Hobie Cat Forums

I haven't posted the TI Sprayskirts yet, and it's been a while on the AI Sprayskirts, so by request (instead of hijacking another thread ) here's a post on them.

TI Sprayskitrts:



Here a poor video, showing the Ti going over 11mph at times, downwind. Except when the nose grabs a wave, the Sprayskirt keeps the spray out of the cockpit. (I was busy keeping the TI under control at that speed and waves)




This page shows the colors we've made, although lately most want black.
It also has a link to my wife's website if anyone wants to buy one instead of sewing it themselves.
http://www.kayakingbob.com/sprayskirt-purchase

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

"poor video" Bob? That's one of my favourites!

FWIW, whilst the spray skirts are a 'simple' design that you could make yourself, stitching up shade cloth properly would be a PITA. Bob's wife does a very professional job - glad I bought them!

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Cheers, Max ● TI: the "Yella Terra" ● Website: www.MadYakker.com ● YouTube: madyakkermax

Yay, thanks for starting this thread.
Nice to see the skirt in action.
Have you ever encountered a situation where the nose submerged in a wave, and the skirt acted like a parachute, where a possible "stall" or "flip" could have occured ?

Yes, but never to the point of a pitch pole. One of the "features" of the Sprayskirt is, if it plows into a too large wave it slows to a stop before fully submarining.

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

Ok, that's good news.
Did you ever experiment with a "one piece" design ? It would cover the front hatch, but would totally block any water from coming through.

I use my front hatch, so I never built a one piece. Early designs, I used just one line connecting both sides and it wasn't as good because the downwind side gave up line to the upwind side so it didn't hold as tightly. The most common mistake on a new installation of the Sprayskirt, is not making it tight enough. A tennis ball should be able to bounce off of the material when on nice and tight.

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

Wow, did not know how tight it had to be.

If it's looser, it just lets more water come around them, or even through them if they are not laying flat. A nice thing about shadecloth (and why I use it) is water (and air) will go strait through it, but at an angle, almost all water will bounce off. So it drains and water from above quickly, but stops just about all waves and spray from coming through.

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

Bob pointed out that my spray skirts aren't tight enough, after seeing them in a vid, and I also haven't secured them at the front hatch and aka yet... but even so, they stopped the water flying into my face. While I love the thrill of white water flowing over the yak when pushing the TI, I'm not so keen on wearing it in the face! I wouldn't be without them!

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Cheers, Max ● TI: the "Yella Terra" ● Website: www.MadYakker.com ● YouTube: madyakkermax

Dee rocks!
It's a lucky man who's wife shares his passion for Hobies AND has an industrial sewing machine.

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

Bob,

Loved your video.

How well do the sprayskirts work when going to weather?

I sail from the rear seat and when there is good wind I get a lot of spray in the face while going to weather. It looks like the point where the forward downwind aka connects to the boat goes under water and sort of scoops the water up and throws it everywhere. Have you had your downwind sprayskirt riding along going under water like that?

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

Jerry, on the TI, whenever to boat gets up to speed, the bow wave hits the front aka knuckle and sprays everywhere! The sprayskirt blocks that pretty well entirely. It won't help much, with spray coming off the ama, but that isn't steady, and changes with each wave and the angle to the waves. I haven't heard from even one person that has installed my Sprayskirt, that isn't very happy on the results.

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

Max's last video with his new skirts did an excellent job of depicting the TI bow spray and shows how effective the skirts at suppressing it. Even helps w/ Aka splash.

Great design.

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=30781&start=0&sid=2a06c5d5234ca97686ac407601d9b672

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

Jerry, Bob's sprayskirts are excellent. As far as I'm concerned, they're a "must have" accessory!

I must order this for my TI!!! Very soon...

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.