We are former powerboaters, we had a 24ft searay that cost a fortune in maint, storage, and fuel. After selling the boat as divers we started going on charter dives and renting boat, which also cost way too much, (a typical outing costs over a thousand). We started out with a big pile of single and tandem kayaks, all hobies with the sailing kits, (kayak sailing was always the most fun part for us). However we couldn’t use the small kayaks for offshore diving the coral reefs in the keys, (way too dangerous, (btw, the keys are really dangerous offshore), We also travel a lot with our camper in tow, so we couldn’t use a trailer becaus the camper uses the hitch, so we had to cartop most of the time. Also in key west there is no Free trailer parking, (parking anywhere costs a fortune). We needed a family boat capable as our only boat, that we could take around the country, ( car toppable) that was capable of carrying 5-6 people, (basically the family, or all on the trip). Of course we looked at H16, Windrider 17, and the WETA, all too heavy and not practical for car topping, plus rigging time on all 3 is pretty long. We ended up with Highly modified offshore capable TI’s, if your capable of designing and building all your own mods it ends up being very inexpensive. We ended up with around 600sqft of sail, outboards, and lots of hardening and safety gear To make the boat fast enough and offshore capable in pretty much any reasonable Offshore conditions, ( not crazy). We only ever went out in flat seas and typical winds under 7mph, (when diving visibility goes to zero when it’s windy and ruff). Pointer, if it takes more than an hour to get out 5-10 miles offshore, don’t bother going out, ain’t worth spending 5 hrs trying to get out there, Worse yet you absolutely have to have the capability to get back to the Very tiny island of key west No matter what happens quickly, ( lol next stop Cuba), especially with the typical offshore Winds and the fierce currents off key west. We had a blast with our TI’s and did everything we ever imagined and then some, (like nearly a quarter million road miles with camper in tow and kayaks on the roof over the years). Yea I’m a huge TI fan, nothing on the market that even comes close, lol and it’s way cheaper than all the choices listed above. But you kinda need to know what your doing, this forum is very helpful in that regard. FE
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