Hobie Cat Forums

Is there any chance that, in the future, Hobie will create a retro fit kit to adapt the Tandem Islands Aka Crossbars to the AI? I like the looks of the TI's Crossbars and they look like they would be stronger and easier to install. Has there been any discussion of retrofitting these crossbars to AI?



Thanks Matt!!

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Sterling
2008 Papaya Adventure Island with Roller Furler Jib

Post about my jib
viewtopic.php?f=69&t=20991

I was wondering the same thing, its probably the most annoying part of rigging up the AI is with those pins on the current crossbars.

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Likely a 2011 feature for the AI.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

sweet hopefully a retro fit is possible!

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Hi I ordered a AI in July, and received it on Aug 20, 2010, it has the AT Crossbars and outriggers. The newer rudder and lever handle. It does look stronger than the old system, and you just slide the pieces together, one of mine stuck when trying to take it out.

Bryan

It sometimes helps to swing the ama back and give a little twist when removing it (if binding).

Do the amas clear the water when you are pedalling with the sail furled?

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S.Yoars, is that aluminum oxide inside those new Aka clips?

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

Pictures Bryan. Bust out the pictures.

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

The "kit" would be (2) crossbars, and (4) akas... pretty expensive upgrade.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

And don't forget adding the TI Amas, which is where this conversation leads. $$$!
(BTW, we have tweakers out here that are doing this now with the older Akas/xbars).

Matt, can you confirm if the new system has steeper Aka angles and therefore higher Ama clearance? Would the AI kit follow this change?

Can someone post a comparison photo with the AI/TI Akas side by side or overlayed?

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

This will not fit TI amas. The crossbars are spaced differently, so folding amas would be an issue.

The AI version also has AI ama depth.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Thanks Matt. And welcome back to the land of Sonic Burgers.

In this application, the Akas are braced and do not fold anyway. For tramp owners this may be less of a problem too. It would allow for more carry capacity and alternate outboard seating rigs. We'll see what happens.

It's really hard to tell those imagineers in the skunkworks that something can't be done. Just makes them try harder.

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

Ah Nohuhu, I share your dream of being able to pedal the boat in AI mode almost as fast as it can go in Adventure mode.

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I suspect little if any angle difference between the AI and TI akas. Take a look for yourself:





The TI sits higher in the water, thus lifting the amas higher (these pics don't provide a good comparison on this matter since the TI is being soloed from the front, thus depressing the bow). Additionally, the much higher capacity of the TI easily supports the weight of the amas, akas and passengers without much settling. Finally, with the TI's flatter, wider bottom, the heeling fulcrum point moves more to the lee side, allowing more initial heel but less weight transfer to the leeward ama (whereas the AI heels more about its longitudinal axis, dropping the akas closer to the water for a wetter ride). I'm not sure if that last part came out very clearly, but something to contemplate anyway.

Bottom line, if you put the TI amas and akas on the AI I don't think the heavier, longer amas will ride clear of the water -- more likely the opposite. You might get a faster ride though (sailing). But perhaps the land of Sonic Burgers will prove otherwise!