I've read a bit about the Island Ama bungees proving to possibly be problematic under certain extreme conditions. I know my Amas will pop up and down on high wind, rough water days. Some have reported using double bungee set ups to help in this regard. Others have reported failures. I think there is a better way to attach the Amas to the Akas.
Considering that Aka arms extend all the way down through the Amas, the bungees can be dispensed with entirely. If you remove the plastic end cap on the Aka end, and epoxy a nylon lock nut in place inside the opening, then reinstall the cap into the Aka, you can use a bolt/screw to hold a washer (I used a nylon washer trimmed to mimic the teardrop shape of the Ama underside opening) against the bottom of the Ama, which effectively pins the Ama to the Aka under any and all conditions. No slop, no drop, no loosening and provided you did a good job reinstalling the Aka end cap, a virtually fool-proof attachment.
In fact, if Hobie had the desire, they could mold in a little recess on the Ama bottom to accommodate a specialty fastener there, which I believe would be vastly superior to the bungee system currently in play.
I'm taking mine out this weekend and will report back with photos.
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