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PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 10:56 am 
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Having a hard time understanding the significance of today's lack of info regarding the 2015 TI if a truly new TI is in the works and was to be announced today. Or were we all expecting something that wasn't ever alluded to? Are we all guilty of what happens when you assume?

Given the amount of work currently being done to develop the new Rev 16 and AI plus the new seats ... is a small company like Hobie just plain overwhelmed? Or worst case scenario are we looking at a 2016 model coming out in April or May, June, July or even next September?

As a current 2015 TI purchaser my dealer still says to expect mine maybe in December or more likely in January. What changes will it have is obviously anybody's guess right now. I can only presume that announcement will be made sometime in the future.


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 12:13 pm 
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If there were no changes to the TI coming, then you would be able to buy a 2015 right now. So it's obvious there are changes going on to the mold (thus the delay in shipping 2015 TI's until December, we have known this for a couple months now. Think about it the TI is already pretty darn good, they were just bringing the AI up close to the same specs (ie... Bulbous stronger nose with a hatch that seals pretty good, the bigger (TI like AMA's, and the larger TI like sail with better head clearance). We also know the floor fell out of AI sales after the TI became more popular, so something had to be done with the dated AI design anyway, personally I think they did an excellent job bringing the AI design up to date, I actually wouldn't mind owning one now.
We already know they changed their seats across their entire lines of boats, I'm sure they are not going to omit doing that on their flagship model.
Who knows the TI may get the wave piercing bow as well.
Personally I would have liked to see a taller slightly larger sail (110 sq ft) and a slightly wider stance (11-12 ft wide), but hey if it just has the new seats and hopefully a higher weight capacity I would be happy.
For those that have been waiting for the optional jib, I suspect we won't be seeing that but it's dog simple to just add your own if you really have to have one. I suspect a slightly larger main would accomplish the same means.
I'm sure Hobie will be announcing what their plans are very soon.
Bob


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 1:13 pm 
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Thanks Bob,

Being a newbie I thought all (meaning the whole line) was to be revealed September 1. From the posts on this board I also got the impression that most everyone else felt that way too. I guess I was wrong. When it didn't happen today I then thought something had unexpectedly changed ie Hobie encountered unexpected problems with building the TI. Shall I assume Sept 1 was just a warm up and there may be some more announcements when Hobie is in a position to actually ship a TI? And getting the AI out first just took precedence?

On the other hand, when my new TI shipping date changed from September to December I realized the TI was going to be delayed. However, I felt they would still announce the changes ... unless they are still working them out. If so, could some changes be eliminated to meet a December delivery or do you think Hobie would delay again until everything is completely ironed out? Whatever it is that is holding up production has to be with implementing the changes or else they should have announced them. How long do you think can they delay until they just have to come out with a 2015 TI?

Now I am beginning to wonder if I should just get a 2014 TI (if there are any left) or a good deal on a used TI or take a chance on a "delayed and maybe possibly flawed" 2015 TI? Also if the new and improved 2015 AI is as good as you say maybe I should tell my wife she wouldn't have to pedal and switch to buying it.


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:51 pm 
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Mark the Shark wrote:
SNIP
Now I am beginning to wonder if I should just get a 2014 TI (if there are any left) or a good deal on a used TI or take a chance on a "delayed and maybe possibly flawed" 2015 TI? Also if the new and improved 2015 AI is as good as you say maybe I should tell my wife she wouldn't have to pedal and switch to buying it.

I have trouble understanding your words ""possibly flawed" 2015 TI". While I can appreciate that a TI with Vantage seats would be better, there are stacks of us out here with TIs who have no real gripes about them as they are now.

I guess what I am saying is if they don't change the specs, a TI is still 100% awesome!

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


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:59 pm 
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Yes Mark. Don't be afraid to go "old school". The new vantage seats are for sissies,.. and posers. 8)


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 5:51 pm 
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tonystott wrote:
Mark the Shark wrote:
SNIP
Now I am beginning to wonder if I should just get a 2014 TI (if there are any left) or a good deal on a used TI or take a chance on a "delayed and maybe possibly flawed" 2015 TI? Also if the new and improved 2015 AI is as good as you say maybe I should tell my wife she wouldn't have to pedal and switch to buying it.

I have trouble understanding your words ""possibly flawed" 2015 TI". While I can appreciate that a TI with Vantage seats would be better, there are stacks of us out here with TIs who have no real gripes about them as they are now.

I guess what I am saying is if they don't change the specs, a TI is still 100% awesome!



Sorry about my confusing words.

What I am trying to say is suppose they are having trouble "implementing" some of the changes (like a new hull design to accommodate a new seat for instance) in the new TI. I am wondering if the delays may put some pressure on Hobie to go forward with something that may or may not be resolved in order to bring out a 2015 TI. Didn't the original TI in 2010 have some problems that Hobie had to address after they were sold? Consequently, my reference to go with a known commodity ie 2014 TI. This is by no means a knock on Hobie as I think the seats would be a nice addition. I am just worried there may be some other "issues" with a new TI that they are struggling to overcome. As a newbie I am obviously over reacting.


