Fish and Dive Expo 2016

Right after the Punahou, we stopped off at the 2016 Fish and Dive Expo!!!! I actually didn't buy anything - can you believe that??? Maybe it's because we're on a budget and I'm trying to stick to it ;) What we did see closely resembled many of the other expos we've been to earlier this year (Hawaii Ocean Expo, lots of the science days, etc) - good to see many of the same vendors, but it'd also be nice to see some new and different things, or vendors from the other islands. Windward Boats had several boats at the show - nice day boats for hitting the sand bar or dragging some inshore lures. But the fishing kayaks and the New reversible Mirage Drive propulsion systems took the cake. I've seen these air bags advertised on Facebook alot - Some nice gyotaku at the show!

Second Sailing of the Hobie Tandem Island

I got the opportunity to sail the Hobie Tandem Island sailing kayak again on Saturday. I paid attention to the smaller things this trip - how well do the controls work, how much do the components and joints flex, and how comfortable were the seats and pedals. Being a kayak first and foremost, you quickly realize you are much lower to the water than any other sailing vessel out there (even a Laser - I think). The person in the front position will get wet (but the spray skirt kit from Kayak Bob on Maui should keep most of the water from hitting). And the trampoline positions are not designed for accommodating people long term unless they are smaller. But knowing that this isn't a larger sailing vessel and accepting those differences makes this very portable, highly damage resistant boat a hoot to take out anywhere. I stuck around to watch the crew disassemble the kayak and load it up on the trailer - didn't take long at all. But it did look like a two person operation. I am considering this as one of the options for our next water craft - but as the time draws nearer to pulling the trigger (I gotta move the family out here as priority one, after that comes saving for a down payment or earnest money on the house, then another vehicle - maybe, AND THEN A NEW WATER CRAFT), I'll try bringing the kids out and see how they like it. Either way this is a fun boat and having propulsion options to make a trek out to catch ono, ahi and mahi makes eating the fish even nicer!!!!

The Hobie Adventure Tandem Island

Oh yeah!!! This is one great, fun times boat!!! Super easy to set up, and even easier to sail. Fraction of the time it took to set up the Weta (but it also only has a fraction of the performance of the Weta - which is ok). This boat belongs to the Uyeda Brothers (Gareth and Kevin) and they have modified it heavily. Interesting to see the mods people make - shows you how they like to fish. They hadn't had the boat in the water yet after a couple of weeks or so after picking it up from Windward Boats. Gareth and I went out and this boat handles really well. Where the Weta was more like a technical road bike - fast, precise, demanding - the Hobie was the mountain bike - fun to ride, forgiving and waiting to see if you can go harder than it can. The Mirage pedal drives are really efficient - on the way out it was just me paddling and I did not have a problem going into the wind, through chop and all with decent speed. After sailing around under a reefed main, I asked if we could open it up and see what she can do. With a full sail and stiff trades (17-21 or so) the boat took off and showed it can hold speed. What an amazing ability to have three modes of propulsion - the sail, the Mirage drives and a paddle. Landing couldn't have been easier - retract the centerboard, pull up on the pedal drives, undo the rudder lock and DONE. You'll never worry about dinging the bow since it is rotomolded polyethene and not fiberglass. Everything about this boat is fun and relaxed. I believe we are going to have to get one... (bye bye motorcycle...) to sail, have picnics on offshore islands, to surf and to fish for pelagics. Super fun boat!!!