PassWind wrote:
Interesting that this post was brought back up to the top ..
.. after re-reading Chekika's original first posts from 2013 about wanting an AI Magnum, I'm wondering if he feels that is what he got with his AI2.
Yesterday, I was out in a pretty good blow in my unmodded 2007 V1 AI and I had about 4 turns reefed because id lose rudder control with any more out .. Ama was almost fully buried and It was a bit hairy/scary but I loved it. I was impressed that such a well used boat could still pretty much laugh at these conditions and perform as designed and built 8 years prior
All I kept wondering was how much better/faster the ride would be on an AI2 in similar conditions (which are the conditions I mostly yearn for ..)
Would I have been able to have more sail out and more power to the boat due to the larger ama's ? control it better due to the larger TI rudder ?
Hi PW,
Yes, I would say that Hobie has upgraded the AI to a "magnum" version, the AI 2. In my limited experience, it seems to have very good speed (comparable to a TI), it has a much dryer ride because of the greatly increased bow volume, redesign of the amas, and shifting the amas forward.
My biggest disappointment is that the AI 2 has taken a step backwards: in winds 16-18 mph with the full sail out,
the boat weathercocks, just as your 2007 with it's small rudder does. In other words, the sail overpowers the rudder on the AI 2. Matt Miller has denied this claim, but I stand by it.
The other bothersome aspect is the
possibility that the AI 2 is somewhat prone to unexpectedly breaking an aka brace shear pin. I can't say if my accident last April (shear pin break in open water with instantaneous capsize) was a special case or whether it is a problem with the AI 2. If it happens to you, it is a problem.
I've greatly "hardened" my AI 2 to prevent capsize and other potential problems. You can read about my modifications here:
http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=7276&start=750 You can also read all my "pros" and "cons" here:
http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=7276&start=720. This latter page is very long. Scroll down to the bottom to see the pros/cons of the AI 2.
Overall, I think the AI 2 is a much needed upgrade and a winner.
Keith