I just got home after our maiden voyage on our new 2015 TI. I thought I would give my insight from a new Hobie owner and brand new sailor. Never sailed a day in my life.
I have been reading this forum for a while and have taken in all the different ideas and advice. With the help of all of you, my day was a success and I had a blast. My wife did to!
We started off today at Lake Anna VA at the State park. I live about an hour away. I bought the standard Hobie Trailex trailer. I made sure I had the tires at 60 PSI as stated and it pulled fine at 60 mph. I have a big truck so, I didn't even know it was back there. Project 1 - Need to figure out a way to put a flag or something on the trailer, so I can see it backing up. I used my Safety flag and it worked pretty good.
They have a nice facility and since it was a Thursday, it was not that much traffic on the lake. I bought the TI with the Hobie trailer. I backed it up and unloaded it in the water. With the rubber on the cradles, it was sort of hard to push it off. I didn't want to back into the water, so I had the wheels at the waters edge.
Lesson/Project 2 - I need to put carpet on the cradles to make it easy to push the T1 off and bring it back on. The boat is heavy. I also learned to take the Mirage drives off the boat and as much weight out of the TI before trying to reload it on the trailer. My wife helped to pull it back onto the trailer. I bought the beach cart and almost got it out to try, but unloading the extra weight made it ok.
It was perfect weather with sunny in the low 70's. Wind was very very light at about 3-4 knots. Not really an ideal day for sailing, but since it was my first time I am glad it was not that windy. Water was a nice 72 degrees.
After getting the TI in the water, we got used to pedaling and adjusting the pedals, so they were comfortable. I also got used to the rudder and had my wife steer some too. I sat up front since that is where most of the controls are. My wife sat in the back and I made sure I yelled tack when we turned so she wouldn't get hit by the rope. Project 3 - need to build a riser in the back so she and I won't get hit. I plan on moving to the back as soon as I can.
We pedaled around and sailed some. The wind was very light, so it was hard sailing, but we got up some speed at times when we did have wind. Again, I was glad it was light, because I was still trying to figure things out.
I don't remember the thread, but I do remember the Mr. C for returning to shore/dock. Pick up the Mirage, Rudder and Center Board. Getting old, I remembered half the time!
Project 4 - Need to figure out how to get some music. My wife kept on saying she wished she had a Corona and some Caribbean music. If that makes her happy, that will be project number 1.
All and all, I had a great day. I can't wait to get back out and use it and my wife was also excited. You have to keep in mind that I talked her into buying the TI without doing a demo and she seemed to really like it. We are heading down to North Carolina in a few weeks around the Beaufort area for a week. I plan on taking it with us and we have a place on the water. Will try and post some pictures that my wife took. I also need to get a GoPro, so I can get some action pictures.
For any of you that are thinking about getting one, go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will not regret it!