Have you done any "expedition" trips on the AI?

Keith, great write up on the name of the AI!
They DID change the name of the original Adventure of which the Adventure Island was based from... it is now called the Revolution 16! There no longer is a plain jane Adventure.
So a name change for the AI is not impossible...
Maybe this should be a separate thread for more exposure?

By the way, I dragged Dianne into the Tackle Shack in St Pete a couple weeks ago, mostly to look at and drool over the new seat... did not think that they would have any new AIs or TIs to look at but someone canceled on a newly delivered TI, a Red one, and Dianne fell in love with it!
So we are now the proud owners of a brand new, red (and kinda heavy) 2015 TI!
Took it out immediately the next morning for a shakedown cruise out to Caledesi Island and around the area a bit... Great deal of fun, Dianne was very happy!
They did not change so much on the TI but the seats are really nice and now I am hoping that I can get Dianne to come with me and you folks a bit more on some of these trips...

Finally, curious about the last trip you took through/around the everglades... it must have been an interesting trip as the weather got a bit squirrely there for a bit... wished I could a made it but your report will have to do... when you get down playing with your new AI 2 that is!

Don

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Don Haynes
Aka TriBlue

2005 Outback Red
2011 Adventure Blue converted to an Island
2015 Tandem Island Red

E-mail: [email protected]

I'm planning a couple more trips, one Apr 13-16 to PAV, a fishing trip & last trip of the year. And, also, a trip around Mar 28-29, a weekend, to PAV. This latter trip will hopefully get a number of WaterTribe out to tell us about their 2015 Everglades Challenge--it should be fun.

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

"Less is more" Anon

Keith,

Well, I've tentatively "penciled in" both trips... the weekend trip is more likely due to my work schedule but I may just be slow at work come the trip in April so that we maybe could get out then as well...

The new AI is pretty nice, a couple/few weeks ago, I sailed with Chief, he in his new AI 2 and me in my old converted Adventure, now an AI, full circle (all points of sailing) around Egmont Key and Ft Desoto Park in light to moderate winds, he did not have any down wind improvements setup on his AI 2 yet and so I was able to keep up down wind no problem but when it came time to run close hauled he left me in the dust... the new AI 2 is maybe as much as twice as fast close hauled and, perhaps more importantly, sails, with speed, a lot closer to the wind!

Enjoy that new AI 2!

Don

P.S. Are you and Rick still intending to do the EC this year?

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Don Haynes
Aka TriBlue

2005 Outback Red
2011 Adventure Blue converted to an Island
2015 Tandem Island Red

E-mail: [email protected]

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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

"Less is more" Anon

Wow!
Thanks Keith for taking the time and trouble to post this. It's exactly what I was hoping for and gives those of us without access to the 2015 Islands a much better idea of exactly what's changed. Much appreciated.
From your pics it looks like the '15 mast will fit the earlier models. The furler drum will sit very high but that's not too much of a problem. The TI mast I fitted to my AI had the furler drum at the same height and it worked OK. The '15 AI furler drum looks very similar to the TI furler drum. The important bit -the locking lip looks to be in a similar position so the lock lever should work.
That's the first pic I've seen of the DB/CB (is it still a CB if it's not centred?) and it looks very sleek compared to the huge flat shapeless slab of a board on the TI.
Has anything been done to strengthen the V-Braces do you think? I'm guessing it's a bigger triangle due to the increased volume but other than that are the components the same diameter and fixed with a single bolt to the bottom of the hull?

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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

"Less is more" Anon

Thanks for the extra info.
I agree with you Keith. The larger sail should only be considered for light wind use and not to increase speed in high winds. That was my reasoning for fitting the TI mast/sail to my AI. The original sail is already too big in winds approaching 20knots.
The best way to increase speed is to hike out and keep the ama out of the water. Last week I was out experimenting soloing the TI and for the first time I was able to sail confidently in 15-20 knots and not furl the sail because I was out on the haka. I was very pleased with how the TI performed.