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:27 pm 
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My 2012 AI has a wave piercing bow - it submarines just great. I thought that was one of the things some owners didn't like about it (I'm happy with it, however).


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:31 am 
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Stay wet, my friend.


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:46 am 
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I figure that staying dry in a kayak is a bit of an oxymoron. I expect to get wet any time I get in a kayak.


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 2:49 pm 
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Agreed Tom. We're going to get wet regardless, current or future models, with or without water-scooping handles, with or without bow-diving hulls. As we all know, as soon as a wave hits the aka crossbars an explosion of water ensues and the crew gets a shower. Its part of the fun! That said, I am looking forward to the changes in the new AI that will help minimize the wet factor. I live in Victoria (Aus) now, which is a lot colder than I'm use to and it has slowed me down. I don't get out anywhere near as much because of it. I think the new AI will help counter that a bit

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PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:51 pm 
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Yes, my only complaint was sitting in a pool of water, continuously. I think the new seat will take care of that. But your butt will still get wet, occasionally.


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:19 pm 
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Keeping dry--that's what dry suits, dry pant/anoraks, and spray skirts are for. Love 'em.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"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: Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:46 pm 
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Mark:
Hobie I think has everything down pat and knows what they are doing. All the planned TI changes are very minor and don't effect major components. Besides I doubt you will see the 2015 AI till December at the earliest either. The TI changes are not a total redesign like the AI so it's just a matter of getting the mold work done (which takes a lot of time if I had quoted the mold work changes I would quote 8 weeks).
I wouldn't be concerned in the least that the 2015 TI won't be everything you hoped for and then some. December is just around the corner you already have the boat on order. Yea if you want to get on the water right away you can probably get one now (companies typically build up inventory to cover sales during the time mold work is going to be done, this is called building a bank of inventory (I'm in manufacturing at this is a common term). I'm sure if you really can't wait I'm sure you can get a 2014 anytime. I have a feeling though if you waited till the 2015's actually start shipping, the remaining inventory of 2014's will be discounted some to get them out of the pipe, but I doubt that would be till late spring. Actually Hobie is funny about discounting their boats (except demo models), pretty much all dealers follow their rules.
If it was me I would wait, the time will fly by.
Bob


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:53 pm 
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Hey Bob,

My whole reaction was based on the fact that I am actually buying something rather expensive (costs more than my first car) sight unseen. Albeit I would have purchased a 2014 if the 2015 had been left unchanged so no big leap of faith here.

After I ordered my TI I was under the impression that all the new changes would be revealed on September 1. The dealer even told me if there were any surprises (changes I didn't like) that I could cancel the order. When nothing about the TI was announced my overly analytical brain went into overdrive and I concluded that some of the TI changes may have caused problems and Hobie had no choice but to delay. But if it was just something they had figured out and just needed more time to implement why not just announce the changes? The possible reasons for those actions is what I found perplexing and caused me to suspect major problems may exist.

I'm now anxious to see whatever Hobie comes up with in the new TI and am sure I will be happy with it. Thanks to all of the excellent advice I have received here on this forum I am sure I am getting the right Kayak for me. I am so looking forward to actually getting out on the water in such a versatile watercraft.


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:45 pm 
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Mark:
In between now and then if you and your wife ever want to come down to sarasota for a weekend or something I'm out in sarasota bay every Saturday (my wife works Saturdays so that's my sailing day every week all year round, I alway try to pedal at least 15 mile a week, that might sound incredible, but it's not really, in order to buy my fist TI I cooked up a deal with wife to use the TI as my exercise program, I've held to that promise 4 1/2 yrs now every week ( some weeks I do 50 mile plus trips) . However there was nothing written in the agreement as to how long it should take. During the ten months of summer there is very little wind (4-6 mph typical most days), and south Florida is very hot, little did I know that to get my 15 miles in it would take 5-6 hrs at 3mph. So I found ways to cheat by any means possible to fulfil my part of the agreement. These days I get my 15 miles done in about an hr and a half every Saturday by cheating massively with my inventions (mind over matter lol).
Actually my wife loves to go out on the TI when we are at our key west house ( typically 1 week per month, she would go out every day down there if she could (we love diving). However she doesn't like to dive up here, so she seldom goes out with me up north in sarasota.
The invitation is there if you want to venture down (after all you went all the way to Dana Point just for a demo at the Hobie factory, we all thought that was way cool).
But then again there's nothing stock about my TI it might be too much for your wife meeting a crazy engineer/inventor like me if she's on the fence (lol). My wife thinks I'm nuts anyway for spending so much time on the hobby she got me into BTW, personally I'm having the time of my life I guess that's all that matters.

Bob


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