Vantage Seat on an Island

I have a hard time comparing the three boats mentioned. I own all three and they are all such different animals that they seem to defy comparisons to one another, for me anyway.

The TI and Windrider 17 are probably closer together but even then the former is what I consider a far better all around fishing/expedition boat while the latter is more of a big water (within reason) sailboat. Neither is going to challenge the Weta on speed even remotely, regardless of what you do to them short of designing a completely new boat. And the Weta isn't something I'll ever fish from nor take camping. I suppose I could, but with these other boats, why?

I think the AI and TI are remarkable vessels in that they can do so many things very well. Generally, compromise type boats aren't much good at anything in particular and very mediocre at everything. I think Hobie hit a home run with the basic design of these boats and if they want to come up with something to compete with either of the others I'd suggest designing an entirely new boat and leaving the Islands mostly alone. Sure, a new feature or a little more help downwind would be nice, but nothing that comes at the expense of what the boat can do currently.

And the worst part... they are doing the TI too... May cost me some $

I see that JacksonKayak has a sale on their Elite Seats. Roughly $110. I modified this seat on my AI and couldn't be happier!

Although my sample is small (because I don't do a lot of day sailing), I've been out on Biscayne Bay off Miami occasionally, and NEVER seen another AI/TI.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Keith:
It might be regional thing, I know one of the Hobie dealers down there and he tells me the islands are kind of a tough sell for him down in the keys ( I only know the keys and the west coast, and know almost nothing about the east coast and the Miami area, and have never been to the glades (never will I'm Canadian and defly afraid of gators (lol)). Over here there are tons of TI's (way more TI's than AI's, probably ten to one). At the island club and watertribe events we have had as many as a dozen islands show up. Also kayaking is really huge here as well.
Maybe just this area is a popular sailing area, many weekends there are 300-400 sailboats within sight out in sarasota bay, and as many or more kayaks, I'm pretty sure there are at least a hundred adventure islands locally owned (mostly TI's).
At our key west place on weekends I'll see at least a couple of TI's sailing off Higgs beach.
Whenever I sail up to ft desoto on the weekend it's not unusual to see a half dozen TI's out. But it's 25 miles each way for me to sail up there so I don't go up there that often.
Must just be a regional thing, I wouldn't be able to think of anything to do in key biscane, and have no desire to go there, but then I'm not from that area either. I'm sure if I lived there I would be out every weekend.
I have no clue what Hobies actual sales are globally and don't really care, I just know I like what I have and use the heck out of it every weekend.
Bob

Bob,

If you ever come down here and want to get out in the Everglades, I'll take you, and I promise to keep the alligators & crocs away from you. Now sharks, that's another thing....

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Keith:
I'm going to take you up on that when the winter season starts, maybe not camping though, I don't have a hitch on my TI for our 30 ft air conditioned camper (lol). If there are camp grounds down there with full hookup I would be in for day trips (my definition of camping).
We have never been there besides staying at the hilton resort at key largo, and going out on day trips, is the closest we have been to the glades. I guess I'm a softee....
Bob

Bob, there is a large camp ground down at Flamingo--about 50 mi SW of Homestead. I believe it has electrical hookups. I'm not sure how to get reservations. I'll check into that (currently I'm in northern New Mexico.) Mosquitos are bad until things start to dry out, probably January or later. By the same token, mosquitos do not recover until it starts to rain in May.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Bob, here is a link to the Flamingo campground: http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/flamcamp.htm

The site refers to walk-in and sites on the water, but these are tent sites. Loop T has pull-through sites and electrical hook ups.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

I see this thread went off track a bit...

Well, the seat is a great success. Very glad I went to the trouble.

Here is a bit of my last outing: http://youtu.be/a-Pmpx-OHAg

Nice... Any chance of a few close-up photos of the seat mounted on the A.I.?

I suspect it wouldn't be too much of a drama to mount the new A.I. vantage seat on an older A.I.

The expense is really the only issue...

Mike.

Mike, I think that the AI hull area has been dramatically changed to accommodate the Vantage seat, and I believe Hobie has actually stated that the older hull is not compatible.

No worries, there are so many successful adapations of "skipper seats" that you can easily achieve most oif the benefits.

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Hi!
Impressed with the long black mounting board(s)... What are they made from please?

The link I posted in the first post has a video with close ups.

Laminated marine ply. They have a strengthening rib running the centerline underside, so I can move about on them without them flexing too much. They make it really easy to move about. I just wish they weighed a bit less.

My Youtube channel has a few other videos that show me sitting on them prior to adding the Vantage seat.