Hobie Cat Forums

Tandem Island Rudder Update
By Doug Skidmore
President, Hobie Cat Company

Over the past few weeks we have been reviewing corrective measures for Hobie Tandem Islands experiencing rudder problems. Some users have had the rudder kick up making steering difficult; others have experienced loose gudgeon screws, and some have had worn or broken steering lines.

Though we don’t like hearing about these types of issues on any of our products, we appreciate the honest feedback from our dealers, consumers, and those users that post on our forums so we can better understand the situation and react appropriately.

This notice is to inform you that we are going to resolve these issues immediately and what to further expect from us in the coming weeks and months.

Read the complete statement: http://www.hobiecat.com/support/articles/tandem-island-rudder-update

Instructions: http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=32375

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Thanks Matt, Doug and the Hobie team!

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

Agree. Thanks Hobie Team - look forward to both solutions.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Excellent work, gentlemen. With this issue resolved the TI will be the premier example in this segment. I look forward to both solutions.

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Mitch

2010 Tandem Island
2010 Revolution
Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

My sailing blog
Our sailing videos

I have not got my TI yet and waiting for it but.....

it is good to see a company stand behind its product and acknowledge a fault and responsibility..... this rarely happens anymore. Well done. I can accept new designs etc have problems and when you make something unique and different (censored) happens. And you get back to your customers to let them know! I think I will order a second boat for my wife!

If Microsoft were building TI's I expect that they would have sunk before they left the harbour, Microsoft would deny any issue, but you can get an upgrade to the latest version for only $600 that also sinks/crashes before you get off the boat ramp.

Hobie...ever thought of writing operating systems for PC's???

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Sail it like you stole it!

I'm very pleased to see that once again Hobie is standing firmly behind their product. Just like the AI, it took a bit of 'trial and error' to get everything working well but just look what all this innovation gets us... an exciting new TI! Thanks Hobie!

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

Thanks Doug, thanks Matt, thanks Hobie. Can't wait for the fixes to arrive.

As stated before by many others, there are few companies as responsive and supportive as Hobie. Thanks again for listening and working to make it right. You guys are the best!

AWESOME !
So this is the product support I have been reading about for a long time.
My confidence in Hobie products has just gone back up to 100%.

Link to this response added to the Hobie Island Checklist

I will be doing the Watertribe Everglades Challenge in March. I find the current rudder fix not a real solution. Here on the Chesapeake you can run into shallows very easily. Sailing down wind with full sail this can be dangerous. I recently ran aground with tide and wind behind me. Hanging over the stern trying to release the bungee while the boat is being pushed sideways was very hairy.

Will the be a new rudder available by March??? Florida Bay has same challenges.

I strongly believe that the new rudder needs to flip up down the centerline. The current side flip design is too complex prone to easy damage.

Paul...

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Paul
DogsLife
2011 Adventure Island (Little Dog)
2010 Tandem Island (Big Dog: "We keep a leg up on the competition")
2001 Wilderness Systems Woodsman Kayak 14.5 (Blue Dog)

http://dogslifeadventures.blogspot.com/

Yes... will flip straight aft / up.

May not be readily available by March.

Contact Jim Czarnowski (fellow water tribe member)... maybe he can use you for some of the rudder testing.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Matt - am I right in believing that this new rudder will replace the current rudder on all TIs and 2011 AIs at no charge?

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Mickey
2011 AI Golden Papaya
2011 TI Golden Papaya

That is correct.

As per the official notice:

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Matt - sorry to bang on but the official notice refers to TIs without actually mentioning AIs. Given that the 2011 AI has the same temporary rudder fix can I assume that they too will get the completely new rudder system

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Mickey
2011 AI Golden Papaya
2011 TI Golden Papaya

The statement I quoted from is specific to the TI, but yes... the 2011 AI is included in the rudder replacement deal.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA