newbie - scaring myself OUT of buying an AI. Help!

[Edit - I didn't realize how long my post was... oops!]

As with any forums - if you research a product in that forum, you feel like that product is nothing but problems (since problems are usually the main threads!).. And reading up on the AI, I'm almost scaring myself out of purchasing one. I need some experienced owners to set my mind straight!

I'm at the stage where I am toying with the idea of getting an 2015 AI in the next few months. But when I read about...

hulls deforming
storage areas leaking
rudders not going down and locking all of the way, and different year models using different rudders.
masts breaking
Comments such as "The 20xx year model was an 'everything works model', the 2015 models are not"

... the more I read, the more I think "What am I doing for this much money?"

Some stuff sounds like warranty issues, and I'm fortunate to live within 1hr of 3 Hobie dealers.

Hull deformation sounds like the most common issue. But I need some help understanding what the AI user guide says.
It states: "Do not leave your boat on the cart for more than one hour (less time in warmer temperatures or direct sunlight)"
I get that, and it makes sense.
However, one of the 3 Storage recommendations say "Hull cradles OK" (as in if I were to mount some cradles on 2x4s and hoist the AI in the garage).

Living in central FL, my garage can get pretty warm. If an hour of warm temps on the Hobie cart (with the hull cradles) is not recommended, it would seem longer term storage in a warm garage, hoisted in cradles, would not be recommended as well. Or am I severely over-thinking this?

Do all Mirage Island owners eventually deal with hull deformations at some point?

I've also read about storage options for the past week (I'll certainly research the finer points of things like "storage" in the appropriate discussion group - it's not my intention to pose such an open-ended question), and I feel like my best option, and the "safest" is to store in the garage upside-down, then roofrack right-side-up with the home-made Pirate pillows I've read about, and use the cart for short transports

I guess I feel like I'm all over the place with questions, comments, and things I've read - which most are probably not worrying about.

any input on anything I've brought up would be helpful.
I've bookmarked a few forum threads - willing to bookmark many more.

Thank you
-cameron

Don't talk yourself out of it...they're great boats.

Don't forget that the forums tend to be clogged with issues/problems as that's what folks want help with...all the sunny,fun, happy sailing just gets lost in the mix and don't get posted.

I've had a 2007, and a 2012, now a 2015. The 2015 is a wonderful dry ride. If you are pushing the boundaries on the boat you'll want to reinforce some parts...but if not. Don't worry about it.
Temps in my area reach 100 a few weeks a year, and i've suffered some hull deformation, but you can always correct it.
No problems for me with the front hatch, and if i do leak there, i'll just add some pipe insulation and call it good.

Same here, I bought a new AI because it was heavily discounted and I assumed Hobie had got everything right on this one.

But the tales of Disconnecting AKA's causing boats to roll upside-down would be fatal for someone in my poor health. ( I have not had a chance to float it yet.)

My 2008 AI has never had anything break in normal use I hope I have made the right decision.

_________________
Fair Skies, Max.

Interesting, it gets over a 100 here frequently, how was yo boat stored when it deformed and where was the deformation?

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Fair Skies, Max.

Don't let the forum scare you off. Just like all other forums it is mostly complaints or problems that you see. You don't see the fun stuff because they are having too much fun to post. If you do decide to purchase I don't think you will be disappointed.

_________________
2015 Hobie Tandem Island Hibiscus
"Third Normal Form"

• Trampolines
• Hobie cover
• Davis Spar Fly
• Kayakbob's Sprayskirts
• Spine Board Hakas

I have stored my (recently sold) AI in a Texas garage for 4 summers, including one summer with more than 90 100-degree days in a row with absolutely no problems. I suspended it from harken-hoister straps upside down on the gunwales. If you follow Hobie's advice and do not store hull-down on thin bars or on a single-cradle type cart, I think you will be fine.

The front hatch is an issue that affected me only when plowing through a lot of steep boat wakes. Out on the gulf riding up and over 4 foot swells I don't take on much water at all. If you will be sending a lot of water over the bow, the hatch might need some extra attention. There are several easy solutions on this forum, though I do wish Hobie would do a better job on the hatch seals. Ideally the two gaskets each seal against the opposite face, but on my new boat the lip on the boat side is so high that the gasket side of the hatch doesn't touch to make a seal.

The twist-n-stow worked great for me on my old boat. The flip-down rudder works great on my 2015 TI so far, and I have had it out in 20 knot winds. I did not replace a single rudder pin or aka shear bolt in four years of use, though I did not sail in crazy weather too often.

