stringy wrote:
CR Yaker wrote:
Does a boat have handles? No
Is that a safety concern? No
Can you install handles on a boat? Yes
Do you need to? No
Thus the same goes for an AI/TI. It's better and safer to handle in such a manner. Stop thinking of them as a portable kayak and more like a light boat, in my humble opinion.
I never use my AI as an adventure only without the amas. Why would I ? If I need smaller lighter and transportable without a trailer, I'm going to go with a smaller kayak. Otherwise it's a full trailer with the AI.
I think we have found Hobie's Costa Rican rep as part of their worldwide consultative process on this issue.
Most boats have a gunwale which acts as a handle all the way around the boat. A rotomolded hull has no edges that can be grabbed. Hobie's early attempts at adding handles were much like a gunwale indentation moulded into the hull. While this worked to a degree it was very uncomfortable. That was solved with the handles we have now.
Many of us realise the true versatility of this craft which is a great kayak as well as a great sailing trimaran. Removing the handles from only the Islands diminishes this versatility.
True about the gunwhales on boats but you still have the molded handles on the front and back of the islands along with the akas, and you can install handles wherever you please. It's not a safety issue.
I agree, it's all about versatility, maybe it's time to admit that the islands are headed in a direction that are specific in their use, open water sailing. I'm guessing 90 percent or higher of TI use is very specific to certain conditions that involve the use of the sail. Other Hobie kayaks would be better in some of these other more extreme conditional uses not involving sailing.
And although I can appreciate Bob's adventurous spirit in his use of the Tandem, I would guess it's very far and few who also do so.
So it comes down to aesthetics and less is more, no handles, over 90 percent users on TI/AI.
To versatility in one kayak doing all, less than 10 percent, which these folks have an option yet of installing their own handles or buying other additional kayaks for specific uses.
For me, I'm indifferent to the outcome. I love the wet ride. So the older model is just fine.