A very intriguing concept! And attractive as well!

A little more information please. How long does it take to inflate? Are they exported? Can you compare performance to any other catamarans?

I agree!

GARY

When I saw the new Hobie I couldn't help but wonder if they had seen the Jim Brown designed Windrider 16, thought it was a good idea, and copied the concept. (See attached photo.)

Google "Windrider 16"
or see the manufacturer's site at www.Windrider.com
or go here: http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1388105/0

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, looks pretty close.

I saw a windrider 17 a few days ago, that thing is kinda cool but slow compared to my 5.2.

Except for the MirageDrive which is the thing that sets this apart from everything before and makes it really work... and the folding amas... and it is a kayak by itself... and it is less expensive...

Rotomolded Polyethylene: The Poor Man's Carbon Fiber.

In addition to our small sailboats my wife and I have a kayak apiece. We live in Louisiana which begs for some kayak paddling once in a while.

I wouldn't say it's the future of sailing but small rotomolded boats that don't seem intimidating or complicated can introduce a lot of new people to the water without resorting to jetskis and that's great.

I think it would be fair to say that the Hobie Adventure Island is more of an advance for the kayaker. There are other kayaks that can be fitted with small sails (but without the amas that add stability a kayak with a sail needs). And the Islands sail is larger than the typical kayak sail.

The Island is also a pedal boat which may appeal to people not comfortable depending on the wind alone for propulsion. Some customers may enjoy a pedal boat instead of a sailboat.

We're really talking about two different products here. The Island is a convertible kayak with a sail, and hulls that make it a trimaran, and the Windrider 16 is a small trimaran sailboat, only. (The Island has 52.5 sq.ft of sail compared to 82 sq.ft. for the Windrider 16.) Some interesting irony is that the Windrider 16 was designed by a famous kayak designer; Jim Brown.

Fortunately, like all sailboats, the Windrider 16 can be picked-up slightly used by owners for whom sailing was not a big thrill. The cost of a used Windrider 16 all over the 'net is about $1,000 to $1,200. At that price you can have his and her's and plenty left over for a couple of kayaks to boot. To me, the Windrider 16 is a prettier craft and all of us (admit it) will pay extra for a prettier boat.

The Windrider 17 expanded the idea of the 16 but, no, when comparing that to a Nacra 5.2 is ludicrous. Those two are two different boats, as well.

Yes MATT, but who was responsible for design of the "pedal drive?

Was that ever really a question?... sorry if that wasn't already clearly stated by me. Hobie Company USA is responsible. Specifically: Greg Ketterman Hobie's VP of engineering's concept. Patented World Wide by us.

Are there plans for a larger hull?

The Adventure Island might not be in your 'future of sailing', but from what I've seen in the past few months I can tell you it's going to be in a TON of other peoples 'future of sailing'. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I am not sure why this thread has persisted so long. Yes, it is a multihull but it is nothing like one of the cats that we discuss around here for the most part- it is in a different class. It is kinda like pointing to a sunfish and saying it is the future of sailing. It is the future of PART of sailing.. like this AI thing- it is the future of sailing for people who like that sort of thing. It fulfills a need in the marketplace for a plastic low maintenance kayak/tri/sail/paddle boat. If it keeps catamaran dealers in business when selling our "type" of sailboats is slow then great <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
whatever

This thread is persisting because many people are excited about this new SAILING product. We have a group of us with AI's doing a long distance sailing trip this weekend with AI's and many in this group are very active sailing of multihull and monohull classes. I don't know about other areas that people live in but in our area the AI is a great hit and is bring diverse sailing groups together, which is great for sailing in general and also for Hobie. Honestly I have not seen this much excitement except back when the H16 first came out. The AI is great fun and sails great. When it comes to paddling regular kayaks jsut can't keep up particularly when you are pedaling or sailing. There is just nothing on the market that is so much fun, simple, great to sail.

There is no OFF position on the sales hype button.

Thanks PTP for summing up why I personally 'hit back' so hard on the forum when people talk negativly about a product that I represent.

PTP:
"If it keeps catamaran dealers in business when selling our "type" of sailboats is slow then great..."

