trampolines

Does anyone use the trampolines to hike out on? I weigh 190lbs and broke one of the buckles when I pushed down on the tramp getting back in. Seems like in rough conditions I would end up in the water with the boat sailing off without me.

If you are worried, wear a surfboard leash when sailing alone or in rougher conditions. Just remember to remove when launching/landing.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

I weigh 93 kg (about 200lb I think) and have just spent today lolling around on a tramp while my partner sailed my AI.

But....because the buckles are plastic they're something I'd keep an eye on and replace if I suspected they were getting brittle. Maybe a seasonal (or 2) thing ?

Maybe someone who's used their AI a few years might have better advice about the longevity of the plastic buckles in the sun/marine environment.

The tramps are also something I'd be careful about weight distribution.

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

I just bought the tramps for my new TI with the hope of being able to hike out on when sailing by myself. I'm only 140 lbs so hope I won't stress the buckles. But I would like to hear others experiences hiking out - how do you control the steering? Is there a tiller extension for the TI. Hobie says the steering levers are tiller extension ready but I couldn't find the tiller extensions on their web site. Somebody may have built their own extensions for hiking out.

Bob

Clew, I have some non-standard tramps which came with lousy buckles. I replaced them initially with cam buckles which were very strong and secure. I have since fitted plastic buckles like the Hobie ones but have never felt they were as secure. Your breaking a buckle is making me think I should follow my instincts and go back to cam buckles.


Bob, I've been using this arrangement for a tiller extension for some time now and I've found it to be effective.

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I have been using the AI tramps every time I go out since I got them in May 2009. I have had one buckle pop loose in all of that time. Just clicked it back together good as new.
I hike out on them when the wind picks up and the leeward ama wants to submerge and take the Wife out for a leisurely sail and use them for a swimming platform when anchored in a waterway. They are just the bees knees......except for one thing.... they are rubbing all the paint off of the aka brace and Aka in some places. This adds to to the paint coming off of metals due to corrosion. I guess winter will be finding a suitable Paint for these parts. Is there a Hobie recommended Paint?

But despite that I love the Tramps and wouldn't part with them.

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2010 Hibiscus Adventure Island

Chrisj,

Good idea, using the landing net handle. I'll try to adapt one to the new TI steering handle which has a female screw thread which might take a threaded brass eye.

Thanks,
Bob

Nice setup Chris has there.

Any ole wood or alum pole or fiberglass rod will work for the Hiking Stick. In fact, a real a hiking stick is perfect for the job! A collapsable one works best. You do not need much length at all, 2ft or so will do it unless you also sit on the rear deck when you sail. Why?

On the port tramp you can reach the tiller yourself. On the starboard, just enough pole to reach across the hull will do it. If you use a boat hook or other long pole it's going to really get in the way as you slide from side to side. It will be hard to slip under the sail and sheet line if it's too long and you will have more trouble keeping it out of your way when seated normally. You want it to be "invisible" to you when it's not in use.

Figure out a "collapsed" length that is just long enough to swing the stick around the tiller handle and it won't hit or catch on any part of the cockpit, sail or seat. That's a good size to start with. If you can extend it once or twice from there, then it will work anywhere on the boat.

Again, a 2-3 piece hiking stick is a good choice. I use mine ALL the time to hike hills though, so I found an expandable 16-30" windshield squeegee on sale and adapted that as my tiller arm.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

I was going to mention the paint issue too. There is no way to avoid it but to wrap those Aka points in electrical tape or such, and this may lead to corrosion underneath anyway.

I found an interesting product called "RESCUE TAPE" that is a glueless, self-fusing repair tape that forms a 700 psi watertight seal when wrapped on itself. Picture electricians tape without any adhesive. When it contacts itself it forms an instant "heatshrink" type insulation around anything. It's impervious to chemicals and heat and insulates to 8,000 volts as well. Comes in black and a few tasty colors.

RESCUE TAPE could easily be used to cushion and protect the Akas or to wrap lines, or seal knots and attachment points like those on KBob's spray skirt.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Sitting over the rear deck is great when sailing dead downwind with lots of wind waves. It lifts the bow and prevents submarining.
I've also got a telescoping boat hook, which makes a passable alternative as a tiller extension, but can still be a little intrusive, as you say.

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Unless you need to prod something , or pull alongside a dock or other boat, or use as a boom for downwind runs. Then it is perfect!

I chose to go with a low profile approach where the collapsed stick is always attached to the tiller (even launching and landing) but lays flat under my arm when not in use (which is most of the time).

BTW, I am testing out the wild aircraft carrier rear deck that my friend made. You can see he added a long tiller arm. You get a sense from this pict how many places a long tiller can eventually get hung up if you are not used to using one. Once you add poles, electronics, drinks and other things to your hull, there is more stuff for it to bump into.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Yeah, I carry it for all the above uses, especially to use as a boom. I find I don't even need to attach it to the sail - just push where the mainsheet attaches to the clew of the sail. That's also easier when sitting above the rear deck.
With my regular tiller extension, which I keep attached, I find it best to lay it facing forward along the gunwale when not in use. That stops it tangling with anything else in the boat.
I'll be interested to hear how you find the carrier deck. It looks a little bulky. Is it much better than just perching out on the aka (apart from the numb bum aspect)?

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It's not as heavy as it looks and floats if needed. But the profile could be cut back some and 1/2" ply would work in that case. It all depends on the size of your bum.

And what else you want to do on the boat. Notice how he left access to the rear storage for a cooler? He has adjustable scotty rod holder on the deck not too. Not pictured here.

As far as function, It does quite a job of pulling the nose/Amas up. The classic sailing position is great and looks impressive too. Hiking out (deck or tramps) requires more wind than the cockpit position. It seems to make tacking more challenging too. But in cruise or fishing mode with plenty of sail, it is just right. Best on a downwind or beam reach. Not so much into the wind.

You sit higher with no real leverage, so you need to watch out in waves (falling off the back) so a safety leash is important.

I am looking at a low profile solution that will allow me to hike around unimpeded from tramp to tail to tramp. Testing is still in progress. So far, my bum is happy with it.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Wow, NOHOHO, that picture! Why do you need tramps with all that flat area? Lots of potential there.

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 really don't need all that area. Got tramps and a skinny bum.

Plan on adapting the design, cutting back on the depth and maybe extending the seat forward over the Akas a little more.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...