Anouther AI on site

Pat, nice tramps.

Those no wind days get you kicking back in what I call "crappie barge mode" with your legs out on the tramps. When you're caught in the doldrums you can just relish the stability and all the room for the fishing poles, lunch etc. by your side. One of the many moods/modes of the AI.  Then you come around the point and the wind starts to comes up. You see the miles of open water ahead of you. You feel the stirring and gather all the pool props and clear the decks and get ready for THE RIDE...

That's the beauty of the boat. Instead of thinking, oh no, it's getting windy. You're thinking, OH YEAH, it's getting windy! 



 

MistralWind I got a great deal on the tramps, the place I bought my kayak had a promo going on for every $250 you spend you get a $25 store credit well, for what you spend on that Islander I was able to get the tramps for no extra or I probably would not have them yet.

Pat R

CONGRATS... Pat!!!!!
Let's do a big AI sailing/fishing hook-up!
The list of guys I know with Hobie AI's is growing:
(Currently @ 15)

PatR
Hai/Nudling
John (Hai's buddy)
Francis/John's buddy
Rudy/Halibu77
Tim/Cobaltgruv
Rey/LapuLapu
SteveS
Danny/SuperD270
MistralWind
MattS
Chris/Kingfisher
Lino/Tailwalk
Zee @ NWKA
ChuckE

Did I miss anyone?

I also know a few guys getting ready to pull the trigger on one

Sweet Pat. I ordered my conversion kit yesterday. Hopefully have the conversion completed for the rockfish opener. BTW, I had to buy a hole saw from Hobie to install the mast retainer for $25.  You would think they would include it in the kit.

Nice Scott, I looked at work and we did not have hole saws that big sorry. Looking forward to your conversion up-dates. You could always rent it out to others to get your money back

Pat R

Looks like the 2012 has a different rudder?

MistralWind I got a great deal on the tramps, the place I bought my kayak had a promo going on for every $250 you spend you get a $25 store credit well, for what you spend on that Islander I was able to get the tramps for no extra or I probably would not have them yet.

Pat R

That's actually a pretty good deal.  Since I don't know of any Hobie dealers that discount on new kayaks that could reduce the sticker shock.

Joe

I'm a wanna be...should have the first 1/2 soon!    

Scott I think they changed the rudder in 2011 for the Islander, they where having problems with the twisted and stow on the Islander breaking from the speed. I am not sure you might want to contact Chuck but I think they had an upgrade to the new still rudder. But I still like the twisted and stow a lot easer to transport, I have to take the rudder off when I store it in the garage or it will hit me in the head

Pat R   

Maybe the new rudder is part of my Island conversion kit. I don't like the way it sticks up. I pull the rudder when I have a fish on and it seems like the rudder sticking up might get in the way if the fish runs around the back. Funny thing is the twist and stow rudder is one of the coolest things Hobie has invented.

I agree with you I like the twist & stow rudder better but that new one turns that monster on a dime

Pat R

I have the 2011 model. It came with the twist and stow. Hobie then sent me the new (sharkfin rudder) for free. I have not installed it yet.

My twist and stow is working fine as long as the elastic cord is hooked to the rudder. Works fine under speed/load. I still grind it on the bottom every once in awhile but it still has a nice edge and works well now that I'm used to dealing with it.

I think the biggest problem with the twist and stow design was some people were busting rudder pins under hard sailing conditions.

I believe you can have that new rudder positioned strait out (back) instead of up. You would need to make sure the cockpit controls are set correctly and tight though (I could be wrong...check w/2012 owners first).
     

ChuckE

It would be nice to gather in the late summer for the WSB run in Monterey Bay. I definitely want to try for them this year (never caught one). We could really fan out and cover some water with 10 or 15 boats. Plus, there seems to be some knowledgeable WSB fisherman here with AI's.

In the meantime, maybe a sailing/fishing BBQ at San Luis Reservoir/the Berry or Tiburon???  I'm just wondering if the striper fishing is good enough at San Luis. Never fished it.

It's so hard to get everyone on the same page for a gathering. You got the Bay Area group, Inland group and Santa Cruz/Monterey group....

Be a helluva photo op if it could ever be pulled off though!

Crossing my fingers that my tax refund will be big enough to buy one 

WSB AI mission for sure.  Launch at 2AM and stalk Hai and John.   
I was thinking of joining the spectator fleet for the Americas Cup next year. That would be cool.

Pat

John (Hai's sidekick) uses Scotty rail mounts on aka bars for rod holders. Hai made this gizmo which I call the PVC medusa. I am happy with my rigging. I may mount my transducer to the forward aka bar as suggested by Glen. I don't get cavitation with the shoot through behind the mirage drive tho. I will probably go with the rail mounts.

Scott

Scott