Hi All,
I'm a super happy AI owner with no sailing background whatsoever. I learned a few things already after sailing this great kayak 3 times. I even broke one nylon bolt after hitting a trunk in the middle of the lake (arggg).
I have a couple of questions for improving my experience when launching the AI.
I launch the kayak from a ramp on a lake. When I drive up to the lake I take the kayak down from the car and put everything together so that I can wheel it down to the ramp. Noticing there are two ways of positioning the amas (folded either forward or backwards, and I have tried both ways); I hold them together with a bungee cord. I put all the gear and mast on the kayak and then go to the ramp.
Things get a little crazy when I place the front of the kayak in the water, particularly when nice wind is blowing towards the shore
, because it is kind of hard to get the wheels out of the kayak when everything is on it.
Am I supposed to launch it perpendicular to the shore and get up to my knees wet to remove the wheels from underneath the kayak? Or rather position it in parallel without the mast installed tipping the kayak a little bit?
On the other hand, when I load/unload the kayak by myself I notice I began to scratch the bottom of aft of the kayak. I therefore purchased a rubber trailer bow and using some rope contraption to hold it from moving (when the kayak moves). Is there a better way of doing things or am I too picky
?
Any ideas are welcome. I'm learning a LOT!
Cheers,
Marty