It is a lot of money for a little plastic boat. But it is a fun boat, an easy boat to store, transport, and maintain, and very versatile. All in all, I'm glad I bought mine.

-Chris

_________________
2015 TI
2009 AI (sold)
Lake Travis, Ladybird Lake, Rockport/Aransas/Padre Island
Texas, USA

For every person that posts about one of the problems you mention, there are 100+ others that get their AI, assemble it, and take it out and have loads of fun. No problems involved.

Hobie has been around a good while. They are known for good customer service. Buy the boat and start having fun. If you find yourself in the tiny percentile of persons have a legitimate problem, contact your dealer and Hobie and let them take care of you.

For what it's worth, I own 5 Hobie kayaks, including an AI and a TI. They remain some of the best, and most fun, investments I've made.

Hobie clearly states that you can safely store an Island on the Hobie cradles.

Also, if you are concerned about akas coming adrift, adding a few safely lines will not cost you more than about $20, not a huge investment lol.

Just buy that AI as fast as you can, and have a ball!!

_________________
Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

This is good advice, and accurate. Its fairly typical for people to make posts if they encounter what they perceive to be a problem. Sometimes it is because they are legitimately looking for advice but just as often it is because they think if they make their issue public then greater & faster action will be taken. Whatever the reasons, you're almost always going to see more posts drawing attention to individual issues rather than posts by people to the effect of 'purchased boat, loving it'. But trust me, the vast majority of Island owners are extremely satisfied customers. And more often than not the ones who run into issues usually figure out their issue is pretty much a non-issue when they become more familiar with the products.

As someone who has been using the Islands almost as long as they have been a thing, take it from me, the AI is a better boat than it has ever been and there has never been a better time to get one. Read my review on it here: http://slhobie.com.au/info/articles/560-adventure-island-2015-review

I will be posting a (9-minute) video review this weekend and it will back up everything I wrote in the review I just linked to

_________________
Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au

100% CORRECT!

best regards
thomas

If you buy an AI be sure to look at the Haka thread. You will need them almost immediately for additional seating for Supermodels.

And maybe save the cradles for your trailer and use pvc pipe bunks for the garage storage. With the money you save you can buy a Gopro camera to take pictures of the one that got away. The fish i mean.

Chris

PVC bunks are the bomb...have 'em on my little trailer now thanks to this forum.

The question on deformation, was from leaving my boat upright cartopped for days in the blazing sun. Back on the bunks or upside down and she reshaped fast.

Yea like all the guys are saying, most of the problems you read about are the one percent of people who are having difficulty and asking for help (this is why this forum is so great), however the other 99 percent are out there just having fun and never have any issues.
I've been running TI's for 5 yrs now (TI is the exact same boat as the AI, but has two seats), and never really had any issues except shearing a few AMA shear pins, and a few rudder pins, they are designed that way on purpose so in the event of a collision, nothing expensive breaks (a brilliant design), obviously we sail by the brail method ( lol).
As far as hull deformation goes, yes the hull can deform a little if not stored properly, but is also easily fixed by just letting the boat sit out in the sun on a flat surface. We use the PVC bunks on our trailer, and also to store the boat (upright). Basically that's two 1 1/2 inch PVC pipes (about $10 bucks) about 8-10 ft long mounted on 11" centers. The boat easily slides onto the bunks, and the PVC helps keep the boat centered on the trailer, and prevents any kind of deformation (even in the bright florida sun).
We use the heck out of our boat pretty much every weekend ( I average pedaling my TI around 15 miles per week as part of my exercise program) and have really had very little difficulty with my boat, to be honest I don't think I have spent more than about a hundred bucks in the five years on any kind of repairs (not many can say that with any other type boat).
If it was me I would just get one, you will love it.
Bob

WOW! Thank you all so much for the responses. Interesting, funny, and insightful.
My mind's at ease, and everyone sounds like a fun group of people

Time to clear out some garage space, plan my harken hoist system, and go get a boat.

Thanks!

Thanks Tony, I never had a Deform even with the early AI on car-top THULE cradles left out for weeks on one occasion, (with the Hobie cover).

Right now my new REVO 15/16 is on the basic cart in the garage but with the Donut-shaped collars on the scupper tubes to prevent crossbar dent so I guess that should be OK.

Most forums have a bit of froth and bubble from the more outspoken members but here you can see the Forum working as it should, experience informing and supporting people who need information.

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Fair Skies, Max.