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Help, please with choosing sailing kayak
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Author:  wannabh20proof [ Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

I am a 5'2" , 107#er who wants to get into sailing here at midlife, 53, with no previous sailing experience, not all that comfy in the water, live on the Gulf side of Florida. I need stability and some sense of speed/safe enough thrills! lol

Any suggestions, anyone, as to which kayak/sail combo might be appropriate?

Thanks for any and all input!

Author:  stobbo [ Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

Best sailer as a KAYAK is the Adventure - it is the fastest and the daggerboard gives it the best all round sailing performance of all the Hobie KAYAKs.

If you want the fastest Kayak-based sailer the the Adventure Island TRIMARAN is the way to go (either single or tandem). These are faster because they have a bigger sail and outriggers to support the extra weight aloft. They are also extremely stable and (I can personally attest to this on the single-set AI) a very wet ride in windier conditions.

I have an AI which I most frequently sail in KAYAK mode i.e. without the outriggers and with the small Hobie sail; to do this you need to make an adapter to allow the small sail's mast to fit the roller reefing cup on the AI hull (an easy an inexpensive task - some parts from Hobie, a broken windsurfer mast and some epoxy basically). Once you have the adapter you can roller-reef the small sail which is worthwhile benefit. The standard Adventure hull has a different mast base to take just the small sail - some people have modded the rig to allow this to roller-reef too. Don't even think about trying to use the AI sail without the outriggers :-)

Personally I get far more enjoyment out of sailing my KAYAK than I do from sailing my TRIMARAN (or either of my other two sailing boats) - it is dead simple to rig, much more challenging, less full-on (i.e. wet) and it is more engaging... but it is slower and only for light winds. (In really light winds you can fly a mainsail and jib which adds a whole new level of complexity, skill and challenge).

Re the relative stability of the Hobie Kayaks when sailing - basically the wider boats (e.g. Outback) probably will feel a bit more secure but as sailers they are outclassed by the Adventure hull and in none of these boats are you immune from being capsized by wind action alone if you overcook it. Personally, as I have said, if sailing is what you want to do the Adventure (or Island) s the only one to go for because of the daggerboard.

Re capsizing: I have been in for an unexpected bath on 3 occasions in probably 6 or more years of very frequent trips so it doesn't happen often but it does and will happen if you push it. While I would prefer not to get dunked I have never felt too stressed about it when it happens: on only one occasion did the boat completely invert; I have only lost a fish, a knife and a water bottle as a result of capsizing because I keep everything I can tied to the boat; on each occasion I just righted the boat, climbed back on board (after collecting up the flotsam), sorted out the mess of tangled lines & fishing gear and went on my way... I am also lucky in that I don't sail in freezing waters but with the right gear you should be OK - even if you get wet & cold as long as you can get back to shore before hypothermia sets in !

If you are really concerned about stability some people add various smaller outriggers (Hobie sells them) to their Adventure hulls to provide trimaran stability whilst using the small sail... personally I have never been tempted by this because I have a trimaran but prefer the feel of the sailboat leaning to the wind.

Hope this helps.

Author:  larryhts [ Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

Denise and I live in Lakeland, Florida. We sail the Gulf Coast all the time, We spend a lot of time at Fort Desoto Park. We started with 2 Outbacks they sail well and Denise learned to sail on them. Then we got a Tandem Island and now we sail all of them. We have had up to five people on the Tandem sailing it is faster and holds 600# so when family is going with us its better to use all of them.

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The last pic is on the Gandy Causeway west side. If you would like to try sailing in one of ours email us and we will set up a time/place to meet and sail. Syscontrols at hotmail.com.

Author:  dregsfan [ Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

wannabh20proof wrote:
Any suggestions, anyone, as to which kayak/sail combo might be appropriate?


First we need to know how much you want to spend.

Author:  Chekika [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

Stobbo & Larry are right--the Adventure Island (solo) or AI tandem is the only way to go. Everything else will leave you feeling like a wannabee.

Keith

Author:  wannabh20proof [ Sat Jun 26, 2010 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

Thank you, one and all. I have decided on the Adventure Island! First things first, gotta get a hitch!

Larry and Denise, thanks for the invitation. The pictures were great! Really like the trampoline effect, too!

Author:  TxYackMan [ Sat Jun 26, 2010 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

Congrats! Great choice. You will love it.
You will not be able to sleep cause you will want to go sailing.
I am ready to go right now! Addiction is a powerful thing.

Author:  whosyerbob [ Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

wannabh20proof wrote:
Thank you, one and all. I have decided on the Adventure Island!

You won't regret it!

Author:  KayakingBob [ Sun Jun 27, 2010 10:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

Don't forget to post pictures here with that big Hobie grin stuck on your face from sailing it!

Author:  TxYackMan [ Sun Jun 27, 2010 11:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

Yes, the "Hobie Grin". They should trademark that one!

You will indeed have a big ole HG! LOL

Author:  stobbo [ Sun Jun 27, 2010 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help, please with choosing sailing kayak

NB just so that everyone is clear about this: my comments about using the small Hobie sail on the AI hull via an adapter only apply to the SINGLE AI hull - I haven't tried it and doubt this would work at all well on the TANDEM because I think the small sail would not provide enough sail area to drive the TANDEM's hull (and I believe that a different adapter would be required anyway unless the AI and TAI mast cups are the same - which I think they are not !).

Author:  Ranger1 [ Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:40 pm ]
Post subject:  small sail adapter for early model Hobie AI

Just looking for the link for the one with the mast base WITHOUT the Pin.

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