AI/TI questions

I’m thinking about changing vehicles and most likely would be the going from my Profisha to an AI

A few questions

1) Doing the research it seems like there can be problems with a plastic aka pin snapping and the ama flopping around

Looks like it happens in rough water conditions, which could be anywhere anytime around here

If it’s an issue I’d probably make a replacement from titanium aluminum or whatever

2) Also wondering about surf launches and landings

Not many launch points around here that aren’t beach launches which narrows things down to HMB Bolinas Moss and a handful of other spots

Probably have other questions before I do it, like advantages between AI and TI etc

Thanks

I love my AI and I'd suggest leaving those plastic shear pins as is.  They'll break if you hit something solid (rock/beach) at high speed but you'll probably be glad they did. It's a $1 part that can prevent damage to much more expensive things like your akas or hull.

A floppy ama is not a big deal on the water. You're still more stable than a regular kayak, and replacing the shear pin on the water is straightforward unless the swells are huge.

Surf launches can be more stressful in an AI vs regular kayak. I'll paddle through the breakers then drop the peddles and rudder. Of the 50(?) times I've surf launched, I've had one spectacular wipeout where I managed to flip upside down on the way out. Turns out a rudder in the up position can still affect the steering, and in my case turned me sideways to a wave at just the wrong time. Still managed 2 salmon that day.

Once you go with an AI you’re probably never look back… I’ve never had a problem with either of mine.you have more advantages than Any other kayak when it comes to distance, wind, and serve launching not a problem. Actually serve launching is easier. My opinion.

What's up, Paul?  Hope to see you out on the salmon grounds before too long.

1) As Michel said, get some spare pins and don't worry about it.

2) Launching is easy: just point it into the waves and go full gas. Landing can be harder, because the amas increase the boats' tendency to go sideways when being surfed by a wave. A bunch of us launch AIs from Bolinas, Muir, Rockaway and Linda Mar, though usually when the surf is small.

Regarding the larger question of the benefits of an AI, I will say the following:

Positive:
- Mobility: if there is wind (but not too much), and if the wind is blowing the right way, you can cover miles and troll effortlessly. It can be pretty magical, and sailing is fun.
- Deck space: with trampolines you have a ton of deck space-- stack your crab pots, take a nap, keep your kill bag handy, bring the kids or the dog.
- Stability: almost impossible to flip.
- Safety: if things go bad and your main hull fills with water, the amas will keep you from sinking.

Negative:
- Landing in the surf is a bit trickier.
- If there is no wind or a headwind, an AI is slower than an equivalent pedal kayak.
- It is a hassle. More stuff to remember, pack, carry, rig, wash, and store.  All this means more drudgery and less time on the water.

Because of the negatives I leave the sail and amas behind and use my AI in "kayak mode" ~85% of the time (basically the same as a Revo 16). I'm not sure how well the new AI hull works for that. Most of the people I fish with who own AIs use them with just one ama and no sail when the salmon are close to shore. Almost everyone who chases salmon far offshore on an AI uses a motor.

I've thought about getting a motor, but I think the noise and fumes would kill some of the things I like best about kayak fishing.

The bottom line for me is that if I'm going to be on the water all day I will probably bring the AI, but for short trips the simplicity of a kayak wins out.

My $0.02...

Wrt the aka pins, definitely leave the plastic ones in place. They are designed to break to save you from serious (read expensive) damage. The bad news is that if a pin should happen to break while sailing at speed, you will almost surely go belly up. The good news is that there is a way to prevent that. You can rig a thin rope that will allow for a bit of flex, to the point where the pin can snap when it should, but the ama will not fold all the way in. That way, you get the best of both worlds---the pin can break and save you a ton of money, yet you can stay upright if a pin should fail when sailing at higher speeds.

There are a few other minor things that I'd recommend to "harden" the AI, making certain failure modes less likely to occur on the water. I'm not sure how many of these things are relevant on a 2015 and newer AI, so I won't mention them here. But if you get an older AI, I'd be glad to post more details.

As for beach launches, I'm a wimp on my AI, and only do places like MBK and Capitola (on a low surf day). A crash in the surf could be very expensive, not to mention dangerous.

Unlike most AI owners, I almost always take the sail. I troll almost exclusively, and even on low wind days, the sail helps on a slow troll. I've also got a spinnaker, which I often bring along on those low wind days.

Sailing is a blast! The thing I like least about (non-AI) kayak fishing is the long slog back to the launch at the end of the day. On the AI, just wait for the wind to come up, and you can sail home. On a slow fishing day (not that that ever happen to me, ha ha...), that is the highlight of the day.

IMHO, the only time the full AI setup is a negative is when you have to go directly into the wind (well, that and when beach landing...). I always try to plan my day so that when the wind picks up, I'm not going to have to fight a direct headwind. The only place that I've ever badly misjudged on that was at MBK, and I still managed to get home.

Just to add to the question?
Do you guy trailer your AI to the launch ramp at HMB?
The 2 times I took it full gear I just ended up loading it on my truck but it took forever to set it up on the beach.  I’m assuming it’s quick in and out on the ramp but a bit more costly due to toll and ramp fee.   Most of the time i just take one outrigger with a tramp.

There are a few other minor things that I'd recommend to "harden" the AI, making certain failure modes less likely to occur on the water. I'm not sure how many of these things are relevant on a 2015 and newer AI, so I won't mention them here. But if you get an older AI, I'd be glad to post more details.

