carrying guest on AI

hello, i'm thinking about buying an AI and i came across this forum. i've already found a lot of interesting infos but there's one thing i could not find:

i would mainly use it alone but from time to time i would like to go on a day trip with my wife on my boat. i was wondering if this could be done safely and how (with an extra seat behind me, on the trampoline or...?).

i am 176 lbs and she's 115 and both have sailing and kayaking experience.

The AI is a bit sluggish with two people onboard, but it's quite doable, either with a passenger on the trampoline or in the back. For a passenger in the back, an Ocean Kayak seat, facing backwards, works quite well. You would be well within the weight limit for the boat.

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I'd take someone on the Trampoline for the most comfort. The one thing to keep in mind is that the trampoline is the wettest seat on a wet boat. So if you plan on sticking your wife out there, make sure the water's not too cold! (You'll just have to trust me on that one!)

The trampolines are great because when you sail solo, you can hike out on them, and get a bit more speed out of the A.I. They're rated to hold 200 lbs, so you'll be fine with your wife out there, and just be aware of the weight limit when you use them.

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The tramps are definitely the best investment I've made on my TI and I'm sure they are great on the AI, too. One tip, bring a Vise-Grip to tighten all the Tramp lines to take out the slack and minimize wetness. I had my 85 lb grandson on the tramps last weekend and he stayed dryer there than he would have in the front seat where all the spray hits. He just moved to the windward tramp and was high and dry. Of course, when the wind and chop are high everyone's going to get wet! It's great fun unless the temperature drops below about 65.

Over the weekend I had two grandkids and a large friend (probably 210 lb) onboard. We were approaching the 600 lb limit on my TI. The extra displacement was quite apparent by the water level inside the drive wells. We didn't sail as there was no wind but it paddled fine and it was great to see how three could troll at the same time while one peddled in the front seat. Makes me want to hire a helmsman for all my fishing trips!

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It's a good Life, Let's sail!

iHop

Dune TI - 6/4/2011
Camas, WA

Most of the time I'm out in my AI its with my friend and we take turns skippering from the cockpit versus being on a tramp. Who's where depends on the tack we happen to be on. I disagree that the tramps are wetter. As many posts attest, ]the cockpit is a soaking experience as well so it doesn't make much difference. Combined we are only about 15lbs lighter than you. You won't have a problem. In addition to all else, it's great to have a sailing partner to help set up and launch/recover.

Timo

If you add a sprayskirt to the AI or TI, you can minimize how wet the cockpit and much of the tramps are in most conditions.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

That's a fair statement. I think the tramps can be a bit more wet when the water is calm because if there are any waves over a couple of inches, the person on the tramp gets wet due to the tramps not sealing out any water, while the person in the boat can stay dry. Once you get going, you're both going to get wet.

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Thanks a lot for your answers. At this point I would add a few questions:

1. sailing: In our case, with about 60 lbs difference between us, is it advisable that the heaviest one stays pretty much in the cockpit while the lighter one sits on the tramp? If the tramp can officially carry 200 lbs it may not be a problem of weight but maybe it's more comfortable for the smallest one to sit there.
Also, is it easy to go from one tramp to the other while sailing? (for example, depending on the tack we happen to be on, unlike Timo and friend who take turns skippering)

2. mirage drive: while pedaling doesn't it feel unbalanced if the passenger stays on the tramp? Is it better in this case if she's on a seat behind me?

3. Also is there something for the passenger on the tramp to hold to?

We have a TI, but frequently sail with 3 aboard, so 2 on an AI at a combined weight of less than 300 lbs you should be fine. Having the lighter person on the tramp would seem logical, but it isn't a requirement - and they are plenty comfortable. Hanging on isn't a major issue unless it is really windy. In this video my son is in the front seat and my wife is on the windward tramp, we were doing 6 to 7 mph with a partially furled sail.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEt7Pue4bts

Here they are each on a tramp, and on this tack she - who weighs less - is to windward. Conditions were more calm, full sail, speed around 5 to 6 mph.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uDQp_kSbzI

It's awkward, to say the least, for a passenger to get from one tramp to the other while someone is sitting in the cockpit. If your partner doesn't want to take over in the cockpit, another alternative is for her to remain on the starboard tramp and for you to control the boat from the port tramp, when on a port tack. (The rudder lever is on the port side). Obviously, you can't pedal from there, but this is a manoeuvre you only really need to carry out in a moderate to strong breeze.
It's not really necessary, but I have, in the past, set up an Ocean Kayak seat on the trampoline. This is a bit more comfortable for the passenger and gives them some extra straps to hold on to.

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To answer your original question on safety massimo, it's certainly a lot safer than quoting your wifes weight on a forum.

Regardless of how slim she is, that's a gutsy move.

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

We all know that we're supposed to add 30 lbs to that number. It's all good.

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I wiil stick to a post I've placed here and on other forums numerous times:
Get an inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board. (SUP)!

It has the ability to simply slide on your akas to provide seating, be partly deflated as a large Air Mattress or in the extreme use as a means to stabilize a patient with serious injuries and float them to shore where a rescue chopper can tie them off to their skids for rapid transfer to an ER.

They also are a ton of fun to run gear and crew to the beach and back.
And last but certainly not the least as a lifeboat in case you crash and burn your AI/TI.
Regards

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Always looking for ways to make good things 'Gooder'

Hmmm, I hadn't heard of them before. They look like a lot of fun. Have you tried one on your AI?

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Hi chrisj
Here's what I use:
http://www.amazon.com/Sevylor-U265GRY-0 ... B001O9J8HW
They've come down in price quite a bit. Very portable.
I bungie mine to 2 aka. The only hassle is to anchor before I can use it off the AI. Once you get the hang off it (standing up) it offers a very cool top down look into the water.
I've seen ppl fish off of these boards.
If you get one get a good a paddle that fits your heigth and a board leash.
Have fun
Fred

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Always looking for ways to make good things 'Gooder'