Hobie Adventure Island LEAK FIX Test - ATLANTIC OCEAN - AI TI

The Hobie AI Sailing Kayak gets a good test to see if my mods worked.
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Some of the music in this video provided by: audiotrimmer.c...

[@GoingWith-TheFlo]

Nice!! Glad its dry now and awesome to see the wife out with you on it!!

[@FloridaManTV]

Thanks brother!

[@seewind]

Looking good. Glad the mods work and kept you above the water line. Not certain how much weight you are carrying on your Island. It stills seems like alot of water in the main cockpit area (above the mirage drive). I have sailed the AI and current sail the TI. Only time I had water like you show is when the Island was overloaded or taking on water or both! Normal water level in the cockpit for me is at the top of the Mirage drive hole. Looks like you have several inches of standing water above this.... Keep the videos coming. I will be sailing in the keys in late Feb 2023 (Plantation key). Perhaps we can meet up for a sail.

[@FloridaManTV]

I did have the wife with me, on an AI designed for one. On my 120 mile sailing trip, I for sure had the hull overloaded with water and beer (heavy). This trip, just the battery (lithium) the wife and a small go bag. I don’t know if my older Hobie has a different hull than the new ones? Mine is a 2012. Maybe they ride higher in the water now? Or maybe I’m just fat. 🤣 Either way, as long as I stay on the water and not in it. I was in the keys on vacation or I’d love to meet up for a sail. If you’re ever in the Destin, Fl area, we can meet up and sail. Thanks for watching the vid and the input.

[@seewind]

@@FloridaManTV I see your point. I would recommend you take a test sail in a later (2016+) tandem island and compare the water level between the two. When I sail solo with a moderate cargo load, the TI is mostly dry in the cockpit except for when a wave hits, but the water drains out quickly. I did not have several inches of standing water in the cockpit of the TI. I sold my 2015 AI a while back, but I do not remember that much water in the cockpit.

[@FloridaManTV]

Since the wife actually likes riding in/on the Hobie, I am afraid if I see/try a TI I’d end up buying one. I sailed with a TI and he did ride better/faster as well. My theory (and probably wrong) is maybe the AKAs are warped up a little or hull warped a little if it rides the same with me solo. I’ll do another solo run, show the AMA height out of water under sail, show empty ride height, and loaded ride height. Maybe us as a Hobie community can figure out if I am doing something wrong or overloading it or something. Thanks again for all the great input. I’m always learning from you guys!

[@SailingLaManga]

Greetings from Spain 🇪🇸 to my favourite Florida Man... !!! I installed in my Island a bilge pump as well PLUS 2 large air tanks. The outriggers I installed buoyancy foam.

[@SailingLaManga]

I opened all hatches to see what happened..... The Island does NOT sink.... Keeps my wife and me afloat. The front hatch I put a thin silicone matt in between the kayak and leed as a "sealer" coversheet over the hole. No water inside after 4 hours ocean sailing.

[@FloridaManTV]

Hey good to hear from you again! I never thought about filling the AMA with foam. If it’s marine buoyancy foam, it water proof. No water in, no way to sink. Good idea man. Shouldn’t add much weight at all either. For extreme Ai/Ti users, filling the AMAs seems like a good idea!

[@SailingLaManga]

I got that from amazon. It is not very heavy. Many thanks for your videos mate 👍

[@FloridaManTV]

Thanks for watching them!

[@dominicsigler4793]

Hey saw u at bear lake yesterday pulling in your boat decided to check you out, love the videos

[@FloridaManTV]

Awesome! Thanks Dominic, I appreciate the support.

[@sunshipsailing]

I agree with the last comment that your boat is heavily loaded obviously. I sail the same boat (2014) and it never has that much water in the cockpit. Maybe an inch above the drive blanking plate and the centre hatch is never awash. I think with a passenger, the anchor, the battery, the beers and the trampolines that is one loaded boat. That has nothing to do with the ingress of water though and as you say the hatch is always the main culprit. You did a nice modification though with the Yoga mat. I have to say your boat is sailing along at a good turn of speed despite everything you are carrying. Looks faster than mine when it has nothing in it. Happy sailing from the Uk (Chichester harbour)

[@FloridaManTV]

Thanks John! I agree. Never thought about weight when new to the Hobie. I’ll keep it in mind and run some tests!

[@congsan3528]

Overkill with the anchor system. You need to lighten up the load. That's the reason why the water washes over the middle hatch during the 132 miles trip. Enjoy watching your channel. Be safe on the water.

[@FloridaManTV]

I agree! I am working on moving my load (weight) from inside the hull to the trampolines as far out as possible (dry bags). Hopefully this will make the main hull ride higher during the 2023 Florida 120 and make the trip hassle free this year. Also did some safety mods like a bilge pump (I am sure you saw the vid). Thanks so much for following the channel and I can’t wait to get back to Hobie content soon (still cold here for a Floridian)!

[@stopmakingmelogon]

So, 1 year on, would you say the yoga mat was a success? Any idea how thick it was? Would you put it on the round hatches as others have done?

[@FloridaManTV]

Yes, the yoga mat definitely helps to keep the water out of the front hatch. The one I cut up was 3/4” thick. Maybe overkill but works. For the other hatches I use silicon grease. It seems water tight in general seas and splashes. But, water will always enter through the rudder line holes in overweight or rough conditions.

[@jordangood7414]

I’m looking at getting an AI and am wondering (respectfully) about how much y’all weighed combined? I’m hoping to be able to take my wife out with me on sails as well for fun.

[@FloridaManTV]

Combined we are 310lbs. I have figured out any substantial weight should be on the tramps or near the AKAs. Too much weight in the hull will sink the stern and allow water to enter the rudder line holes. 👍🏻