Moondancer wrote:
When I bought my 2nd TI in 2015 I always had family out with me, and these days no one easily available. I had problems with the steering last summer and now still this summer, and an extended trailer repair meant I didn’t get to test it till last weekend...
First of all, all boats - power, sail, and kayak, require a routine to be perfected to launch and retrieve. This takes a while and usually a boat owner will struggle for a bit with the learning curve before things get smoother. You see this all the time at docks and ramps. After a while, you develop and perfect a routine that works for your particular boat, trailer, and towing vehicle. The TI is especially tricky due to all of its unique eccentricities. It took me a while to perfect a good launch/retrieve routine, but now I have it down to the point where I'm quite comfortable with it and don't inconvenience anyone else at the boat ramp. So you can too.
Unlike other boats, the TI has no real trailer configuration, you usually have to come up with something on your own or use whatever the Hobie dealer set up. It took a couple of years for me to get mine right and I still struggle with it once in a while because the PVC pipes on my homemade bunks break once in a while, but it's still much better than what my Hobie dealer came up with using 2 x 4's and Hobie cradles which all cracked. When loading and unloading the TI, you need to figure out via trial and error exactly how far you need to submerge the trailer to get it on and off as easily as possible. With my trailer, I find that this is when the wheel fenders are almost, but not quite, submerged. Your setup may differ, but always note how far you need to submerge your trailer until you find the best results that work for you.
Concerning the mast, most of us set this up at the loading ramp
before putting the boat in the water. Installing and rigging the mast takes practice, something that can be perfected at home. The mast requires a certain technique to install solo, it's a bit of a balancing act, but it's not all that heavy and with practice, most adults with typical physical strength can do it. In order not to be a bother at the ramp, I usually pull the trailer off to the side and install and rig the mast before getting in line at the ramp. The mast does require some physical strength and good balance to install. Only you can determine if you're up to it. If not, the TI can still be used without the mast with the pedals and/or with a motor. My TI is motorized and I often use it without the mast on days where there is insufficient wind to sail. I enjoy it as much and often even more without the mast.
The amas do not necessarily need to be extended at the ramp, thus avoiding taking up another lane. You can leave them unextended, then once safely away from the ramp, you can easily extend and lock them in place while on the water from the rear seat. When returning, fold them back while in the water well before you get to the ramp. The TI is still very stable and will float and maneuver very well even with the amas folded. The only reason to launch with the amas extended is if you use tramps or haka seats.
In any case, if boating solo, it is always any boater's responsibility to develop a launch/recovery routine that works well without requiring or expecting the help of anyone else not with them, as this is not something that can be relied on. The operator of any boat must accept the responsibility of competently launching and recovering their own boat. Too many bad things can happen at docks and boat ramps when the owner does not live up to this responsibility. I've seen some very bad results of this, affecting not only the boat owner but other boaters nearby as well. None of us want to be that guy at the boat ramp who can't handle his own boat and is a hazard to himself and others. This requires practice and preparation and carefully thinking through all aspects of launching and retrieving. I used to find times when the ramp wasn't busy to practice and perfect my routine such as on weekdays and grey cloudy, cool days when hardly anyone was there.
Your dealer does not seem competent concerning the rudder. There should be no reason why a Hobie dealer could not repair the rudder's up/down lines. This is not rocket science, any competent Hobie dealer should be able to fix them. The advice your dealer gave you to leave the rudder un-cleated is both wrong and dangerous. The rudder must always be locked in the down position when sailing. The rudder was not designed to kick itself up when beaching. You must manually release the rudder's down cleat to do this. If you can't fix the rudder up/down lines yourself, find a competent Hobie dealer who can. Do not launch the TI again until this is fixed, this is a safety issue because it can result in losing control of the boat, especially in rough conditions where you need control the most. All boats age, but losing the ability to lock the rudder is completely unacceptable. The lines and cleats can be fixed or replaced.
I always sail my TI from the rear seat. I feel that this gives me a better view and I much prefer the back. This also allows you to extend and retract the amas solo. That said, many prefer the front seat. It's completely up to you.
If you feel the TI is too much to handle solo, then yes, you should look into an AI. The AI is an excellent boat and if the TI is too cumbersome for you to deal with solo, then it might be a better choice. This is an individual choice that only you can make based on your own requirements. The TI is big and can be a bit much to handle solo at times based on age, strength, physical size, disabilities, etc. We all must stay within our own limitations. I foresee a day when I'm perhaps too old to handle my TI anymore. If and when that happens, I'll need to find something else.
A new TI is expensive, but if you have the funds available and you don't want to deal with having your 2015 fixed properly, then by all means get a new one. My TI is also a 2015 but I'm good at fixing things as they age and break. If I wasn't, then I would surely prefer a newer boat where I don't need to worry about it breaking down due to age-related issues. Again, this is a decision only you can make for yourself.
I hope this helps and that I've answered all of your questions.