AI & AI tandem questions

Am interested in the AI and have the impression the tandem is actually faster which would make sense re longer equals faster (which i know is an oversimplification)

Am wondering

1) what is cruising speed and top speed pedal only

2) how manageable is surf launching

3) how manageable are they for one person to handle, load on and off car, etc

The weight specs seem reasonable, be nice if they could lighten them up a bit

Thanks

Send a PM to Elusive (Don). He's the only one I know who owns both an AI and Tandem Island.

Thanks, wonder if he's using them on the ocean

Next question was going to be how it handles in rough water and this vid pretty much answered that one



Conditions in the video are fairly common on the north side so looks like a doable thing in one of these

The handling, as far as loading/unloading by one person from rooftop can be cumbersome.  I recently purchased an AI trailer and that is a world of difference.  Lastly consider setup time into your leading/unloading procedures and calculations.  The feedback I have gathered regarding speed of single vs tandem is the tandem is slightly faster and dryer, assuming 1 person sitting in the rear seat.

the tandem looks like a bit of work

also a challenge getting through surf

on the other hand can picture myself stretching out with a pillow with one eye shut and one eye on the rod

the tandem is 18 1/2 feet long and 124lbs without the rigging. that's a pretty good challenge for anyone to deal with solo.  even just the AI is 86.5lbs unrigged and its a PITA to deal with solo. 

We have a demo TI and AI at the shop and the TI is awesome. I wouldn't consider it with out a trailer thoe. If you took it completely apart you might get it on top of a car but you would be near the weight limit of most factory racks. I have taken the TI out with my wife in the front seat, no drive for her just a relaxing ride and it wasn't bad at all. It's basically a scaled up AI, everything is bigger. The dagger board is all internal too, really easy to deploy and retract. As for surf launching, what's your idea of a surf launch? If its small I think it would be doable but realistically most surf launches you have to cart your boat to, I wouldn't want to cart a fully rigged TI very far or over uneven ground. I know that our TI destroyed my Hobie weeleze cart due to the weight and that was on a boat ramp. If you want to demo each side by side let me know.

If you are re-entering a steep slope beach your friends will help you out.  If you're solo you need to make new friends fast.

I trailer my AI. Very easy that way. Never tried a surf launch or landing.

I have read that on long range trips with many ports of call (ie. surf landings) the best method discovered was to leave the boat and hang on to the back aka while controlling the rudder with one hand until your feet touch bottom and you can then retract the rudder and guide the boat at the best angle (from the back aka) until it touches the beach nose first.

Made sense to me and two people (or just back person) might be able to do the same with a TI.

This video should give you some ideas. 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B11gMWwXbT03LUJ5MHU2SGpJbVE/edit?pli=1

I am weak.
Car topping the Ai isn't a problem, but I had to make a guide to slide the hull onto the car. Setup time is only slightly longer than a regular yak, unless you are using all sorts of attachments-tramps, hakas etc.  There are at least two trips to the car for me though, or one heavy cart trip. You get a rhythm and setup goes quickly.
Get a good cart!
Pedalling only I can sustain about 3.5 MPH indefinitely in the ocean comfortably.
Sailing in our typical afternoon winds coming home puts you around 7-8 MPH.
Pedal sailing is what trips me out. In no wind, pedaling with the sail up I get another half MPH or more for no extra effort.

I have launched the ai at Muir, bolinas without issue. Not sure if I am ready for linda mar, but on anice day probably. Sailing back into the surf is a trip, I still don't feel comfortable, but only have 1/2 dozen trips thru to draw on.

Somehow I was thinking those would have better speed w pedal only. Six mph or so would make getting in through bigger surf less risky.

Sailing one looks like a blast, sailing one in through breakers would take some cahonies

Too bad they don't make an ultralite version

SteveS I think Muir is the only beach I was ever endoed on, coming in at the end of a day when a big south swell had arrived, always good to check those swell forecasts

Thanks everybody for your answers

I would stay with a paddle kayak. In Monterey, the AI is the salmon trolling weapon of choice because of the harbor launches and long commutes to the salmon grounds. In Marin, it doesn't offer you much of an advantage compared to the downsides as far as salmon trolling goes because you surf launch and the distance to the funnel is not too far. As far as speed
Peddle: maximum 5.5 MPH, cruising 3.5-4.5 MPH
Sail: maximum 18 MPH, cruising 6-8 MPH

If I were to choose a kayak to fish with you it would be a P15. All that said, the sailing part is fun and sailing Marin is really fun. So if you wanted a hobby that didn't involve killing salmon, the AI would be an option. 

Somehow I was thinking those would have better speed w pedal only. Six mph or so would make getting in through bigger surf less risky.

Sailing one looks like a blast, sailing one in through breakers would take some cahonies

Too bad they don't make an ultralite version

SteveS I think Muir is the only beach I was ever endoed on, coming in at the end of a day when a big south swell had arrived, always good to check those swell forecasts

Thanks everybody for your answers

Muir can be freaky on a south swell!  I did the same, but got rolled in my old prowler 15.  Coming in with the surf I can easily hit 6mph pedaling, but its weird having to pedal and use a paddle to scrub speed.
I have sailed into the bolinas channel now a few times, it feels surprisingly safe and sane, even when it is closed out.
You are more than welcome to borrow my boat if you want to try it out.

Thanks for the offer that's really generous

I love launching Bolinas but if the NW kicks up and you're outside it can be a real bear getting back up and in

one time I had my head down slugging it out going back up to bolinas and I looked over at a buoy that was passing me and realized I was going backward

Situations like that make the sail/pedal thing appetizing, I have less and less appetite for paddling in wind

Not sure what I'll do at this point, if they made a lighter version I'd be on it in a heartbeat

GB2 I can definitely see sailing out to Soquel Hole on one of those

All around would probably be tempted to get out a lot farther like out to where the fish are right now