Hobie Cat Forums

Just wondering if anybody has attempted to pull a TI, even in kayak only mode, over soft sand using a Trax 2 cart, or any other cart?

I imagine that the 24cm beach wheels are simply not large enough to accommodate the load. I am guessing that the tyres would sink into the sand and make it almost impossible to pull.

I am really keen to broaden my launch options in the TI, but this means porterage over soft sand to the open beaches. I am thinking of making up an oversized cart using the 42cm wheels to make this possible. Before I go through the pain, I thought I would check if others have already been through the pain, and would like to share

Hello riddo...

I have used both the trax 2 (inflatable beach wheels) cart and the heavy duty cart with my TI. On really soft stuff the heavy duty cart wheels have a tendency to sink into the sand as one might expect... especially when fully rigged and with extra cargo. However, while the trax 2 beach wheels work well in kayak only mode they tend to bog down quite a bit when fully rigged. I have read of other accounts of beach wheels going almost entirely flat while attempting to carry a fully rigged TI and cargo (and they certainly do this in my experience..so my dealer recommended the heavy duty cart for my loads and terrain). It really depends on your terrain used the majority of the time and whether or not you plan to be fully rigged or in kayak only mode. Hopefully this helps add some insight... good luck and enjoy your TI!

_________________
2010 Papaya Oasis
2010 Hibiscus TI
A wallet with a hole in it!

I moved my TI in the kayak mode about 250 yards using the Hobie plug in cart with the fat soft tires but it was on a solid surface. It was a lot of work. I can't imagine dragging it over sand by yourself.

_________________
Jerry D.
St. Johns, Florida
2010 TI
2008 AI

Yakkass has an article on this very subject riddo... perhaps this will help more than my meanderings...


http://yakass.net/articles/87-equipment/480-which-wheelcart-for-my-kayak.html

_________________
2010 Papaya Oasis
2010 Hibiscus TI
A wallet with a hole in it!

I've pulled our fully rigged TI 30m over very soft sand using the Trax2 and it was a struggle but do-able. The newer balloon wheels are a huge improvement. In kayak mode I doubt it would be an issue at all.
Adding an extra bow handle helps a lot. I rarely use the stern handle so on my AI's it is relocated to the bow. Must do the same to the TI.

Thanks for the replies. I think most of my beach launches will be in kayak only mode so maybe I will mod my HD Cart so I can put some trax2-type inflatable wheels. I figure in the fully rigged sailing mode, I can travel distance more easily (if there is some wind...) so will usually launch from a boat ramp.

If nothing else, pulling the TI over the soft sand will be very good exercise

Riddo

Stringy is spot on here.... adding a second pull handle on the bow padeye will help keep your rotator cuff intact and your back happy!

_________________
2010 Papaya Oasis
2010 Hibiscus TI
A wallet with a hole in it!

On a recent vacation had a beach launch I used several times. I pulled the fully rigged TI over asphalt for a couple hundred yards and it worked flawlessly with my HD cart. I then had about 25 yards of soft sand to traverse. It is doable, but was quite a workout and not easy.

My HD wheels fell off the cart after pulling out of the Hudson River while camping this past week. Apparently the cotter pin fell out. Later I noticed the retaining pin fell off as the bungee broke. All this with little use to date. Thankfully my awesome dealer... the boat locker in Westport... is ordering a new one for me!

_________________
2010 Papaya Oasis
2010 Hibiscus TI
A wallet with a hole in it!

Same happened to mine, crossing a busy street with a loaded AI. The clip slipped. The wheel went flying into traffic. Messy that.

6 months old cart. No help from my dealer though.

_________________
"You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality."
- Ayn Rand

Nothing like losing your load in the middle of traffic NOHUHU. It appears as though the clips can fit quite loose. I'll be using a true cotter pin to hold the wheel on this time. I know clips were designed for easy/fast wheel removal but I can't afford to drop my TI and not be able to get it to the trailer. Sorry your dealer wouldn't help out... at least with a new clip maybe. Thankfully Scott is fantastic at the Boat Locker as he tends to take good care of me. I'm not absolutely certain about the age of the cart as it was a trade for the Trax 2 cart with balloon tires. The axels appear a bit grooved so I'm guessing it's had some use.

_________________
2010 Papaya Oasis
2010 Hibiscus TI
A wallet with a hole in it!

On the HD wheels, I replace the pin that come with it with lynch pins.



I bought them here on Maui at Lowes.

They won't fall off, and even though what I use isn't stainless, they last years with just a fresh water rinse.

I also use the same type lynch pin to hold the older style cart onto the boats when transporting, through a hole drilled 1" down on the cart scupper pipes.

_________________

http://KayakingBob.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007, 2009 & 2010 Hobie AIs and a 2010 TI

Great idea Bob.. and much easier to then remove wheels if needed than trying to bend a cotterpin with your hands... and teeth!

_________________
2010 Papaya Oasis
2010 Hibiscus TI
A wallet with a hole in it!

ReefWraith, you could also use these light duty cotter clips in place of humbug pins. Comes in stainless and very easy to deal with. Requires only a small hole.



Thanks for the sturdy pin idea, Bob. I have another older style Hobie cart that could use them for the scuppers.

_________________
"You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality."
- Ayn Rand

Thanks to you both... great ideas that I'll be sure to implement on the new cart. At the moment I'm going out today with duct tape and baling wire holding everything together. Ok, not quite accurate... but close!

_________________
2010 Papaya Oasis
2010 Hibiscus TI
A wallet with a hole in it!