Upgrade Oasis 2011 with AI sail package?

Hi!

have the Oasis 2011 Tandem and love it! Am now considering to use it for sailing too and am wondering if it is possible to purchase the AI sailing kit (the Amahs and the bigger sails) and install it on the Oasis...

One problem may be that the "hole" for the sail in the Oasis may be too small to fit the AI sail but there may be an adaptor or someting to solve this problem?

What do you think? Will it be safe to upgrade the Oasis to a fast sailing machine?

Peace
Serbi

Sorry to be the one to tell you but, the AI/TI sail and AMA's will not fit on an Oasis. However you can purchase a standard hobie sail, and it works just fine. I bought an Oasis in 2007 and had many great times kayaking and sailing with it (way over 500 miles), we also have a Revolution. Back in May 2010 I traded in my Oasis for a Tandem Island ( only a little longer (3 feet) and a little heavier (about 15 lbs without AMA's and sail) than the Oasis. I didn't really notice a big difference between the two loading and unloading on top of my car, which I always do myself with no help and I'm not a big guy. If it were me I would just get the standard Hobie sail (about $300 or so) and use it for a while (you will love it), then in a couple years trade the Oasis in for a Tandem Island which is also a two seater, but you can easily carry 4 people with the tramps on the TI. (Hobies hold their value very well, and used ones are hard to find since everyone loves them). For more stability on the OASIS you can add the Sidekick AMA option, which is inflatable AMA's that mount to the Oasis, they are only around $110 dollars or so, and they do work.
Bob
2007 Revolution
2010 Tandem Island

Thanks for the feedback Bob. I initially thought it may be possible to upgrade the Oasis to an "oasis island" because - as you mentioned - both kayaks are of similar built...

Anyhow - just ordered the normal sail kit and look forward to try to sail the Oasis the normal way.

Am curious though about the sailing performance with a relatively small sail on a kayak which has not been really built for sailing.

- how is the risk to flipp over?
- can you go upwind?
- can u safely achieve a decent speed via sailing only or do you need to pedal all
the time while under sail?

Will find out soon by myself but would be great to get some first hand feedback from my fellow hobie kayak sailors.

Peace
Serbi

Serbi:
My wife and I are Kayakers first and sailers second. We love to kayak up rivers (like the Santa Fe river in northern Florida where there are lots of crystal clear springs, when we are up north (usually during the summers) we go out on lakes and rivers. We are also campers (not tent camping though, I like air conditioning especially in Florida) and Scuba divers. We bought our Oasis back in 2007 and used it heavily year round until May 2010 when I bought the Tandem Island. Without AMA's or a keel weight there is alot of risk of flipping, but my wife never used AMA's or the keel weight on her Revo, she only flipped maybe 3 or 4 times usually due to either big boat wakes, or being out when it is too windy and rough (in the ocean). You really need to practice recovery in a pool or relatively safe place, it is more difficult to get back into kayaks than you might think. Even without a sail you will tip over once in a while, and it is prudent to know how to get back in (I would climb up on the stern of my Oasis, then crawl forward). Yes you can sail upwind in lighter winds 5-12 mph, but not directly into the wind (maybe 20-25 points off the wind), but you will be pedaling all the time. If the winds get over 15-20 mph it is impossible to sail upwind on the Oasis, it is better to put the sail down, get low in the boat and pedal like crazy to get to safety (nearer shore) unless you are a pro. Having a Hobie sail on your Oasis can easily double or triple your practical distance kayaking. It gives you the ability to sail, peddle, and paddle using much less energy than if you were to just paddle (so you can go much further). Here is a link another post where if you look lower down in the post I have a picture of my old Oasis. ( viewtopic.php?f=69&t=33720 ) I had alot of really fun times with that boat.
Bob
2007 Revolution
2010 Tandem Island

My understanding is that it is a limited speed option. I haven't tried one, but did the similar research when I was debating buying an AI, I knew that adding a sail to our Revolution wouldn't be as fast as an AI, but it would also be a lot cheaper.

I know that there are many people on this board who have flipped their boats with the sail, so it does have some power in that sense. It also, certainly propels the boat on it's own with no need to pedal at all when you have a steady wind. The speed is limited, and a lot of people like the added safety of the sidekicks.

The sidekicks can be added in a few different configurations allowing you to always drag the ama in the water, or to have them elevated off the water, so that you only drag one ama when the boat leans.

I can't speak to the upwind performance, but maybe a guy like Roadrunner can tell you more. He's put all kinds of kayaks to all kinds of tests, and he'll probably have pictures of the capabilities of these kayaks with the sail package.

_________________

Hi Bob,

thanks again for your valuable input!

Well - to get in the yak in deep waters was the first thing me and the kids practiced the first day we got out in the water. Surprisingly, didn't find it too difficult but a certain technique is needed for sure. (what i found a bit scarry though is how fast the kayak drifts away from you - even in medium winds... so I guess to have a leash which connects the rider with the yak once out solo in rough conditions is a must...).

I am based in the Philippines and usually take the yak out in Subic bay. This location should be quite safe to practise sailing because it is a huge bay and if things go totally wrong, sooner or later you will be washed up at shore..unless the wind is 100% offshore.

Peace
Serbi