Another difference worth noting with the larger AI sail are the full length battens. Even though the TI's sail is much larger again it only has one full length and then 2 short battens.
I wonder whether full length battens have an advantage?

Knowing nothing about sail design, my guess is that Hobie would not put full length battens in if they were not useful. If nothing else, they will make me think that I have the best of all sails on my new AI 2. I'm actually thinking of going sailing on Wednesday--if it is not too cold. Winds are forecast to be 19 mph from the NW.

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

"Less is more" Anon

Keith
Can you provide the critical dimension for me? Back of seat at butt to the pedal extended in the longest position? Maybe call it longest extended leg measure

Hi Charlie,

49-50", rough measure. If you need it more accurate, let me know; the boat will be set up tomorrow. Joe Slama, Henry Ovares, and me are going out tomorrow. Winds forecast to be 17-18 mph out of NW. We will be on a beam reach or close reach. Joe will be in my 2011 AI, Henry in his TI, and me in my new AI 2. You think there will be a little, friendly racing going on?

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

"Less is more" Anon

Thanks so much for this Keith. We think a Wednesday sail is a great idea mainly because we will all be looking forward to your test report.

The change over price for me will be about AUS$ 2 grand. It's looking worth it at this stage. I just have to convince my wife that it is an investment.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Hi Slaughter,

I'm thinking my next post about the new AI 2 vs the AI would be subtitled something like "any similarity to the pre-2015 AI is coincidental and unintended."

Maybe I am easily impressed, but I am amazed at the changes that have been made. Almost all of the changes make sense--some are simply a matter of convenience, but others, like the taller mast, the bigger sail, the new centerboard, the increased volume in the bow, the longer, larger, forward-mounted akas, etc. These are the biggies. Any one of them would make a difference. All taken together give you a really new boat. Today was the first that I put the AI 2 on my trailer with AI cradles--it doesn't fit, by a long ways, and it further emphasizes the complete rebuild of the AI 2. Hopefully, Hobie will get the new cradles on the market soon, otherwise there is going to be a lot of DIY cradles being made.

One of the simple changes, which might go unnoticed by most, is the placement of the cleats which are around the rear cargo area. On the AI, they are placed on the top edge of the cargo space border. They were fine for something like scuba tanks laying in the bottom of the cargo area, but they were not good for strapping things down like dry bags or coolers. On the AI 2, the Hobie engineers have placed them on the side of the hull--more like the cleats on an 18-wheeler. Now it will be easier to safely bungee or strap down larger items in the cargo area. I found the cleats in the older AI inconvenient, but it never dawned on me that a simple change in location could make them much more useful.

And, then there is Triblue's comment above about sailing with Chief and his new AI 2. Triblue said he kept up with Chief going down wind (weight is everything going downwind), but running on a close reach or close hauled, Chief "left me in the dust." Presumably the new centerboard aids sailing closer to the wind. I know Chief, like me, is quite excited about this boat. I'm looking forward to sailing it tomorrow in good winds.

Speaking of dollars to buy an AI 2, my plan had been to have my wife use the 2011 AI--a very nice boat--but I'm already beginning to think she is not going to accept that for long. Probably better to throw in the towel and plan on selling both of our AIs, so we can buy a second AI 2.

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

"Less is more" Anon

I hope you had a great first sail Keith and the new AI is all you hoped it be and more!
Re the cleats- from your comments it sounds like the AI has caught up with the TI.

AI-v1cleat:


TI cleat:


Agreed, the more vertical cleat position is an improvement.

Regardless of the position I found it helpful to add a 6mm stainless eyebolt to the cleat to assist in securing loads etc. Remove the cleat, drill a hole and attach the cut down eyebolt to the cleat, then refit cleat. No holes in hull needed.



Also handy on the drivewell bulkhead:

I'm looking forward to an independant review of the seats. There is a pretty reasonable price difference between a new or near new superseded model And the 2015 model.

There is a vast difference in availability

So it would be good to know if it's worth the wait for the new TI.

Brad

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines