and it is a quicker in the water due to the way the electrons in the water react with the yellow and the blue catches more wind molecules.

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http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

Well said, Augaug.

I love the simplicity of the boat--that is the main reason I and my wife each have one. I have not bought tramps (yet), and I don't have Kayaking Bob's great spray shields. I will never have a jib, because it will interfer with the way I use the boat.

I do think in the 2nd iteration of the AI, that simple modifications could be made (like on the Tandem, like slightly upturned ama tips) to reduce ama/hull diving without sacrificing performance.

But, above all--and Hobie clearly understands this--keep the boat simple. That is its big appeal.

There is no doubt that the AI is a tough little boat.

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

Wow, the dealers must really have a tough time moving the yellow boats to have to feed you these kinds of stories just to get you to buy those ugly blue sails! Hobie has obviously recognized this with their marketing pictures and tried to enhance the myth that the yellow is faster by placing it in front in their ads.

But on a serious note... does anyone actually like that blue colour on the yellow sails? I haven't met anyone who actually likes it. Maybe the yellow owners are neutral to it, but it's one of the big factors that kept me from considering a yellow boat.

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Seriously! I love the blue on yellow sails. I love the yellow because it is easier to see on the water. I'm not a serious sailor, so everyone beats me on the water--what can I say.

Hey, we are all different. We sail in different waters and with different goals. It is great.

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

I would not have bought it if I did'nt like it. To me its much more relaxing than the red/gray sail.

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“Remember life is short- eat dessert first.”
The world is 70% water – So that means we should spend 70% more time sailing than mowing lawns!
Larry

My trusty and trouble free red (very fast) 08 AI has yet let me down.

To be sure, I normally am a fair weather sailor, but for the few unexpected times that I was caught on open water in a squall, with white caps and rolling seas, with waves hitting my chest and face -- the AI got me safely home.

I value the forum reports of the intrepid AI sailors (test pilots) who drive the craft to its limits, and sometimes beyond, for it reinforces my confidence in the seaworthiness of the craft, as I customarily sail.

For any “beginner” contemplating owning and sailing an AI, in my opinion, you will have a safe and sturdy sea worthy craft, requiring the minimum of routine maintenance to continue to keep it safe and reliable.

Actually, from a distance here in Hawaii, the blue in the sails with the yellow on one side and the white on the other is the first thing you see when looking for the boats, and the yellow boats are easier to see at a distance then the red. See the 3 yellow AI's in the picture below:

Did you also see the read AI on the left?

(Both sail just as well, but don't tell the red owners, it will just go to their head!)

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

When Matt held a survey, 56% of respondents preferred Dune, 17% preferred yellow and only 6% preferred red, so yellow is about three times as popular as red (probably the chick-magnet factor).
I love the blue sail.
viewtopic.php?f=71&t=15955&p=90079&hilit=color#p90079

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If I were to buy another TI it would be the red one. Then I could mix and match and make all kinds of interesting combos. Red hull, yellow AKAs, yellow hull, red sail etc... LOL.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

All kidding aside, it was the color contrast for me. The yellow is a saftey factor plain and simple like Bob said,,,(hey Bob, great skirts,,chicks dig it too). The blue contrast is just a beachy carribean look factor and I love it. The last factor was the fade. The red while brand new looks like it belongs in the Indy 500, has an increased fade to pinkish look.

I date only super models types. They all are hands down on the yellow. My bud has a red and we frequently do beach landings on a remote beach that is topless. They alway head for my yellow and ask for a ride. Course it could just be that I'm better looking and have converted my Hobie Livewell to a beer cooler,,,I don't know, You make the call. Pictures to follow.

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http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

I agree the AI is the best boat I ever owned I have been out in all kind of conditions and never fail unsafe or worry about tipping it so stable even in stong wind, one day I realized I forgott to put the centerboard down it kept me right side up , If my motorboat could talk she probably said she is getting neglected since the AI arrive home this year and yes yellow is faster.

Um,..Dood! The RED one still has its sail furled! I see he was giving you the customary "head start".

Here Bob, I took the liberty. Is this how things appear in your dreams?

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The Wind Is Your Friend...