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Picked up my AI today!!!!
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=26649
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Author:  augaug [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Picked up my AI today!!!!

So... it was a beautiful breezy day. I picked up my AI... was supposed to have it by about 3pm... didn't get it till about 4pm... still pretty breezy.... put the whole thing together after car topping the hull, with the rest of the pieces and parts in the car. Still breezy... look at my watch.... hmmm... better go pick up the love of my life who has given me her blessing to get this boat in the first place.... gust of wind picks up... I have second thoughts... then come back to my senses.

Pick up my wife... have a VERY quick dinner... get out to the lake.... and the breeze is GONE... not to fear, I see some ripples out there... there must be SOME breeze out there, there's a few sailboats, WAY out there....

So I pedal... a LOT....

Until I'm WAY out there... in the ripples, and as I stop pedalling, I realize that I'M SAILING... about 2 kms per hour... TOPS... (that's just over a mile an hour, but to be honest, I really don't know how fast or slow it was... all I know is I could pedal faster... easily)

So then I pedalled in.

I learned three things...

1) The AI doesn't need much wind to sail...
2) This is a REALLY stable kayak when the ama's are out (duh!)
3) Pedalling is better then being stranded!

I took a picture, but it's almost embarrassing. I'll post a detailed report when I actually get some wind.

P.S. Does anybody know if the 2010 seat is supposed to come with a pocket on the back like our 2009 seat does?

Author:  TxYackMan [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up my AI today!!!!

You will love the AI when u get some wind. It is just too much fun.

I was wondering the same about the pocket thing on the back of the seat as I just got my TI and they were not there.

Author:  NOHUHU [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up my AI today!!!!

So did she like it??? (Don't forget to take "Hobie" next time).

I though ALL mirage seats came with the gear pack.

Author:  KayakingBob [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up my AI today!!!!

My 2010 seats on the TI didn't come with the back pocket. But unless you really keep on the maintenance, sailing in salt water, they will corrode to be unusable after a while, so I stopped using them on the earlier seats.

Author:  mmiller [ Tue Jun 22, 2010 9:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up my AI today!!!!

NOHUHU wrote:
I thought ALL mirage seats came with the gear pack.


Not since the change of seats for 2010. We added features such as the inflatable lumbar support, so had to balance the costs somewhere.

Author:  NOHUHU [ Tue Jun 22, 2010 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up my AI today!!!!

mmiller wrote:
NOHUHU wrote:
I thought ALL mirage seats came with the gear pack.


Not since the change of seats for 2010. We added features such as the inflatable lumbar support, so had to balance the costs somewhere.


Is the seat strap w/hook an option now too?

Author:  mmiller [ Tue Jun 22, 2010 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up my AI today!!!!

Option? Its in the catalog as a replacement part... 81259001

Author:  augaug [ Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up my AI today!!!!

THIS EVENING IT WAS WINDY!!!

It thunderstormed and rained all day today... but the clouds cleared, and the wind which was calm again in the late afternoon, picked up to a few breezes by the time dinner was done.

In my rush to get the boat ready, I forgot to grab my camera. It's probably for the best. I haven't sailed since watching my dad sail as a little kid, but this was SO much better.

I'll give a more detailed description with pictures in a couple weeks, we're taking a vacation with the boats soon.

All I have to say is I've got a grin like you wouldn't believe. That was SO much fun. It was a gusty day so I got to try the sail in calm winds, and in winds so strong that I actually had to furl the sail.

Here's my quick notes: (excuse my improper terminology)

1) The furling sail is GREAT for a new sailor like me. The gusts became pretty strong as I got a little ways out (this is Lake Ontario, not some tiny lake) and as things got beyond my comfort zone, I remembered to furl the sail just a little. I played with how much to furl the sail in the strong winds, and learned a lot. It feels so safe to know that if things get hectic, just release the tension on the sail, and furl it in.

2) It's faster then I thought. I heard so much about the tandem that I figured the AI must be a bit of a slouch, but I was moving pretty good out there, and it was plenty fast enough to be fun!

3) I'm really glad that I got the AI, and not the TI. The AI is heavier than the Revolution that I'm used to, but I'm still able to launch from the same beaches as the AI. I don't think I could launch the TI by myself from my usual launch spot. It would be really tough to move in the sand, or up a small hill that's near my place. I'm going to be doing a lot more solo sailing then tandem sailing, so the AI with the tramps should allow me to have all the benefits that I'm looking for, without the drawbacks.

Other notes: I got the heavy duty wheels as a compromise between the standard wheels and the beach wheels. I LOVE the beach wheels for the soft sand, but decided on the Heavy Duty wheels because I figured that I could put those back in place as I approached land much easier then the beach wheels. As it turns out, I was right. I'm comfortably able to put the wheels into the scuppers (under water) from the cockpit. The HD wheels aren't great on beach sand, but I am able to roll the boat, even up hill towards the grassy areas. It's not easy, but it's manageable.

Next step, put the tramps on... take vacation... and see if my little puppy (named Hobie) can handle sailing, he's good on the Revolution, so it's time to take things up a notch.

Thanks for all of your help on these forums! You all really helped me decide on exactly which boat and accessories are right for me.

Author:  TxYackMan [ Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up my AI today!!!!

Agreed. Last time I was out - I had a major grin too. Winds were perfect! Cruising around 6 mph and with gusts was able to get up over 10+ mph. Awesome!

1) Furling. I loved it too. Winds get to be too much or Ama is buried - back off and furl in.
2) Just wait. You will have some fantastic speed runs.
3) The AI vs TI is toughy. I like the AI cause it is easy to handle by yourself. I hope to get my TI in the water very soon. It definitely is bigger and heavier.
Hoping I have a big ole grin on the TI as well.

Congrats on your new ride.

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