What could be better than a no-cost advertisement that will introduce the MirageDrive to every visitor to your website? We have placed an animated .gif file of the Hobie MirageDrive in action on our Dealer Website and made it very easy to add it to your website home page.
In a few short seconds, this animated icon starts with underwater footage of the MirageDrive in motion, sure to stop the first-time viewer in their tracks (I’ve seen it a million times, and I have to pause to admire it every time – such a beautiful, fluid motion!). It then quickly shifts to a shot of fishing in the Pro Angler, then the eye-catching Tandem Island under sail, and ends with the ‘Powered by Hobie’ penguin icon. In mere seconds, you are exposing your visitors to the versatility and freedom that the MirageDrive offers, delivering an on-water experience that is uniquely Hobie.
Take advantage of your strength in the marketplace as a Hobie Authorized Dealership selling products featuring the amazing MirageDrive. Make sure that every visitor to your website knows that this incredible product exists, and that you are a stocking dealer who can get them on the water in a Mirage product that very day. Not only will this distinguish you from the other kayak dealers in town; as importantly, this increased exposure will capture non-kayakers who were visiting your website to view other non-kayak products you may sell, and ‘stumbled’ on this visual of the MirageDrive in motion. We all know that a large percentage of our Hobie Mirage buyers were not even considering a kayak purchase before they learned about the Mirage, so this will provide a very powerful boost to your sales effort.
Throughout the world, we have witnessed customers viewing the MirageDrive in action for the first time become immediately intrigued by the simplicity and effectiveness of the MirageDrive, and are then very eager to learn more about it. Talk about opportunity… you are representing a product line that resonates with people of all ages and both genders. Let us help you to shout out your unique message!
To upload this file to your home page, please go to http://dealer.hobiecat.com, click on Marketing Resources, and you will see the icon under ‘Other Assets’, along with the code you need to quickly and easily place this on your website. It will take very little space, and have a very large impact. Another great opportunity to spread the word!
HOBIE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES SCHEDULE UPDATE

A brief reminder to tune in to Hobie Outdoor Adventures on Thursdays at 11:30am EST on NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus). The feedback we have had from our dealers who have viewed the episodes that have already aired has been extremely positive, and the enthusiastic Facebook page activity this generated was off the charts. To view episodes you may have missed, please click here: http://www.hobiecat.com/community/hobie-outdoor-adventures/
For those of you lucky enough to live in the state of Texas, Hobie Outdoor Adventures airs three times weekly on the Texas Channel; air times can be found through the above link.
Great selling,
Ruth Triglia
rtriglia@hobiecat.com

Tiki Water Sports: Dealer in Sailboats, Dock Box manufacturer and Powder Coating

WELCOME TO THE TIKI WATER SPORTS BLOG!!!!!!!!!  This blog is for the Tiki Water Sports fan who is into small sailboats as well as the phenomenal products and services Tiki Water Sports provides.  Tiki Water Sports is located at Mile Marker 94.5 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida 33037.  We do appreciate a visit if you are in the area and a phone call if you are interested in any of the products you see in this blog.

Tiki Water Sports, Inc. and its affiliated company, Glander Boats, Inc.,have been providing marine services to the Florida Keys and South Florida since 1963. Beginning as a manufacturer of sailboats (The Glander Tavana and Cay), Tiki has grown into a provider of many marine related products.  Tiki Water Sports is a dealer for Hunter Marine, Catalina Yachts, Com-Pac Yachts, Hobie, RS Sailing and Tohatsu Engines.  In addition to this fine line of products.  Tiki water sports manufactures its own line of kayaks as well as dock boxes to fit on any marina or dock that is out there.  Additionally, Tiki Water Sports provides powder coating for your every day powder coating needs.