I'm interested to hear more details.  I've had the rudder pin snap while I was out on the water and some great folks saved my bacon with an otw repair with the spare pin.

Do you guy trailer your AI to the launch ramp at HMB?

Like you, I rarely go full AI.  Usually it's just kayak or one ama.  I just try to get to beaches early enough to get a good parking spot and slog through the AI assembly.  Honestly, I'd probably sail more if I trailered my AI... although, boat ramps are usually a shit-show on busy weekends.


On a different note, I wish I could find an older, "hybrid" AI.  I'd like a pre-2012 hull (for the twist-n-stow rudder) with the post-2012 aka connectors.  I'm not a fan of the sharkfin rudder since I don't sail much.
 

I don't think there is anything you can do about the rudder pin, other than to inspect it regularly and carry spares. I've never had that break on the water, but I've replaced it a couple of times, as it was clearly weak and near the breaking point.

A couple of other things that come to mind... I've doubled up the bungees that hold the amas to the akas. It's possible for a bungee to break, and even if that's not a concern, the double bungee holds things tighter, so you don't get any slop or movement in that connection between the aka bar and ama.

Another thing is that the rudder cables have been known to break at the point where they are attached to the rudder. A fender washer there serves to distribute the load, so that's less likely.

I'll try to remember to take some pictures when I get home...

Paul is actually looking for confirmation. 

I have a TI that I've used the crap out of for the past 2-3 summers. You should get the TI if you like a bigger boat and don't mind the extra weight.  I take mine out solo and/or with people.  I enjoy taking people out fishing so that's why I got the TI.  The TI feels massive solo, its great.  Having 2 people for salmon turns it into a fishing machine.

With regards to the aka shear pins I would leave plastic as others have said.  I've broken my fair share of them but if you have the trampolines you will be fine, the aka will NOT fold in on you.  I broke a pin when I hit a powerboat out on the water that stopped and killed his motor to talk to me about my kayak while I was trying to sail.  That was annoying.  I hit his boat on accident, but didn't realize I had broken a pin until I was back underway!  So sail out, sailing, couldn't even tell.  Fixed on the water no problem. I broke another while pulling up crab pots...I was even on the tramp at the time!  No worries, fixed on the water.  I broke yet another one trying to dock once.  And I've broken a couple other doing messy surf landings.  So yes, leave the plastic pins in unless you want to break something else more expensive.  I honestly try not to do surf launches.  I'll do up to 1-2 feet, that's it. I've had an aka bar come out once while on the water but the tramp managed to keep it somewhat together.  Someone who was with me put it together, but didn't do it properly.  They were on the tramp at the time, luckily didn't fall in. 

I've broken a rudder pin on the water.  I'm not sure how it happened we had caught a crab pot line in the downriggers while salmon fishing and a #$%$% show ensued.  As we fix it all and get back under way the rudder was super hard to move.  I figured I broke the pin, but was able to apply more force to the rudder down line to make the steering better and we kept fishing.  Got to shore and noticed the broken pin.  There would have been no way to fix the pin on the water without jumping into the water. 

I do the full setup and takedown, sail, 2 amas, everything comes out with me.  Even if you don't sail, the mast is excellent in making sure boats and other kayakers see you.  This is invaluable.  If you've ever been on a powerboat in a decent swell with kayakers around you will notice the kayakers are not easy to see.  Especially at night.  Put a light on the mast you will be seen.  We see the boats, that doesn't mean they see us.  We are too low on the water.

Good luck with your decision

Even if you don't sail, the mast is excellent in making sure boats and other kayakers see you.  This is invaluable. 

Another reason that I almost always take the sail on my AI...

Just curious as to how you transport the TI. I've now got a trailer for my AI, but I exclusively cartopped it the first 1.5 years that I had it. Cartopping is (just) doable with an AI, but I have a hard time picturing that working with a TI.

A wave flipped me at Bolinas with one outrigger. The brace pin broke and I lost it. A little more expensive to replace but at least no damage to hull.
Yes get it!

I used to transport my TI on a 1969 VW squareback, but it got downright dangerous on highway 1 and the roof gutters start to rust out. lol. Now I've got a 2006 silverado crew crab with a lumber rack.  Three points of contact. So stable I can't tell its up there.  I leave it on for weeks at a time. I'm sure the truck will start to rust at some point. As far as getting it up and down, I remove the rear cross bar, walk up onto the bed with the front of the kayak and slide it up onto the front two xbars. 

I used to transport my TI on a 1969 VW squareback, but it got downright dangerous on highway 1 and the roof gutters start to rust out. lol. Now I've got a 2006 silverado crew crab with a lumber rack.  Three points of contact. So stable I can't tell its up there.  I leave it on for weeks at a time. I'm sure the truck will start to rust at some point. As far as getting it up and down, I remove the rear cross bar, walk up onto the bed with the front of the kayak and slide it up onto the front two xbars.

Very cool. I've been considering a small pickup since my '04 CRV is getting up there in age and mileage (265k). I might trade in the car and trailer for a similar setup to yours...

Yeah I could have gotten away with smaller pickup...easily.  An old ford ranger or something.  I think about it every time I'm at the gas station.  But I see a boat in the near future so I wanted to have the extra towing capacity.