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AI Trailer Cradles
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=43567
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Author:  NOHUHU [ Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

That boat must be really geometrically challenged,..

Author:  Manster [ Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

It looks like the left and right rear akas are reversed. Don't know if that's the issue though.

Author:  PassWind [ Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

NOHUHU wrote:
That boat must be really geometrically challenged,..



Its a Tertahedrical Pinomial to the n'th degree

... You sir, deserve a new hull with all the problems to date. Its hip to be square

Author:  NOHUHU [ Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

Manster- they look correct for an AI. The Aka brace connection is supposed to be in the front of the rear Aka.

It's in the rear for a TI.

Author:  bassetm1 [ Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

My cradle is the same on my 2010 AI. The amas contact the cradle first and the hull never touches. It puts a lot of pressure on the knockle joints as they try to rotate because of the lever action of the amas supporting all the weight. I put foam under the hull and raised the centre mounting point to try and help but it really only distorted the cradle. It's either a crook cradle or boat, I hope it's the cadle! I might contact my dealer and see what they say.

Author:  cam [ Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

Has this been resolved yet?

I have not needed to trailer my '09 AI until now. I have seen various setups where the AI hull seemed to sit well on a set of Rhino kayak carriers with the rigged amas just resting in their natural position on the cross bar either side of the main hull (see Stringy's trailer here for example viewtopic.php?f=73&t=11063). I am wondering whether to buy Hobie cradles for both my new TI and my old AI or to just fashion my own out of timber, or whether to use the Rhino kayak cradles that I already have on my roof rack.

Looking at the photo posted above (see again below) by Nohuhu the height at the centre portion of the older cradle seems higher relative to the height of the ama portions when compared to the newer (?) model in Tom's picture (or is it paralax error?).

Image
Image

Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

I resolved it by replacing the thin foam pad inserts with a much thicker trailer bunk carpet, and by installing two rubber washers between the center of the cradle and the trailer support arm. This effectively raised the center of the cradle to a point where it now supports the main hull.

I don't expect either the cradles nor the hulls to be perfect - these (hulls) are plastic pieces made in such a way that no two are going to be absolutely identical. A little custom work by the owner may be required to get a perfect fit between the two.

Author:  PassWind [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

Tom Kirkman wrote:
I these (hulls) are plastic pieces made in such a way that no two are going to be absolutely identical


While I agree with you, I disagree in this instance where we are talking about what is basically the outside surface limit and that is determined by the mold itself. Yes there will be nonequivalent shrinking during the cureing process but these cradles are made for one specific purpose - to support the hull. It is a mighty big Fail in my eyes when a product can not perform its intended and primary task

Perhaps what we are seeing is a mismatch of two variants of the cradles and AI designs , i.e. Old cradle for Pinned Akas, new cradle for knucle Akas and the case where new cradles do not fit the old pinned Aka angles?

Can anyone verify if there are 2 versions of the cradles ?

Author:  NOHUHU [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

PassWind wrote:

Perhaps what we are seeing is a mismatch of two variants of the cradles and AI designs , i.e. Old cradle for Pinned Akas, new cradle for knucle Akas and the case where new cradles do not fit the old pinned Aka angles?

Can anyone verify if there are 2 versions of the cradles ?
This would suggest that the new knuckled Akas/Amas sit much lower than the original design (when folded). I don't know if this is the case, but I doubt it. More likely the new cradles are flubbed, or installed wrong.

A new cradle version came out around the time of the TI as I recall. People commented that the old style was flimsy and cracked easily. (AKA "drooped"?)

So what about heating the outside rails, to give them more droop? Seems the sensible solution.

Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

The outside rails can't go any lower - they sit on the trailer support bar. Can't go any lower than that. In this case, you have to raise the center section, which is what I did. Now I have a perfect fit.

Author:  NOHUHU [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

Yes-you would still need to shim the middle.

Tom, are there any stresses on the shimmed plastic that has you concerned?

Maybe a few days in the hot sun is enough to equalize things. But I wonder about stress fractures developing with repeated heating and dunking in cold water.

Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

It only required a couple of 1/8th inch rubber washers in the center. The cradle isn't rigid enough that this should cause any trouble.

Author:  narwhal [ Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

Could somone please give me the width (shortest dimension) of the individual AI cradles so that i can do some planning on my trailer mods? My cross beams will be wood and i don't want the beam wider than the cradle so that the boat will contact the cradle first when loading the boat. I am waiting for the cradles to come in and the dimensions would help.

thanks in advance!

Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

6-1/4 inches.

Author:  narwhal [ Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: AI Trailer Cradles

Tom Kirkman wrote:
6-1/4 inches.



Thanks - much appreciated!

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