We hope your 2012 has started on the right foot.  Ours certainly seems brighter than 2011 and we are determined to provide affordable sailboats to the general public.  The Miami International Boat Show will take place from  February 16-February 20, 2012 and Tiki Water Sports will be there featuring its products and services.  I hope you will take the time and visit us at the Boat Show.  These boats are for the sailing enthusiast who doesn’t have the $50,000+ budget to spend on a sailboat or any other watercraft and who wants a trailerable sailboat that does not require much fuss to set up.  These sailboats are priced below $50,000 and are relatively within easy financial reach of anyone trying to get a fun recreational water craft for the whole family.  One of the things people fail to realize when buying a boat is set up time, maintenance and transport.  Most if not all sailing yachts are not trailerable and they require a lot of maintenance not to mention a large berth and time devoted to getting the boat out on the water.  Most yacht owners find very little time to devote to their yachts and they end up being large cash drains.  As a result most yacht owners will not spend that much time on their boats.  With a small boat you will be able to enjoy your boat anytime, any place without any of the hassles of a large yacht.

Com-Pac Yachts is owned by the Hutchins Company, Inc. located in Clearwater.  Originally a manufacturer of auto parts, this company has been building an excellent line of sailboats since the early 1970s.  The philosophy of Com-Pac is the same philosophy which drives the small sailboat market, “I love sailing but I hate setting up.”

The Picnic Cat is perfect for spending the day out on the water and beaching it at your favorite picnic spot.

The Picnic Cat is a 14 foot cat rigged boat which is perfect for what it is named after; taking the family out to a picnic.  One word about cat rigged boats.  Cat rigged sailboats are sail boats in which the mast is positioned well forward towards the bow of the vessel.   Their beam are half the length over all of the boat for stability and they have a centerboard and typically the main sail is gaff rigged although there are Bermuda rigged (non gaff rigged) cat boats which feature the common triangular sail.  The class was developed in New York around the 1840s and became popular because of their ease of handling, shallow draft and large cargo capacity.  Designer Fenwick Williams summarized the original design philosophy as: “The ample beam made the use of stone ballast feasible … the high bow provided good support for the unstayed mast … the barn door rudder provided adequate strength … high coamings served to keep water out of the large open cockpit … side decks provided a handy ledge on which to set a lobster trap.” (Courtesy of Wikipedia).  They are popular because they have traditional looking lines with the gaff rigged sail, high bow and the barndoor rudder.

The Picnic Cat comes equipped with the Mastendr Quick Rig Sailing System which make setup and retrieval done in a matter of 10 minutes.  All you need to do when you get to the ramp or beach is to raise the mast, attach the headstay with the quick release lever and sail off.  The centerboard and centerboard trunk is made of stainless steel fabricated in Hutchins’ machine shop ensuring that each centerboard and centerboard trunk are exactly the same and stay within machining tolerances.  The trunk is finished in a varnished solid mahogany box.  This boat is from the timeless designs of Clark Mills who designed the Com-Pac 16CB and the 23/3 as well as the Optimist Digny and Windmill One Design.  The total price of the boat with tax is $15,835.08.  This includes the transom boarding ladder, Navy sailcover, custom trailer, spare tire, Bimini top aluminum frame, anchoring hardware, retractable motor bracket, freight, commissioning and safty package.

The Com-Pac Sun Cat. Great boat for spending the weekend out on the water.

If you are looking for a trailerable overnight sleeper, then the Com-Pac Sun Cat is the sailboat for you.  The Sun Cat is a 16 foot catboat whose design is based on the Cape Cod Cat used in the early 1900s by fishermen working the clam and scallop beds of Cape Cod.  The Sun Cat has plenty of storage space; can accommodate galley equipment and comes with a single porta potty.  The great thing about this boat is the Mastendr Rigging System puts the mast up in a matter of seconds!  All you have to do is untie and lift the mast to vertical; insert the mast hinge lock pin; attach the forestay tang to the stemhead with the quick-clevis pin; tension the rigging by simply pulling down on the forestay self-locking lever; and you are off before you know it.  The total price of the boat with Florida tax (if applicable) is $26,625.88.  This includes the fabric in lieu of vinyl; transom boarding ladder; Navy sail cover; Bimini top aluminum frame; magic tilt custom trailer; electrical package, anchor hardware package; and the freight/destination fee.

