Hobie Mirage Adventure Island User manual

Hobie
®
Adventure
Mirage
Island
Owners Manual
Hobie

1
WELCOME TO THE
HOBIE WAY OF LIFE
Congratulations on the purchase of your new Hobie Mirage Adventure Island and welcome to the Hobie sailing family.
The Hobie Adventure Island cannot be outgrown (how do you outgrow fun?) and will provide years of enjoyment for
everyone, from children through senior citizens. A single adult can sail it at top performance or cruise in comfort.
We offer this manual as a guide to increased safety and enjoyment of your new Mirage. The purpose of this publication
is to provide easy, simple, accurate instructions on how to get your Hobie Adventure Island ready for the water
and use it safely. Please read the instructions carefully and familiarize yourself with your boat and all its parts.
Whether you are a new sailor or a veteran of many years, we recommend that you read this manual thoroughly before
your first sail and TRY IT OUR WAY FIRST! If you are new to sailing, this manual alone is not intended to teach
you how to sail. There are many excellent books, videos and courses on the safe handling of small sailboats. We
suggest you contact your local sailboat or kayak dealer, college or Coast Guard Auxiliary for recommendations.
Watch for overhead wires whenever you are rigging, launching, sailing or trailering with the mast up. MAST
CONTACT WITH POWER LINES COULD BE FATAL! Be certain that the rigging area and the area you will be sailing
in are free of overhead power lines. Report any such power lines to your local power authority and sail elsewhere.
We take pride in presenting the Adventure Island to you and hope that you'll take as much pride in owning her.
Fair winds and good sailing!
HOBIE CAT COMPANY

This assembly manual takes you step-
by-step through the set-up and sailing of
your new Adventure Island,and will help
you understand each part in detail.
Setting up your Adventure Island PAGE
Hobie Island Terminology................................3
List of Parts..................................................... 4
Assembly Instructions .................................5-6
Sail Assembly ................................................. 5
Mast Assembly ............................................5-6
Island Assembly...........................................7-8
Aka and Ama Installation................................ 7
Mast Installation...........................................7-8
Understanding the Working Features........9-10
Pivoting Akas.................................................. 9
Furling the Sail................................................ 9
Reefing the Sail ............................................ 10
Rudder Installation........................................ 10
Daggerboard................................................. 11
Aka Storage Bag .......................................... 11
MirageDrive®..................................................12
Basic Kayak Features....................................13
Seatback........................................................14
Sailing Basics .........................................15-17
Sail Power........................................................... 15
Righting............................................................... 16
Breakaway Pins.................................................. 16
Transporting the Adventure Island..................... 17
Launching ........................................................... 18
Trailering/Roof Loading...................................... 18
HOBIE MIRAGE ADVENTURE ISLAND
OWNERS MANUAL
2

MAST
The mast is a two-piece design for
easy trailering and storage.
HULLS
The Adventure Island hulls are constructed
from Polyethylene. Polyethylene provides an
extremely durable hull that is quite resistant to
dings and scratches.
MAINSHEET
SYSTEM
The mainsheet is
designed with a
pulley system to
allow the sailor to
trim the sail with
minimal effort.
BATTENS
Battens are long thin pieces of
fiberglass rod. These rods give the
sail stiffness and help maintain sail
shape. The unique angles of the
battens allow the sail to easily roller
furl.
TELL TAILS
Tell tails are small ribbons to help
determine the trim of the sail. They
will tell you whether you need to
sheet your sail in or out.
V-FRAME (not shown here)
The V-frame is an internal
structure that gives support to
the bottom of the mast.
SAIL
The sail is a “square-top” design,
utilizing the latest technology in sail
design for optium performance.
ROLLER FURLER
The roller furler allows the sail to be rolled
around the mast for reducing sail size and
easy storage and rigging.
AMAS
The Amas are the outer
small hulls that provide
ultimate stability under sail
power.
AKAS
The Akas are the pivoting arms
that connect the Amas to the
hull.
Adventure Island Specs
Length= 16’ / 4.88m
Main Hull Width= 27.5” / .70m
Width Amas Out= 112” / 2.84m
Width Amas In= 42” / 1.06m
Total Rigged Weight= 115lbs. / 52.16kg
Daggerboard
(not shown here)
The daggerboard
enhances
your upwind
performance.
3

