Grommets? I use them occasionally to tie down loose bikini tops.
But seriously, I install tramps over the braces, as pictured in the user guide. Makes it so easy to slide side to side and steer from the tramps with a hiking stick. Lately, I have taken to just laying down - leaning back with the cleated sheet and letting the boat do all the work, in perfect balance.
I may just strap a stuffed dry bag out there as a headrest to complete the pose. (Or that friend with the bikini can use it).
These tramps are a must have. You will love them. So many uses.. You may even save a life with them.
http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=26642Couple of observations though:
Tramps add rigidity to the akas, (and to the overall boat) making it feel more robust in wind and waves. You will not hear the rattling of metal or worry that the amas are going to pop when things heat up. I had a crossbrace get knocked open while someone was out on the tramp and
I did not even realize it happened. Nothing collapsed. It sailed on.
This comes at a small price though.
It means that if something does work loose, it can be very difficult to reinsert that brace or ama because of all the torque on the bars. And of course, the problem is worse with your weight on them. You may need to loosen or unclip the tramps to fix things. Fortunately, this takes just seconds to do.
When it's time to assemble the front akas, I still find it awkward to align the members and insert the locking pin with the rolled tramps in the way.
When assembling or launching the AI, they will make it harder for you to reach your rudder cleat, mirage well and other cockpit areas.
When you need to fold your amas, you'll have to do it with the tramps unclipped.
Naturally, you won't be able to paddle with them out (an easy situation to predict or fix)
The port paddle rest is positioned in your way as you hike around and you may wish to just bungee the paddle to the edge nearest the ama instead.
Tramps can be tricky and add a degree of drag/sideslip in higher winds. It's doubtful that a wind could push you over, but a breaking wave certainly could.
Should you ever uncouple them in high winds, look out! Tramps make awesome sails.
Hey -Now there's a hinky idea for getting a little extra speed,...