If the Com-Pac Sun Cat is out of your price range, then may I suggest to you the Com-Pac Legacy which is the original boat designed for the Hutchins Company, Inc.  The base price is $11,500 and it is a less fancier version of the Sun Cat.

The Horizon Cat: a yacht like experience without the yacht like hassles.

For a more yacht like experience without the yacht like hassles, the 20 foot Com-Pac Horizon Cat combines the best aspects of a weekend cruiser with the simplicity Com-Pac yachts are known for.  The Horizon Cat like the Sun Cat is based on the design of the Cap Cod Cat which has the same ease of sailing and stability as the Sun Cat.  The absence of a head sail or jib makes tacking this boat much easier and she performs extremely well in weather.  In addition to berthing, the Horizon Cat comes equipped with a small galley and a small porta potty head which boasts ample ventilation and privacy with the optional privacy curtain.  She is also equipped with two sinks and is able to ten gallons of water.  Additionally there is an option for a seven horsepower diesel engine under the cockpit seat and even though she is bigger than other Com-Pac yachts, she is still trailerable; easy to set up in a matter of minutes and you can beach this boat without any problem.

Hunter Marine: quality yachts built since 1973

Although Com-Pac boats are easier to set up and sail, there are those sailors who still prefer the traditional looking sloop with mainsail and jib.  Henry Lurh was a German immigrant who came to the United States in the 1800s and outfitted trading ships as well as owning a chandlery (a chandlery is a place dedicated to the making and manufacturing of wax candles).  His grandson, Henry, started Hunter Marine in 1973 when he decided to combine his passion of building with his other passion sailing.  With designer John Cherubini, Hunter quickly developed a reputation for good quality sailing yachts.  The Hunter line of boats sold by Tiki Water Sports include the Hunter Edge (a power sailer), the Hunter 22, Hunter 216, Hunter 18, Hunter 170, Hunter 15, and the Hunter 140.  These boats offer the best fun found in similar boats combined with affordability and convenience.  These boats are not only designed with the expert sailor in mind but also for the novice who is first starting out in the sport of sailing.

Catalina Yachts was founded in 1969 by Frank Butler in California, whose goal is to produce a good sailboat at a good value.  In the last ten years Catalina has expanded into Florida and now every Catalina boat is built in Florida.  As stated in their promotional literature, “the Catalina philosophy is straightforward; design boats that stand up to real world conditions, sail well, are comfortable above and below, are easy to maintain, and hold their value.”  For forty years, this has been the driving force behind every Catalina boat built and while most 80 year olds have their working days behind them, Frank is still working hard and building boats for the enjoyment of the sailing public.

25' Catalina 250 MarkII winged keel- water ballast version also available

Another aspect of Catalina which makes this company and superb sailboat manufacturer is that no model is ever discontinued but is constantly updated with the latest design methods and technology thereby holding better values than most other boats whose models get discontinued after a few years.  Catalina listens carefully to owners and make improvements based on the collective experience and thousands of sea miles.

The models which are currently being offered by Tiki Water Sports are the twelve foot Catalina Expo 12.5 and the 15 foot Catalina Expo 14.2, the 16.5 and the 16.5K.  These boats are perfect for people who are looking for a small daysailer to spend the day cruising the bay.  For the weekend boater there is the Catalina Mark 18II with accommodations for up to 4 people; Catalina Capri 22 which offers a larger cockpit and the 22 Sport.  The Catalina 250 Mark II is the very definition of comfort and room onboard.  She has double berths aft and forward; a galley and an enclosed head with sink and vanity.  At $42,753.42 she is a very affordable floating RV.

Hobie in plain terms is just “pure fun.”  Started in 1950, Hobie has its roots in surfing and was the pioneer in making polyurethane surfboard which were lighter and more maneuverable.  The Hobie surf team with their innovative boards were breaking surf records in the 1950s.  Not content at being the best surf team and surf shop in California, Hobie began experimenting building boats based on the Polynesian catamaran design and thus was born what we now know as the Hobie cat.  Basically a Hobie cats are multi hull boats which are light weight and very fast.  Since they have less drag in the water, most catamarans can beat monohulls of similar size any day and they boast great stability.

