TI or AI?

I am going to our Melbourne Boat Show Friday and hoping to pick up a bargain with either the TI or the AI.

I have a family (wife and daughter), that I would like to take out.

I think that I will also be taking it out quite a bit myself.

Those who have a TI do you think it is manageable on your own (setting up - not sailing)

_________________
Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

Paul,
Roadrunner has posted some great techniques here:
viewtopic.php?f=71&t=22849
I solo set up our TI by partly sliding it off the trailer and clipping the cart in. Once on the cart setting it up is easier than the AI. The new aka locks are simpler and much quicker and the balance point is better than the AI with virtually no weight at the bow. It is very easy to cart to the water!

That's my dilemma also Paul/Rebecca.

There's quite a few threads and posts which comment on single handed sailing of the TI if you can wade through the board.

I'm leaning towards the AI for the simple reason of ease of carry/launch/sail and if needed for a companion I'll get a second AI rather than a TI.

I figure I'm going to be sailing it by myself most of the time so that's what's swayed me towards the AI. I really want a Kayak I can throw on top of the car and drag it down to the beach (dragging it up the dune is the decider). I think the TI is just going to be too much of a handful if I want to go out by myself.

Anyway, I'll be interested in any comments.

_________________
Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

Piece of cake single-handed - either setting up or under way.

_________________
Mitch

2010 Tandem Island
2010 Revolution
Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

My sailing blog
Our sailing videos

You ask a very good question. I had an AI for two years before getting a TI this month. I'm 68, and in good shape. I could handle the AI on land by myself with no trouble. The TI is a lot harder to deal with on land. It's much bulkier to move when you need to lift it from storage onto the cart. It is also significantly heavier to pull around on its cart. So think about your likely launching sites. Steep ramps or soft sand will be a lot harder with a TI. If you think you will be single handing most of the time, the AI might be the better bet. On the other hand, the TI is the only way to go if you want to share the fun, so if single handing won't be quite as important, go with the TI.

PBurling

As long as you don't have to lift it (over your head) or roll it UP a steep boat ramp, the TI is just as easy to maneuver on land, as the AI. And except for high winds (+20kt) just about as easy to control on the water, solo.

_________________

Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

I ordered a TI and have never sailed an AI and will also likely sail mostly solo. Why did I make this decision? Perhaps my reasoning will help you.

1. Reading this forum for several months helped me to understand the strengths and weaknesses of both the AI and the TI. It seems like the TI is designed for sailing, while the AI was first a kayak that had innovations added to it to turn it into a sailing platform. In engineering the TI, Hobie had years of real world feedback from AI owners to apply to the design of the TI. I hear that many/most of the items on the wish list of AI owners were met with the TI.

2. For those times when a family member or friend may want to come along I wanted to be able to accommodate them. So, I almost purchased 2 AI's before I heard about the TI. What held me back was that I may have people interested in going that don't know how to sail and it would be difficult to instruct them on a separate boat. Then I heard about the TI coming. So, I held off. The TI is a great platform for teaching someone else to sail due to the ability to control the rudder and sheet from either position and have the ability to switch control between positions fairly easily.

3. Now that the TI has been reviewed by many well informed/knowledgeable people on this forum, it is clear to me that the TI works very well single handed as both a sailing platform or as a kayak.

4. One downside to the TI is its newness and all of the bugs have not been worked out, while the AI is a seasoned platform with years of modifications and improvements. Because the TI is a Hobie, I am confident that the same will hold true for the TI as Hobie listens to the feedback from customers and works their engineering and customer service magic.

5. I like to be on the cutting edge and own the latest and greatest.

I hope this helps.

_________________
Mark
2010 Tandem Island
2010 Adventure
Hobie Cat 14T
Home built sailboat (in progress)

Edmond, OK

The TI vs AI—some thoughts.

The TI is obviously the hot boat on the block. That is a given. Pelican, in the recent Ultimate Florida Challenge (1200 mile race around Florida), used one. But, he did not stop for supplies for 2-3 weeks at a time. So, for extended, solo camping trips (weeks!), the TI would be useful. Also, if you have a wife or girlfriend who absolutely has no interest in doing her own thing, or your son/daughter/grand kid is too small to handle their own AI, then the TI makes sense.

If you are thinking of using a TI so you can carry more gear on camping trips, you should think long and hard about that. The boat is already significantly heavier than an AI. If you pack it w/ a lot of camping gear, it is going to be a real load landing/launching it.

If you want a TI because it is faster than an AI, I don’t think the facts are in on that stat. The speed difference may not be significant. Kayaking Bob needs to do some research for us.

If you think you might want to use the boat in a kayak mode for fishing, the AI is probably the better choice.

The AI is a very versatile, solo boat. It is tough. It has the kinks worked out—more or less. It is easy to pack enough gear and water for a week to 10-day camping trip. And you don’t have to take a body building course or be a kid (anyone under 55 yrs) to move it around.

I know it is hard for us guys to think about what our wife (or future wife) might want. But, just ask them. If they think they might want to sail their own boat in the future (and that future is likely sooner than later), 2 AIs might be the better choice.

Keith

_________________
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 agree with what's been written above. Part of me would really like a TI but I know most of my sailing is solo and I'd have difficulty getting it stored at home and I know the AI fully kitted can just be pulled up the ramp at the sailing club at low tide when the "ramp slime" is at a maximum. Pretty sure I'd need 2 people for a TI. I hear they have a few members lined up for TI's there. Be interesting to see how they go.

_________________

I'd be concerned about Kayaking Bob's reservations about handling the TI in > 20 knot winds. We all agree it's better to stay home in 30+ knots, but there is some seriously fun sailing to be done in 20-25 knots. I'll be interested in Bob's ongoing impressions, given that he often sails in quite high wind conditions.
Also, as Keith points out, a TI is not the only alternative for going out with someone else. Two AI's (for dedicated sailing couples) or one AI with tramps (for occasional passengers) are viable alternatives.

_________________

Hi Paul. As you would expect there are may different opinions suiting many different situations. I also have a wife and daughter ( and son ) and although I would love them to come out to experience what we do, I deep down know that investing in a TI would be a waste of money. They all like to do their own thing which is great.

Another option for you may be to buy an AI and then later, if your wife or daughter get the bug, buy a second hand AI.

I guarantee whatever one you chose, you will love it.

_________________


Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Thanks all for your comments. I have been reading this forum for some time and I have the same feelings. I like the TI as it seems to be a sailing 'beast'. Even if I had my family, I would be doing all the work (don't tell my wife).

I think I will go the TI on Friday. Will let you all know how I went, and when I can expect delivery.

_________________
Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

We have a AI and I rigged two of those padded folding canoe seats one on each side on the tramps so I can take a passenger it's quite comffy and give you almost a dry ride , I used them for hiking when I go alone using a tiler extension siting near the back aka, it's a blast. What ever you decide you can't go wrong with either boat.
Happy sailing
Dan

Regarding purchase and deliverly, I ordered my TI on 5/23/10 and paid half down and was told the boat would arrive by the end of June. Now, my dealer can't seem to tell me when to expect delivery. So, I'm watching the summary go by and have no expected delivery date. You may have better luck being in FL. They probably ship a lot more boats to FL than to OK.

_________________
Mark
2010 Tandem Island
2010 Adventure
Hobie Cat 14T
Home built sailboat (in progress)

Edmond, OK

Have you any pics I can see?

_________________
Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie