Xtra passenger in the rear...

I was reading up on here about people adding a seat in the rear cargo area and carrying an extra person. I have another comfy seat from another kayak that I can try to strap in place for my fiancé. With me at 170 and her at no more than 110 I know we aren't maxing out the weight cap. My only concern is this...I know the rear is gonna sit lower now with her on board, but how much lower are we talking here? Will it be enough to fill the cargo area or will that stay dry minus the splash? I'd hate to think I'd be trying to sail with half my AI under water. A set of aftermarket tramps came with the boat when I bought it, but they aren't as sturdy as hobie's so I wouldn't trust her out on them (although this may be a good time to test them out right?)

Thanks in advance for the input!

You can expect a little water sloshing in from time to time -- shouldn't hurt a thing. For her comfort, you can mount her seat on a raised foam block or whatever you have. Here's a quick and comfy elevation from one of those interlocking floor mats:

It will work fine, but you will take on more water in the hull. Just carry a hand pump (~$20) Best with less chop and waves.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

If this is a "long term" relationship, she will be safer and more comfortable on a set of tramps.

Till she gets her own AI, of course.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

She had her own AI for over 2 year and if we let her get in the lead, she kicked our butts (We couldn't catch her). Sadly, health conditions don't allow her to sail solo anymore. She did try on the tramps on an AI, but even her light weight slowed down the AI dramatically by pushing the ama further into the water. This winter I hope they will be using my TI.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

I (93kg/200lb) sailed last weekend with my tall daughter (about 70kg/150lb) on my AI in light winds with a few gusts out in the ocean. She was on the tramps on the way out and we swapped on the way back.

My delicate frame had my rear end in the choppy water a fair bit (no need for comfort stops ) but I suspect that was mostly from a loose port tramp which she fitted when rigging.

I loved it, lying on my back (head first) looking up at the sky. It was also an easy beaching through the surf as I was able to get off easily in the shallows between waves to 'walk' the boat in from the rear as the waves went through us.

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

This wouldn't be a permenant solution by any means. Just a way to get her out on the water having a little fun with me. I'm an avid lurker here on the forums and have been eyeing the Tandem Island for a while now. I just can't bring myself to make a purchase seeing so many with issues. I'm hoping that Hobie fixes these issues and soon so that I can convince her that a TI is a great idea!!!

Any advice on a loading and unloading of passengers this way?

Not permanent? Her or the boat??

Ohhhh,.. I get it! She's a keeper, but you want to still have your "alone time" on the boat.

In that case, you want option "A".
Stuff some noodles and PFDs in the stern and throw her back there with the cooler. Tell her to hang on tight. If she does not complain about the hard, wet ride or facing backwards, you will need to up your game. Pass her to handpump when the hull starts filling with water and be sure to make a crack about her weight. (You'll only need to do this once, BTW).

Or if she's fearless and athletic, there's always option "B"
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTJPq4DGhJQ[/youtube]
This might keep her interested for awhile.

But if you want her to savor sailing as much as you do and are willing to let her drive - get the tramps. (Option "C"). It will make her day. I'm sure she's beautiful as well, and would make a stunning hood ornament out there. (As a plus, the boat will sail better too).

Fast forward one year; if all goes well, (on the water and at home) then a TI would make a great anniversary present (ask Mitch and Cindy). Hobie will have their kinks worked out by then too.

Please note: this is "marital" advice I'm giving now, not "maritime" advice, which I have far less of!

Best wishes to you both.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Mate, there are a lot of TIs out there without issues as well. Like you, I haunted the forums for some time before I got my TI, so I was prepared for the possibility of a problem, but it didn't put me off buying it. And now I'm having a blast on the TI, with or without a deckhand!

See if your Hobie dealer can organise a test sail on a TI for you and your fiancé - once she experiences the extra space, comfort and stability, she may well place the order herself!

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Cheers, Max ● TI: the "Yella Terra" ● Website: www.MadYakker.com ● YouTube: madyakkermax

NOHUHU: Nice video!

Awesome yeah? Just one of our casual Hawaiian Club Sundays.

Gnarly waves and wind that day. One boat blew up a drive, chain and all. (That's me popping wheelies on the other AI.)

I bring this up because, putting someone on the back of your "one-man" boat is a calculated risk. Going out, you may have some bucolic scene in mind, but conditions change quickly, rudders pop, water seeps, etc.

These folks knew what they were doing out there and had a good time riding 2-up. But for comfort, control and safety, Hobie's tramps are still the way to go.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

First up: Awesome vid, NOHUHU! Looks like they were having a blast!

Second: Even with all the TI rudder issues being reported here on the Hobie forum, I've been hearing separately from my local dealer that the TI problems coming back to them for servicing are about 5 out of the 60+ that they've sold. So either there are a lot of people having problems and not reporting them (slim chance, especially with a new yak that costs as much as the TI does), or most of the problem units are the ones being reported here on the forum (this is more likely, with a few non-reported outliers as indicated earlier on a couple of other threads).

Third: We bought the TI even knowing about the rudder issues, because we knew we would love it and have a blast playing with it. And we are - just watch any of the many TI vids Cindy has been posting since mid-June when we took delivery. As the issues have presented themselves, we've come up with some solutions of our own and read of others by members here - and we go out better prepared the *very next weekend*. In fact, Cindy is so addicted to sailing now that she's wanting to sail in higher and higher winds for the adrenaline rush - gliding along in 5 knot winds just doesn't cut it for her any longer (she'll still sail in them, but she mutters about not being able to fly a rail and sitting in horizontal spray having fun.)

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Mitch

2010 Tandem Island
2010 Revolution
Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

My sailing blog
Our sailing videos

Hey Mitch, way to go! My wife Sandy is way more comfortable on her horse - whereas I can't figure out where the accelerator and brake pedals are!

But one day, I hope to get her as enthused about a wild run on the TI, with spray flying at 10 knots, as Cindy obviously is!

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Cheers, Max ● TI: the "Yella Terra" ● Website: www.MadYakker.com ● YouTube: madyakkermax

Excellent video NOHUHU and nice choice of music.

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

It was pure accident on my part! Cindy skippered on a small catamaran in her youth, liked it okay but never really grabbed her attention. She hasn't wanted to have anything to do with boats, yaks, canoes and the like since then... until last year. Now it's all she can think about during the work week!

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Mitch

2010 Tandem Island
2010 Revolution
Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

My sailing blog
Our sailing videos