Hobie Tandem Island Adventure equipped with the Mirage drive system

Hobie is always looking never to rest on their laurels and with that in mind, they have designed a line of kayaks and sailing kayaks which feature the mirage drive system which are like a pair of penguin flippers which flap vertically under the hull to create propulsion. Recreational fisherman love the Hobie mirage kayaks because they can pedal in the water which leave their hands free for casting.  Hobie kayaks can also be outfitted to have ammas or outriggers for sailing and for fisherman, Hobie has come out with a live well to keep live bait which is attached to the scuttles and has a battery operated pump to circulate fresh oxigenated water.  For us fisherman down here in Florida who like to use live shrimp, shiners or small soft shell crabs, this is a great bonus to having an awesome kayak.

In addition to Hobie products, Tiki Water Sports is also a dealer for Future Beach Products which produce high quality rotomolded kayaks, pedel boats and beach fun equipment.  Rotomolding has been around since 1855 but was recently adapted for plastics in the 1950s.  Rotomolding is a process by where you inject hot plastic in a mold which is then rotated until it cools forming a seemless hollow product.  This process is perfect for kayaks and other floating water fun products not just because of the added buoyancy but also the high quality of the finish.  Right now the small rental boat business is taking off and people are not just laying around the sand soaking up the rays but they also want to have fun.  Having a business in rental boats is a low cost way to start up a business of your own.  Also hotels and resorts are looking for additional ways to increase cash flow as well as increased customer satisfaction.  Future Beach is paving the way to be the leader in this small nitch market.

In addition to being a dealer for the boats mentioned above, Tiki Water Sports also produces its own line of versatile fiberglass personal  paddle kayaks.  Tiki kayaks are hand crafted one piece foam reinforced quality fiberglass construction approved by the United States Coast Guard for foam flotation.  The scientifically contoured designed cockpit affords maximum ergonomic comfort in a personal water paddle craft.  As with all personal water craft large and small, Tiki Water Sports recommends you use a personal flotation device when ever you go out on a boat.  Since 1984 Tiki Water Sports has been refining this kayak to offer the finest and most versatile water fun.  I love surfing and even though I can’t stand on a surf board to save my life, this kayak can be fitted with an optional fin which will allow you to surf any wave.  I am so excited about this kayak that I may just get one to go surfing.  However, this kayak is also superb on a lake or quiet bay to provide plenty of exercise and fun.  The Tiki Kayak comes in three different sizes.  There is the 8 foot wave rider and the 9 foot wave rider stretch.  Additionally there is the 12 foot tandem model which can accommodate two people or 500 pounds.  All Tiki Kayaks come with a leash cup to leash the paddle to the boat; a drain plug; tough black vinyl rub rail bow and stern bumpers to protect your Tiki; high gloss gelcoat finish in six attractive colors; reinforced keel for added strength and boat life; floating double bladed paddle and a six month limited warranty.  For the waverider and stretch, carry handles come standard and the tandem includes two double bladed paddles.  Optional features are storage; through the hull plexiglass water window for viewing fish and reefs (a must have for lobster fishing here in Florida); a paddle leash as well as a surf fin for the surf enthusiast; paddle clips which holds the paddle to the boat and a stainless steel eyestrap for securing the boat; custom gelcoat splash design (you may also consult the factory for custom color and designs); heavy duty fibercloth reinforced hull and corrugated box packaging for domestic shipments.

Tiki Water Sports popular 48" dock box.

Along with small sailboats and kayaks, Tiki Water Sports also produces a line of dock boxes adaptable to any marina or dock.  The most popular model is the 42 and 48 inch models.

Finally, Tiki Water Sports is a Tohatsu outboard engine dealer for those sailboats we sell that need the extra muscle to get out on the bay.

Whether your budget is a couple of thousand of dollars or less to just under $50,000, you can agree that Tiki Water Sports has the boat for you.