How many are upgrading from AI to TI?

Mickey,

Other than handling it on land, I think the TI will out sail the AI and handle just as well on the water. Once on land, then the 50% heaver hull and longer lengths of everything could offset the gains on the water. Try talking the wife into keeping the AI, at least until you get a few tandem AND solo sails in the TI to decide.

A great detailed Roadrunner review of the TI would help a lot towards answering many of our questions. (hint, hint!)

I am also contemplating whether to get a tandem. Occasionally, I go out with as many as 3 of my kids at once with the AI and the tramps. But, as much as I love going out with my kids, I also love going out alone.

I am leaning towards biting the bullet and just getting it. Then I need to figure out how to put it on my roof rack!

There are two "tandem pedal assisted sailing kayaks" being sailed in the WaterTribe Everglades Challenge--300 mile adventure/endurance race. They are both being sailed solo. One of these boats is described as a Hobie tandem AI. Assuming they are both tandem AIs, Hobie is endorsing sailing these boats solo in challenging conditions.

One of those entries will also participate in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, which is a continuation of the EC but circumnaviates the State of Florida.

The race(s) starts Saturday, Mar 6, at 7 am. The start of the race is considered one of the "filters" along the way. At the start, your loaded boat must be above the high tide line, and you alone (if solo) must launch it--this controls the size of sailing boats in the race. Everything used at the start of the race (like rollers) must be carried with you for the duration of the race. It is an interesting format. The winners of the various EC classes finish the race in about 3 days.

Keith

This is all very helpful for me! We're still not sure what we want to do, but we like the idea of a Tandem Island in our future as we could see a small family heading out on that for a day of fun with the tramps in place. One thing that concerns me about getting a sail kit for the Revolution is that the mast on the sail kit doesn't seem very strong compared to the masts on the AI and TI. I don't want to wait for a weekend to go sailing only to find out that the wind is too strong to safely sail the Revo....

All I have to say is the more I look into the sailing options from Hobie, the more that Tandem Island looks like a FUN boat.... All the discussions on these pages certainly help fill in the blanks! Mark me down for another forum user who would like to see a user revue on the TI.

Thanks for all of your information! These forums are great!

Currently there are firm orders in with deposits for sixty (60) Tandem Islands to come to Australia, delivery of the first shipment will be the last week of March or possibly early April. Orders place this week will be delivered in early June.