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PostPosted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:43 am 
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Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2014 6:24 pm
Posts: 64
Location: Richmond VA
Since I picked up my Tandem Island last Friday ( Very Excited!!!! ) , I thought I would provide my experience.

I talked with a few of the local dealers in my area and finally decided on convenience to go with the one closest to me, even though they may not have had a lot of dealings with the Tandem Island. They said they only sold a few of them a year. They do sell the other Hobie products and I assume sell more of the other models.

I arrived Friday afternoon and the TI was all setup and sitting on the Hobie Trailer ( All put together) and ready for me.
I told them I wanted to go through everything, based on reading this forum and they were more than helpful. We pulled it out in the parking lot and basically rigged the boat ready for sailing. The walk through took over an hour and they were very helpful in showing me how to adjust the pedals, the new seats and we spent some time unfurling and furling the sail until I was comfortable. So if picking a dealer I would recommend the details walk-through of basically any boat you are buying. They also told me a couple of times to contact them if I had any issues.

Now for the quality. I spent yesterday messing with the boat for about 2 hours. I was showing my son and we again pulled the T! into the driveway and rigged everything up. I walked around the boat and specifically checked the rudder alignment. I had my son stand in back and view the rudder while I moved the handled and had him do the same. Since the boat was all put together, I am not sure how it came from the factory, but it seemed to be perfectly aligned. I noticed the seam that has been referenced here and I don't see any issues with it. I also looked on some other model kayaks that I already had and I saw seams on them as well. Really no difference. From what I can tell everything is in tip top shape, which is good news for me. I can't wait to get it on the water. I need to register my boat and trailer, which I plan on doing this week.

Ron

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PostPosted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:49 am 
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Location: Belton, SC USA
That's great! Hoping till get mine this week. It was supposed to ship from the factory on the other 18th.

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Chris


2015 Tandem Island-ivory dune


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 7:18 am 
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Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:40 am
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Location: Blacklick, Ohio
Congrats on the new boat riverron! Your TI might have been produced after the issues were discovered and fixed at the factory. I know mine was one of the first off the line being manufactured January 12th. Luckily there wasn't much wrong with mine aside from the rudder misalignment.

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PostPosted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:30 pm 
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Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2014 5:52 pm
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Location: North carolina
What's the latest with this limiter and rudder control alignment issue. It's been 6 months now. Any final fix from Hobie?


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 12:21 am 
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Location: Blacklick, Ohio
I eventually just cut the limiter line. Steering has been fine since.

Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island Hibiscus
"Third Normal Form"

  • Trampolines
  • Hobie cover
  • Davis Spar Fly
  • Kayakbob's Sprayskirts
  • Spine Board Hakas


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 1:09 am 
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Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:59 pm
Posts: 586
Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
quattroguy wrote:
Cosmetics are part of a quality standard and I would expect Hobie to have a maximum allowable mismatch on the seams.
I agree, for the money and reputation Hobie has certain expectations are reasonable. Stuff like rudder controls being properly set up should be checked by the dealer.
During the evolution of the hobie 16 several things were addressed and improved over time. I suspect the same thing is happening on this product.
One of the major reasons I bought this boat (now a TI and AI) is the name and the quality that it infers. My 16 was a great boat 20 years after it was made and I expect the same now.


Hi, can you direct me to somewhere where I can see a list of those Sixteen design progressions?
Thanks.

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:26 am 
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Location: Forster, NSW, Australia
Doesn't he mean design evolutions for the Hobie 16, rather than 16 evolutions?

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


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:19 am 
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Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
oops right, no comma there :oops:

Still, it would be interesting, the changes inside the hull especially.

Is there a schematic or drawing showing the innards in total around?

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 7:13 am 
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Location: North carolina
TI_Tom wrote:
I eventually just cut the limiter line. Steering has been fine since.

Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk


I have the same for limiter. I'm sure Hobie puts out this thing for a purpose so cutting may not be the permanent fix. I think I once over turn the rear handle. I did not experience anything unusual after that but hopefully it's not going to break something in the long term.

Regarding the Front and Rear steering handle alignment issue, I think this must be fixed. Mine is 30 degrees misalligned. I cannot develop this thing where I can tell or feel position of my rudder based on the position of the handle. I think it's because I switch seating position during the sail with different steering handle coordinates. I saw some topics where it says to untie and shorten the line. Is there any video or clear writeup about this? Hopefully Hobie can make a video how to adjust this thing. Or writeup with picture.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 10:23 am 
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Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2014 10:56 am
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Location: Omaha, NE
A week ago, in 20+ mph winds and large waves, my 2015 TI rear AKA unplugged from the main hull, also the "stay" popped off the ball as well. The shear bolt did not shear. The AMA folded back and we almost went over.
We got things under control by furling the sail, reinstalling the AKA and went back the beach. A Hobie rep was on site and he tested the retention buttons by pulling hard on the AKA. He was able to pull it out each time. My dealer has looked at the boat, and for the near term, tied in the AKA with cord as he talks to Hobie.
This is something to watch out for!
Jim


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:34 pm 
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Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
Looks like this frequently occurring and potentially life-threatening fault will have to be fixed before someone drowns and Hobie is found expensively liable.

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:59 pm 
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Location: South Florida
skymax wrote:
Looks like this frequently occurring and potentially life-threatening fault will have to be fixed before someone drowns and Hobie is found expensively liable.

This is a tough one. In a court of law, it might be difficult to prove that it was Hobie's design/fabrication fault or simply operator error--did the operator just not get it locked in when he/she left the beach? Also, Hobie's lawyer's undoubtedly would say, "These boats are not designed to be out during small craft warnings, which would certainly be up with winds in the 20+ mph range." I've never had an aka come loose prematurely, but before my capsize last April, I could say that I had never capsized--that changed quickly one day. I'm now erring on the side of caution and many of my modifications are aimed at avoiding problems, including tying the akas in to prevent damage and potential capsize from premature release. The mods to my AI 2 are described here http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=7276&start=750 Many users push these boats beyond their design limits, including myself. I never had a problem with my 2011 AI, but with this new AI 2 and its higher speed, users are going to have to be careful until its full capabilities and limitations are known.

Keith

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"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

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:54 pm 
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Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
It's sounding like the same problem that occurred when the new aka were introduced back in 2010. If the locks are working correctly they will not come out, no matter what the conditions.
To be able to pull an aka out on dry land indicates that the lock tolerances are out for some reason. Whether it's a manufacturing fault or an assembly issue, with many reporting problems I'm confident that Hobie will fix it just as they did in 2010.
In the meantime, the aka leashes as detailed in Keith's link above should be used.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 10:57 pm 
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Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
I hope the AI2 owners that don't read this Forum, and there are many, will get the word about needing Safety Leashes in the meantime.

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 6:46 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:51 am
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Location: Hervey Bay Qld Australia ( formally UK)
Here goes 3 things I've noticed

1, my AI came with quite a pronounced dent port side near the rudder, I spoke to somebody and this isn't the first one they've heard of. Its thought this might be due to packing, had it of been any worse I'd of taken the hull back tbh.

2, The Lowrance transducer plate after 2 outings looks like its been through the wars, the plate isn't recessed and is scratched /wore up. I can see this requiring changing at some stage, plus the brass inserts aren't lined up very well.


3, This might simply be in my head I'm not sure, but the durability of the plastic doesn't seem to be as good or hard as my old 2009 dune hull, my new 2015 papaya seems to be scratching up a whole lot more, the hull and amas actually came with scratches. I'm a very careful owner, I haven't beach launched, I've only used the boat ramp.

Overall I don't think the rotomoulding finish is as good as earlier models

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