List of Parts
When opening your new Adventure Island, be
sure to check that all parts are present and
that the boat is in good order. Find a good
clean spot, lay out all of your components and
run through the checklist.
Hull and Crossbars
1. One Adventure Island Hull with Deck
Mounted Crossbars and Mainsheet
2. One Daggerboard
3. Two Amas
4. Two Forward Akas
5. One Right Rear Aka
6. One Left Rear Aka
7. One Aka Carrying Bag
Sail Components and Small Parts
8. One Sail
9. One Two-Piece Mast
10. Two Battens (not shown)
12. One Full Length Mast/Sail Bag
13. One Bag of Small Parts
a.One Allen Wrench
b.Two Nylon Screws and Nuts
c.One Small Line for Downhaul
4
2
3
76
5
4
8
12
9
13a
13b
13c

Pre-Assembly Instructions
5
Mast and Sail Assembly
1. Find a large clean area where you can lay the sail
flat.
2. The sail battens are the long flexible white rods
which are inserted into long
pockets on the sails. These
pockets run diagonally along
the face of the sail. Simply
insert the battens into the
pockets and run them all the
way to the bottom. The longer
of the two battens goes into
the upper batten pocket.
3. Once the battens are fully installed, apply tension to
them to keep them in the pocket. Follow the diagram
below for the proper lacing procedure.
4. Tie a knot at the end of the line to prevent it from
falling off the batten.
5. The Island’s composite
mast is 2-piece, so simply
slide the top of the mast
into the lower end.
6. Now slide the small end of the mast into the sail
sleeve all the way to the top of the sail. Once the mast
gets to the top of the sail, make sure the webbing gets
pressed into the fitting at the top of the sail, as shown
below.
7. In the small parts bag, there is a small length of line
that is used to apply a “down” force along the sleeve of
the sail. Tie one end of the line to the small webbing
loop at the base of the sail sleeve using a bowline knot.
Cleat off line
in batten cap
Pull on line to
press batten
into pocket.
1
4
3
2

6
8. Now rotate the base of the mast so that the hole
on the mast collar aligns with the line. Feed the line
through the hole and back up to the sail sleeve. Pull
some tension in the line and cleat off the end of the line
into the jam cleat on the sail sleeve.
9. Roll the sail onto the mast. Roll in the direction so
the hook at the clew of the sail is on the outside once
rolled.
!CAUTION!
WATCH FOR OVERHEAD POWER LINES
WHEN HANDLING THE SAIL AND MAST.
NEVER RIG, TRAILER, OR SAIL THE BOAT
NEAR OVERHEAD POWER LINES. MAST
CONTACT WITH A POWER LINE COULD
BE FATAL!
10. Once fully rolled,
take the small line with
the knot attached to the
rear corner of the sail
and wrap it around the
hook sewn to the sail.
IMPORTANT
To keep your sail in good condition, we highly
recommend that you store the sail rolled around the
mast and inside the full length storage bag included.
It is also important to bag the sail and mast when
transporting on a car top or trailer. It's best to store the
sail dry so if you can let it dry before bagging or open
once home.
Clew hook

7
Island Assembly
The instructions below will help guide you through the
most efficient way to assemble your Adventure Island.
Depending on how you transport your kayak (roof racks/
trailer), you may be able to eliminate some steps.
Installing the Amas
1. Both amas are identical, so they can go on either
side. Simply install the end of the aka into the scupper
holes on the ama. Keep the Bungee on the ama on the
outside of the scupper.
2. Once completely installed , stretch the Bungee cord
over the eyelet posts on the akas.
3. When transporting the Island, it is easier to keep the
amas folded along the side of the hull. Pivot the bars
back and stretch the paddle holder Bungee over one of
the available eyelet posts on the forward aka.
Installing the Akas
1. Lay the Adventure Island hull on flat dry ground.
If you are planning to transport the kayak after it is
assembled, now is a good time to plug in your heavy-
duty plug-in cart. (Assembling the Island on the cart is
much easier.)
2. Remove the akas from the carrying bag and install
them on the deck-mounted bars. It is important to
differentiate the rear bars from the forward bars. The
rear bars have an additional smaller tube that can
swivel. With the rear akas, it is also important to note
that there are port and starboard bars. The diagram
below will show you proper orientation.
3. To install the akas, slide the casting on the aka into
the deck mounted crossbar until it clicks into place.
Please note the layout of the bars in the diagram above.
Starboard rear Aka
Port rear Aka
Starboard
forward AKA
Removing the Akas
To remove the aka bars
from the deck mounted
bars, squeeze the two
buttons on the deck
mounted crossbar and
pull out the aka arm.
Port forward AKA
with paddle holder
Bungee

