mingle wrote:Tas,

Let me know and I'll show you the best way to get the cart into the A.I. - I have the Trax2-30 too - definitely the best carts for the A.I.

I used my own back-breaking technique for getting the cart into the scuppers, until an A.I. guru showed me an easier way.

No need to remove amas/akas/mast...

Mike.

I would love to hear an easier way as well.

maverick wrote:

mingle wrote:Tas,

Let me know and I'll show you the best way to get the cart into the A.I. - I have the Trax2-30 too - definitely the best carts for the A.I.

I used my own back-breaking technique for getting the cart into the scuppers, until an A.I. guru showed me an easier way.

No need to remove amas/akas/mast...

Mike.

I would love to hear an easier way as well.

Pretty sure the method Mike is describing is roughly as follows (I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong):

Fold one ama in, leave the other out. Lift the entire boat on it's side using the extended ama and plug the wheels in. Sounds harder than it is to actually do.

Yep, Josh is right...

It also helps to bungee the folded ama to the hull with the paddle-keeper bungee to prevent it from 'wobbling'
when you push the boat over.

Josh, you just need longer arms!

Cheers,

Mike.

Yakass wrote:

maverick wrote:

mingle wrote:Tas,

Let me know and I'll show you the best way to get the cart into the A.I. - I have the Trax2-30 too - definitely the best carts for the A.I.

I used my own back-breaking technique for getting the cart into the scuppers, until an A.I. guru showed me an easier way.

No need to remove amas/akas/mast...

Mike.

I would love to hear an easier way as well.

Pretty sure the method Mike is describing is roughly as follows (I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong):

Fold one ama in, leave the other out. Lift the entire boat on it's side using the extended ama and plug the wheels in. Sounds harder than it is to actually do.

I forgot to add a few links to some of the small mods I've done to my A.I...

Skipper Seat (the best mod I've made):

https://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/view ... 69&t=46998

Double-bungees on the amas:

https://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/view ... 71&t=59920

Various bits and pieces:

https://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/view ... 5&p=213548

With regards to car-topping, you might be able to fit the amas inside the car.

I have an old Honda CRV and I can comfortably fit them in if I fold the back seats and front passenger seat down.

Cheers,

Mike.

It looks like a largely non-fishing weekend so I'll try to document the mods I've done to my AI in a separate thread. I'll be doing a few more this weekend anyway, hopefully in anticipation of a Port Macdonnell session next weekend.

mingle wrote:Yep, Josh is right...

It also helps to bungee the folded ama to the hull with the paddle-keeper bungee to prevent it from 'wobbling'
when you push the boat over.

Josh, you just need longer arms!

Cheers,

Mike.

Nah, I'm able to do it using this method without much trouble. It actually surprised me how easily I was able to do it this way. I don't do it generally though because I have an even easier method, albeit taking longer to do. I car-top my AI so I just dismantle the thing and do a few trips back and forth.

shane wrote:Bull horns behind the seat are popular, I made one but haven't used it. My preferred rod holders for trolling are Railblaza mounts on each aka arm about a foot out. These have stood up very well to hard tuna strikes so far, are easy to reach and visible while trolling. For forward bait rod holders I have scotty mounts in the side pockets for scotty holders on arms but can also use extended Berkleys.

Have you had any problems with the mounts slipping on the bars

Fish Grylls wrote: Have you had any problems with the mounts slipping on the bars

No problems at all. I added some extra thin rubber sheet around the aka underneath the mount that wraps around the full circumference. There's also usually a small bit of sand-paper like material in the mount pack that helps them grip. The mounts themselves are rock solid.

I have the railblaza mounts on the rear akas too, but have only used one side, once, when bait fishing at anchor.

I tried trolling with the, but having them effectively 'out of sight' over my shoulder, was a bit annoying.

With my other Hobies (Sport, Revos), I always installed a pair of #244 Scotty flush-mounts up-front, just before the
rudder up/down lines. With the A.I. I was concerned that they'd get in the way, but if you also get the gear-head
extenders, you can positions the rod-holders just about anywhere. This is how I have them while trolling under sail.
The Scotty power-loc holders are also much beefier and better quality than the railblaza stuff (imo), not that I've
ever ever tested them to anywhere near their full potential. But having them up-front, and in sight, is great.

Also, when bait fishing, particularly when not using the sail/mast they're in the perfect spot.

Cheers,

Mike.