Thanks for the warm, friendly comments; you folks are the best online community I have ever participated on!
Yes, I considered using ramps only, but it turns out that my best launching spots up and down the coast of Southern Cal are on beaches, most of them with loose sand and a hill to negotiate on the way back. I also agree that technique is important, and I can say that I addressed all the issues I could address (even trying to go up the sand gradients using zig-zags
).
The fact remains, I had an AI before I had the TI, and managed it perfectly (almost matter-of-factly) across all sort of launching sites, never a problem. I read that the balance is much better on the TI, and yet, the AI was somehow perfect for my physique and abilities. the TI was not.
I loved the AI; when I moved to the TI, I didn't do it out of dissatisfaction with the smaller vessel, rather because I got an opportunity to buy an almost-new TI at a very, very good price (and also had a good friend who was wanting to buy the AI from me). So, I tried the TI for the last five months or so, not changing anything else in my routine. I immediately noticed the extra back strain, out-of-breath situations after dragging the boat uphill, back pain in the evening after sailing, and all that jazz; all of it launching on the same spots where I had zipped through with my AI. I even used the collective wisdom of this forum to find better ways to beach the boat, tried multiple cart set-ups... but the fact remains that the TI was too much for this old man (who always sails alone, by the way).
I think there is a line somewhere between the AI and the TI in terms of weight, moveable mechanics, trailering maneuvers, etc., and my back status is definitely on the AI side of that line. I am 66, my back has been abused and injured several times, I am obese... etc etc The thought of being paralyzed by back problems (as I have been before), as the price for my twice-a-week day sailing seemed just too daunting. It may prove that the AI is also too much for me. If that is the case I will stop kayaking. I hope not
Thanks again!