Saw TAI @Austin Boat Show

Made a trip to Austin Boat Show to see the TAI in person.
There was a Hobie Rep there and talked his ear off (shoot, forgot his name!)
Learned a couple of new things about the Tandem that I did not know.

Things I remember are:
The drain plug is at the rear bottom of the boat, that will make things a bit easier.
The steering handles are much bigger than the ones on my Outfitter.
The dagger board is larger than the AI I think and folds up into bottom of the boat.
The rudder on the TAI is larger AI.
The peddles have the little self centering bungie and the peddles are padded.


Here are some pics.

Comparing sails of the TAI vs to the sail that is like the one on my Outfitter.










Just add water!!!

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Forgot to say, we put a down payment on one.
Went with the yellow one.
Looking forward to our new TAI.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Thanks for the photos...
I wonder how easy it will be to solo sail the TI?
If I sit in the forward seat, I can control the Centerboard...but it will
be a long reach back to the rear seat to the Aka Braces. And Vice Versa.

Sure, sorry the pics are not great quality, taken with a little P&S.

I think if 1 person, the front seat would be the one.

Both seats can control the sail and steering but the dagger board and to furl the sail are done from the front seat.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

I remembered something else. The paddles are made of composite fiber and the paddle part I think he said are stiffer or more rigid.

A few more pics.

I was curious what the mast brace looked like below deck, here is what is looks like.


Close up of the mast furling assembly (or whatever it is called)


Drain plug


Aka Brace


AKA w/Padeye - for downwind outhaul maybe?


Daggerboard control

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Now these are the pics we've been hanging out for. Thanks for posting.

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Nice Work.

Boy, that must be a long rudder pin!

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Wow, thanks TexYakman

Is it me or do the mirage drive wells look exceptionally deep?

Study where the click n' go mech. is recessed into the hull - I don't think you would accidentally open the release like you sometimes do on the solo Island. Is this a result of the hull being just deeper?

There also appears to be a lip just aft of the drive well which might help keep water flowing back toward the seats.

That mounting of the aka xbar to the hull appears neater that the old style. Not sure how the "snap release" mech works for attaching the aka arm but I hope it is easier than the pins - sure looks sturdier.

Rear hatch seems to be at and angle rather than flat.

Good view of the center board control.

Mast cup is couple inches deeper/taller than the solo island mast cup - maybe that deeper hull again?

Hobie put a lot of work into this boat

As far the wells being deeper I am not sure. They do seem deeper than my 08 Outfitter.

A few more of the inside of the seat/drive area.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

what is the asking price for one of these?

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How soon will spare parts be available for the TI, Matt? I can see a couple of things that I want to order to experiment with.

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!

Spares? I'ds guess well after full production starts. Maybe by summer / spring catalog.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks for these pics TxYackMan!
It's great to see up close some of the new features.
I agree with Yak that the wells definitely look deeper as the CnG mechanism seems fully recessed.
The deeper hull should make packing for extended trips a lot easier.
That anti surge lip is a great new feature and along with the new knuckles, larger rudder, sail , ama and DB should make for a very versatile craft.
I have placed an order with my Dealer.

Twerto- the price downunder is AU$5,500.

No problem. Would have taken more pics but wifey was wanting to go to lunch.
You did not waste anytime ordering one.
I will be curious to know how the TI performs out in the coastal waters.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

TxYackMan

Where are you located in Tx?
When you get your TI bring it to Canyon Lake for a sail...I'll join you with our AI's

Ron

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CaptRon
"Anything's gonna happen,
it's gonna happen out there"