YES! You nailed it!

I don't know of one catamaran only dealership (Brick and Mortar, not garage guys) in the United States. Most likely, they sell the small Vanguards and Hunters, Hobie Kayaks, etc. That's how we stay in business to provide the support needed for catamaran sailing. It's all necessary. I can tell you most definitely that your local cat dealer is not making a million bucks off of your cat habit. He's probably doing it for the love of high performance sailing.

With all of the competition from the big box marine stores, it's amazing that there are any small boat shops left in the U.S. at all. That's why its great to support your local cat dealer if you can, rather than some big box or mail order place. Establish a relationship with him and tell him what you want him to stock. He'd probably appreciate the help with inventory. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In our area the Hobie dealership sells kayaks and the like to stay in business to support more.... Kayak sales. The dealer is located literally right around the corner from the only place on the Bay where catamaran sailing/racing is actually on the increase. At the last Annapolis Sailboat show they proudly displayed the kayaks and the trimaran rig, along with an Escape tucked in the back. When I asked if they would have interest in what was going on in their own backyard, I was told by the area rep that "the days of 100 boat regattas are over" and their money was in kayaks. Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.

We've grown an A-Cat Fleet and a NACRA-20 Fleet in addition to the open class racing going on. A little interest from a dealer might have made the next one to build a Tiger Fleet. Instead, F-16s are popping up, 3 new Blades in addition to the two Taipans we already had.

If you're waiting for the 100 boat fleet to materialize before you feel like getting involved, you're part of the problem, not the solution.

As for supporting the local stores, this outfit alone drove me to the mail-order houses when I was still sailing Hobies. I'm of the opinion now that my business goes to the most helpful and reliable, and these days that's mostly mail-order for our area. Big box stores in our area have very little overlap, except for kayaks, rope, and some blocks. I'm starting to feel like a certain cat company is becoming irrelevant.

That may be a little raw, sorry.

That sucks Kieth. I can't defend or speak about any other dealership but my own. You may want to just communicate with him as to what your needs as sailors are. It would be more convienient to walk into his shop to pick up a part rather than wait on shipping. Who knows, he might really lag...then it's mail order for you!

On the other hand, I can tell you that Surf City is the other way around, we sell kayaks and plastic boats to be able to sell H.P. cats. As far as the relevence of a certain cat company, each area of the country has a dominant fleet. As I said before diversity is nice. Are we done with this thread yet?
Don't apologize for being 'raw', sometimes it needs to be said.
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, the parts shop for cats used to be in the dealership based in Annapolis. I tried buying stuff to stock up for my Hobies at the time. Most stuff out of stock and had to be ordered. Then they closed up the cat parts and moved the stock to Alexandria, still didn't stock much, stuff was all on back-order, and to get it I'd either have to drive or get them to mail it to me (mail order from the local dealer). Went down to SC for a wedding, found the Sail and Ski Connection, and found out how good things could be. Everything was in stock, and since I was mail ordering anyway I decided to go with the people that actually acted like they wanted my business.

But now I sail NACRAs, so I have no reason to bother with that local dealership except for trying to build the Fleets and bring more boats out. The location of the dealership near our two clubs seems to have no interest, but in the end it's their loss.

Glad to hear your dealership is better, I know the good guys are out there. I'll mail order from just such places (except in those times when the factory refuses to drop ship because it's not the local dealer - seen that one too).

The kayak tri is a good idea, although hardly the future of sialing. If you feel like homebuilding check out Chesapeake Light Craft

Not Vladimir, but try to reply.
With good care and maintanance 10+ years easily. Inflatables can be replaced, manufacturing new inflatable hulls is rather widespread service in Russia and Ukraine.

Weights between 45 kg (100 pounds) - smallest and lightest and up to 200+ kg (450+) for large seagoing boats. Boat on Vladimir's photos in appx. 90 kg (200 pounds) AFAIR.
Why not to fly hull? May be not too high <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Also with trapeze:

But this boats are relatively underpowered compared with "rigid-hull". Usual racing classes are 7,5 - 8 - 10 -13 m2, so not often need to trapeze.