Hobie Adventure Island

Anybody here ever demo a fully rigged Adventure Island? Sail it? Peddle it with one outrigger? I understand that the newer Adventure models are designed to be outfitted "Island" style. So, the Adventure Island could be left stripped down to a regular Adventure for those times when you didn't want the outriggers or sail. This is a concept that I like.

The possibilities sound enticing. Sail it using both outriggers, troll out in the ocean for salmon, set up with one outrigger, using the Mirage drive. Maybe even get the Torqueedo drive that fits in the Mirage drive well. Or set it up it as you would a regular Adventurer.

I still like my Tarpon 140. I'm just dreaming of the future if/when I want to expand my fleet. I just viewed the vid (again) of that dude in Oz who fishes out of his Adventure Island and claims its the best all-around fishing yak there is. (I think he works for a shop that is a Hobie dealer, though). The angler's name is Josh Homes, and there's an interview with him over on yakangler.com, with a link to the vid. 

Yakmonkey has one of those setups. Thoughts YM?

Z

Proof that I'm dreaming here... I still need to peddle a Mirage-drive Hobie!  I'm just remembering those balmy late summer days when the Coho were swarming offshore.

Proof that I'm dreaming here... I still need to peddle a Mirage-drive Hobie!  I'm just remembering those balmy late summer days when the Coho were swarming offshore.

ditto!  I have developed a real interest in this kayak!  I like the idea of one outrigger and a tramp for fishing offshore for things like hailbut.  Also the ability to cover water with the sail, could make ocean coho a blast!

Yup, have the Adventure Island and LOVE it.  I leave the amas and akas off for most fishin' ventures.  It isn't a problem having the mounts there even if I'm not using them.  It adds a little weight, but that's insignificant.  It does add some great hand holds and places to clip on bungies for easy mobility of leashed stuff.  It functions in every way (except livewell) as a regular Adventure, with the sailing bonus. I've taken a good look at how the mast mount is placed, and personally, I wouldn't be comfortable doing it on my own. So, I bought the package assembled.  A bit pricey if you think of it as a kayak, but super cheap if you think of it as a sailing outfit.

It sails like a dream.  I did a lot of sailing as a teenager and young adult, and this does the trick in satisfying the sailing bug I have.  Jibe and tack are a total breeze as you can pedal your way through a turn (if you have the drive in.)  It moves best between a close haul and a beam reach (typical of all sailing vessels.)  It can be fit with a simple barber hauler which allows for easy and effective downwind sailing.  I've had mine up to as much as 10mph safely, but it can be pushed past that, if you want to be a little risky with security of your mast mount.  It did take some additional consideration when I mounted my fishfinder and anchor trolley, but that's not a big deal.

I am waiting with baited breath for some of ya'll fishin' guys to end up with one so that long sail/yak/fishing trips can happen.  I'm planning on adding the trampolines too, but funds are prioritized elsewhere at the moment.  I can totally imagine a marine trails campsites trip starting in Olympia, hitting Pt. Angeles and Friday Harbor, and ending the trip in Bellingham.  Of course, I'd want about a week off just in case, but I'm totally willing to give it a try.

if any of you are also members of AquaHunters, talk to "Doc Hall" on Oahu, too. he regularly fishes up to 5 miles offshore with his AI, mostly using just one ama with a local made trampoline. he's had one wind related upset that i know of, but he will freely admit that he was out in winds he should have avoided.

when i met him at the Papio Open, he had one ama, a tram, and the sail attached and was complaining that he shouldn't have been in such a rush to get on the water and should have installed the other ama.

and yes, he loves his boat, too.

My pal Bernie on Vashon has the AI with both amas and sail, right now he's down in San Diego, sailing it in Mission Bay, having a ball in the 70 degree weather!!1

Related to the AI Hobie has a new yak for 2010 called the Mirage Tandem Island. Pretty much an Adventure Island with another seat added. They've upped the length to 18'6" and bumped up the width 3".
http://www.hobiecat.com/adventure-island/models_tandem_island.html

Z

I'd love to take out the tandem version, but not in the budget to think about owning one.  I'm also curious about the measurements and/or feasibility of the larger sail used on the smaller boat.  Lots to think about... first the trampolines....

So what would a surf launch and landing look like with one of these fully rigged?  Reading through the Hobie forum, it sounds like perhaps not the bestest idea.

I'm thinking of upgrading this year to the Adventure, and agree with PP that having one outrigger with a tramp on it would be super neato, but I have zero experience sailing.

mmmmmmmmmm, outriggersandtramps,mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...................................

Beach launching would be tough and hard to control. I'm not a surf launch export, at all, but there is a whole lot of boat touching the water. I would worry about flipping it onto the mast.

As for no experience sailing, well, this is the perfect boat to teach you the basics. It's so simple that you would still need lessons to be able to sail a normal sailboat.

If you can wait till fall and find a good breezy body of water, I would totally be willing to come down for a demo and fishing weekend.

I just bought an Adventure and was really close to getting the Adventure Island but I questioned just how much I would use it on the days when the surf is anything bigger than ankle slappers, which is most of the time around here. Or the added hassle of humping the extra rigging around.  I had visions of large surf totally disassembling the AI and leaving you collecting the pieces on the beach.  In the future I might upgrade to a singe ama/aka (whatever) and tramp on one side of the adventure for added space and stability.