Happy to be out sailing? They always say the camera adds 10 pounds!
The camera is a GoPro HD, and the pole is a 16ft telescoping housekeeper's pole used for feather dusters & scrub brushes that I bought from Home Depot for about $20. A painter's pole would have worked too, but they weren't long enough. At the tip of the pole is a $4 screw-on 90° painting adaptor that happened to have the correct size screw-on fitting for the camera's tripod mount. I attached a large section of pool noodle near the base of the pole just in case I dropped the darn thing.
If I use a leash with this thing it'll have to be STRONG. While sailing at 9 mph, there were a copuple times I dipped the camera in the water without meaning to, and it was surprisingly difficult to recover. The pole did get a little bent, but it's still functional.
Moejay,
Don't be too put off by all the issues. This is my first boat and I'm happy with it. Like any boat, it requires TLC. And yes, there are a few design issues (rudder is WAY too small) but Hobie really is responsive to these things. Overall it's an easy boat to learn, very stable, and remarkably sea worthy. I strongly recommend you get a trailer.
I bought my TI from Austin Canoe & Kayak in Houston, but I'd just as soon buy from KO Sailing in La Porte. They're both great.
Austin Canoe & Kayak5822 Bissonnet Street
Houston, TX 77081
(713) 660-7000
KO Sailing524 Highway 146 S
La Porte, TX 77571-4832
(281) 867-8200