Changes in 2015 AI?

Owned an early AI, and loved it. Got in a relationship, so moved to a TI. Sail very often in blustery winds and/or chop (mostly lakes and Barnegat Bay), and I didn't like the TI in those conditions. Read much on this forum about, and also observed myself the slop in the aka main hull connections, problems with corrosion, etc. As a long time trimaran person, watching all three hulls move independently in the waves just seemed like a recipe for structural failure. Sail didn't seem to set up as well. Also heavier, harder to transport and launch.

So OK the girlfriend and her little one don't actually take to kayak sailing. I sell the TI and experiment with a Triak. Fast boat, tender, paddle only, spinnaker, poorly designed roller furling main, and lots of lines all over the place. Again, in winds that shift speed and/or direction too often, it's constant string pulling. And I really don't trust it to bang around on Barnegat in wind and waves. Easily capsized if you don't take great care. Whereas the older AI (with the older, simple, vertical pin only aka/mainhull connectors) was fast, fun, and trustworthy, if wet without the spray shields.

So I want to come back to an AI. I can get at this point (if I act quickly) either a 2014 or a 2015. I cannot find anywhere a careful statement of the differences. Yes the new seat seems worth it. But I would appreciate answers to the following questions (or links to sites or posts where the answers reside).

Does the 2015 weigh more than the 2014? Have the main hull or amas been redesigned?

Is the sail on the 2015 different (cut higher for instance to allow headroom on higher seat)?

Are people still having trouble with slop in the insert type aka/mainnull connectors and doing things like epoxying them?

I'll put haka benches on whatever I buy, so any 2014 vs 2015 differences that effect that?

Any other wisdom you more experienced folks might have about this?

I have a couple days to get an order placed that would come to Clews and Strawbridge in a full truck arriving early April. Thanks for any quick answers you can provide here. It's nice to be back on this forum again.

I can't speak much to most of those ?s except that I understand the sail to be the same as 2014. As for the play in the akas, there is some at the joints around the built in pin. If I can find ss sleevs that snugly fit around the larger pins, I "may" apply the same treatment I did to my old AI that had slop from ware. However my TI is brand new with a different design, so plan to sail it several time first, then decide if it really needs any thing like that done or not.

viewtopic.php?f=69&t=45381&hilit=aka+tune+up

Mike,
I think you must be reading a different forum... I have hardly read any posts complaining about slop in the crossbar/aka joint on those models using the newer crossbar/aka joints. On the other hand, there has been lots of discussion regarding the aka/ama joint, but may people have come up with double bungee solutions, and Hobie themselves have added second bungees on the 2015 AI. I believe the flexing of the three hulls (mostly allowed due to the use of bungee attachments) is not s threat to reliability.

I have a 2012 TI, and have never experienced any conditions it could not handle. Can you explain the situation you experienced more please?

I am unaware of any issues with corrosion other than with very early models which did not have anodised akas.

The 2015 AI has a higher mast, along with a higher cut foot of the sail. The sail IS bigger than the earlier ones

While the 2015 AI is only out there in reduced numbers so far, if you take the time to read a few mosre posts, all your questions will be answered.

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

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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

Thanks all, and especially Chekika.

OK, I get that it is a complete redesign. Read several pages of that post thread. Great job of detailing the comparisons. Only think I couldn't find, or else missed is--what are the comparative weights of the boats? How much more does the AI 2 weigh?

Unless I somehow can't car top it, or drag it on a dolly on soft sand, I want to go for the AI 2. Any thoughts about these??

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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

The AI2 does have a lot noteworthy upgrades over the older AI's. My take on most of the reviews for the new AI, is that it's more designed for sailing.

Personally I like the versatility of my pre-2015 AI. I use it more in kayak mode for fishing than in AI mode. I'm still able to car top, get into places a trailer couldn't, use parkways, etc. The '11-'14 models fit my needs, the addition of the larger AI,TI rudder on these models, makes a huge difference. With it, in kayak mode, the AI can maneuver like the Revo with the sailing rudder. Plus with the addition of the Haka benches, it truly is the most versatile one of my kayaks!


But to each his own! Good luck with your choice.

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Bob
Proud member Kayak Fishing Association of New York

Have decided to live with the need for a trailer and get a new AI 2. Should have it early April the dealer says... Eager to see it.... Thanks for the comments and pointers to other threads.

what's really cool is if the relationship ends, you still have an awesome craft that you can go out alone with.