8
Installing the
Mast
Note: Installing the
mast can make the
kayak a little tipsy
when transporting
on the wheels. If
you are going to
wheel your Island
a long distance, we
recommend that
you lay the mast
!CAUTION!
WATCH FOR OVERHEAD POWER LINES
WHEN HANDLING THE SAIL AND MAST.
NEVER RIG, TRAILER, OR SAIL THE BOAT
NEAR OVERHEAD POWER LINES. MAST
CONTACT WITH A POWER LINE COULD
BE FATAL!
down on the deck until
you reach the water
and can take the
kayak wheels off.
1. IMPORTANT!
Before raising the
mast, look overhead
for powerlines.
2. To install the mast,
take the thicker end
with spool and insert it
through the bearing on
the forward deck-mounted
crossbar and into the cup.
It is important to have
good control of the mast
as you install it so it goes
straight into the hole.
3. As the mast collar goes into the bearing, you should
hear the lock snap over the collar. When installed, there
should be a 1/8”-1/4” gap between the collar on the
mast and the plastic bearing ring.
4. Unwrap the furling line
from the mast and feed
it through the cleat as
shown.
5. Feed the mainsheet
hook through the grommet
at the corner of the sail.
For the best performance,
make sure the line isn't
twisted around itself.
Removing the Mast
When storing or transporting the boat, be sure to take
down the mast. Before pulling the mast out, look
overhead for powerlines that could make contact
with the mast.
1. Pull back on the mast release trigger.
2. Apply a little side pressure on the mast away from
the trigger as you lift it out. As soon as the mast is free,
grab it with both hands and pull the mast all the way out.
Always pull the mast straight out.
! IMPORTANT !
The mast cup must be completely clear of sand that can
collect at the bottom. Having sand collecting will prevent
the mast from fullly going inside of the cup. To rinse the
mast cup out, lay the boat on its side and splash water
into the cup to allow it to rinse out.

9
Understanding the Working
Features of your Adventure
Island
Now that your Island is assembled, it is important to
familiarize yourself with how some of its features work
before taking it on the water. We recommed that you
practice the following procedures before launching.
Pivoting Akas and the Locking Crossbrace
The Adventure Island is equipped with pivoting akas to
make it easy to get on and off the boat from a dock. As
the akas fold in, they also move down to give you plenty
of stability even when folded in. Do not sail the boat
with the akas folded in.
To keep the akas in the “out” position, you will need to
lock them using the pivoting crossbrace and ball locking
system. With the akas in the “out” position, press the
spring-loaded sleeve on the end of the diagonal locking
brace and place it over the small ball that is next to your
seat along the kayak's rails.
Position the sleeve over and on top of the ball and
release the sleeve. Lift up on the brace a little to make
sure it is properly locked on the ball.
To fold in the akas, press in on the sleeve and pull the
crossbrace off the ball, then fold the akas in.
Furling and Unfurling the Sail
Furling and unfurling the sail is the process of rolling and
unrolling the sail around the mast.
Before attempting to unroll the sail, make sure the furling
line is uncleated.
To unroll the sail, grab the rear corner of the sail and pull
it toward the back of the boat. As the sail unrolls, the
furling line will wrap around the mast collar. You may
need to guide the furling line onto the furling spool. You
may need to guide the furling line onto the furling spool.
To roll up the sail, pull on the furling line and the sail will
wrap around the mast. Pull the furling line into the jam
cleat to hold it in place. If it is difficult to pull or the sail
isn't furling, you probably have the mainsheet cleated.
The mainsheet must be uncleated for the sail to furl.