Hobie Cat Forums

I was hoping to fit AI tramps on a TI. The AI tramps are slightly longer and even with the straps done right up the tramp wasn't as tight as a drum as it should be.
Slipping some pvc pipe in the sleeve forward of the aka gets rid of the slack and the straps can be correctly tightened.
I had some 42mm pipe at hand and that was an easy fit. Cut it into two sections as seen in the pic.

Removing the small section near the aka joint allows you to fold the ama in when the tramps are rolled around the aka.

How good does that look mate ? Very impressed. Have you taken it for a blast yet ?

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Whoa! Chill out dude! Plenty of time for that. I'm so relaxed I don't feel like doing anything at the moment.
Those Hobie pine cones are the best stuff ever!

No I haven't. Still sorting out trailer and avoiding 30 knot westerly's

That TI-tree joke probably sounded funny after some pine cones didn't it ?

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

I'm still laughing!

That's a great fix to make the AI tramp fit the TI.

Any concern about the PVC pipe scratching up the black paint on the akas ?

G'Day Honu,
So far no signs of paint scratching but I guess it could occur.
I don't think it would be much worse than the actual tramp though. If you're worried you could wrap the pipe with towelling or foam.
If the TI bars are anything like the AI bars then scratching will be the least of your problems.
On my AI's the coating blisters by itself. In fact where it is scratched it seems to corrode less!
With my TI I have sprayed Lanox over all the bars. It leaves a protective residue which I hope will lessen the corrosion.
Time will tell if it works!

PS- There is room for larger PVC pipe on the aka. I'm going to try some 50mm next.

Thanks Stringy. I'm heading to Home Depot this weekend.

I just googled Lanox and hove found it is a lubricant. Does this make the bars slippery/sticky, does it collect sand/dust more?
Excuse these questions but I have never seen this product.

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

Lanox is great stuff. I use it on all the metal bits. I hang the aka's from the clothes line, give them a quick spray then wipe them down. Leave them to dry a little. I don't get anything sticking to them. Just don't use it around New Zealanders...

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Thanks for that, will have to get some then, as for the NZ's, I have 1 next door. I might just get his wife to take him on a trip to a sheep farm, that way he will leave my TI alone.

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

Great idea! Have you had any problem with the pipes slipping out of position, especially with the Lanox?

I understand Lanox is quite versatile. Have you tried it on the pine nuts?

The pipe can slip if the tramps aren't tensioned tight enough. On our first trip one pipe rolled around and under the aka as I didn't have enough tension on it. Once tightened properly, they stay in place.
I thought the larger diameter pipe should solve that problem!

Just got back from our longest trip yet. Still only light winds but at least we were mostly sailing. I tried 50mm pvc pipe this time. It's a better fit and stayed in place, even with me hiking out. The TI is much better than the AI when sitting/reclining on the tramps as you are much higher and drier.
No backside dragging in the water, which is just as well as it's the middle of winter here.

PS-There is room for a larger pipe than 50mm, possibly one or two sizes larger at least.

Thanks for passing on the field test results.