2016 Hobie Adventure Island Maiden Voyage

Day 1 - I recently picked up my new 2016 Hobie Adventure Island from CCK San Carlos and had my first sailing experience on Lake Tahoe.  The wind was very light to 6mph which was perfect for a sailing noob like me.  I launched from S. Lake Tahoe and tacked North less than a mile to where I saw a party boat hanging out.  I stayed far away from the boat to give them their space but it was nice to have them around since I was out there alone, sailing for the first time in my life, and the water was freezing.  I didn't have a fish finder yet so I was hoping they were onto some fish.  I tried jigging for Kokes and Macks for an hour until I had to head in for the family party.  I didn't catch anything but I didn't care because sailing downwind to the launch was a lot of fun!

Day 2 - The wind was up a little and I sailed around all morning!  I didn't even try to fish because I was having too much fun! 

I have been fishing from a 2012 Hobie Outback for the last 4 years chasing everything Norcal has to offer.  The first things I noticed when I pedaled the AI was how much more easier it was to pedal, how comfy the new seat is, and the speed.  This thing is fast and slices through water like a hot knife through butter.  It even paddled great as I was launching and landing.  My first projects will be to install rod holders and fish finder.  I have been researching the web, old postings on NCKA, and the Hobie forum for ideas on how to rig my AI.  Please feel free to post your rigged up AI and ideas here because I can't get enough of looking at rigged AIs.  I'll post up more pictures of my new yak this evening and I'll keep this thread updated as I start rigging it for fishing...  - J

Pics

You are going to love it.  It is a fishing platform supreme. 

Congrats Jason!  I hope you have more time to sail than me. 

Congrats!!!

Congrats! Sailing in AI is a lot of fun. Like Mel said, Hopefully you have more time sail. 

My first few outings with my AI was sailing only too!  TONS of fun in higher wind when you shift your weight around to jet it just right they haul ass!

Congrats Bro!!! 



-Kiel

 slick ride bro!!! congrats!!!

Hell yeah J!
It does look like a ton of crap to haul around though. How is that aspect?

Big Pimpin', Cat Daddy! 

Congrats Jason
PatR makes the Scotty mounts.
Time for a sail n chill.

You should take that mofo outta Monterey and catch a bluefin.

Hell yeah J!
It does look like a ton of crap to haul around though. How is that aspect?

When I picked up the yak EVERYTHING (AMAs, AKAs, seat, sail, Mirage Drive, paddle, and more.) that wasn't permanently attached to the yak was placed in a  big, long box that was similar in length and weight as the kayak - it was strapped to my roof rack, next to the yak.  The whole time I was driving up to LT I was thinking to myself, "my SUV is already packed with people and tons of stuff...how am I going to get EVERYTHING home ???".  It took a while to pull everything out of the box and put stuff together.  Then, I had to rig it up as an AI and roll everything to the lake.  I think fully rigged it weighed approximately 115 lbs.  The kayak itself does not have handles "midship" and my rack hasn't been modified yet to allow me to load/unload the AI by myself so I needed help from someone to get it done.  I had to strap the yak, two AMAs and sail to the roof rack and put everything else inside the SUV, to get everything home without any issues. 

It took more time and effort to get the AI on and off the water but it's a minor sacrifice for me....because I hope to use the AI to enhance my fishing adventures.  I enjoy fishing solo so I have to figure out a system that would allow me to load and unload it by myself when that need arises.  The cool thing about the AI is that it's basically a 3-in-1: You can fully rig it up as an AI, you can use it like an outrigger canoe with just one outrigger and no sail, or you can use it just like a regular Hobie (without AMA and sail).  And if all else fails or if I don't feel like dealing with the AI for a trip, I'll still have my Outback...

you will now be known as: Str8SailiN

congrats on the BIG upgrade......i hope to be sailed in (hanging on to you) one day soon!