Yeah, sarcasm is surely much more descriptive than the graemlins. Hard to miss out on that.
BTW: Tornado was designed in the autumn of 1967, not 1968. You should know..


What _IS_ this obsession with the length about? Make it 10 feet for all I care, but this is getting ridiculous. I tought the goal for the design was cheap, homebuildable, easily transported and FUN FUN FUN. This bickering over 10 inches of hull length is tearing the whole thing apart and I dont see any reason whatsoever for the hard positions. Is there some kind of hidden agenda or what?

"Is there some kind of hidden agenda or what?"

Okay, here's the agenda: if you are going to have a Formula 12'10" class, then I think it would be appropriate to grandfather in the Hobie Wave, which is only 2 inches longer.

If the performance is relatively similar, I dont see why not? I am pretty pragmatic about it, and better to be inclusive than divisive. It is in the same 'class/type' of boat, but I dont see it on top of a car or singlehanded by 8-10 years?

BTW: I dont consider it "my" class. I just think the F-12 too good to fizzle over this matter.

"Okay, here's the agenda: if you are going to have a Formula 12'10" class, then I think it would be appropriate to grandfather in the Hobie Wave, which is only 2 inches longer"

If that is the root of the problem, it would have been helpful if it had been brought up in the beginning of the discussion. The F16 Class "grandfathered" in boats that did not meet the strict criteria, some compromise might have been reached early on concerning this matter.

So if I read between the lines correctly, the disagreement over the 12' Vs the 12'-10" issue was just a ploy to keep the F12 performance level sub par when compared to the Hobie Wave. Insuring it would never be a serious threat to the Wave on the race course… There by protecting the established Wave one design class, and eliminating the threat of a F12 class that could offer a higher performance, less expensive alternative.

Bob

Wow, Bob, I never even thought of all that. Brilliant!

Actually, guys, I was just kidding about the Wave, because it would be ridiculous to have a 13-foot boat in a 12-foot formula class. Almost as ridiculous as a 12'10" boat.

Right.., If it is to be named "Formula 12 Class" then it should be 12' or under. Otherwise, you could simply name it the "Formula 13 Class!"
Hmmm! or would that be an unlucky number and destroy the class?

Or, heck, name it "George" but at least name it something it represents.

BY the way, The Wave at 13' with a bowsprit and roller furling Hooter is almost as fast as the H16. Add a trapeze and two kids would have a ball on a very substantial, bullet-proof, and very buoyant craft.

Check it out at http://www.catsailor.com/waves/superwave_overall.html
Rick

I have got an even better idea. Why not go after the F-16 class, with their 16'4" length, or the F-18 with their 18'1" length? Excuse me, but you seem a bit obsessive on the length question. Especially at this rather tender stage. Call it "Project George" and lets move on, or at least use arguments that mean something. There is nothing except some marketing in a name, but arguments like weight, speed, building process etc. really matters.
I'll repeat what I see as the primary goal of "the class" targeting 8-14 year olds:

Quote:

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cheap, homebuildable, easily transported and FUN FUN FUN.

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formula 3.9 F3.9 Formula3.9 f3dot9

F3.9 Hell why not call it an F4, it'll be faster still and be able to take more weight than an F3.9, or maybe an F4.1, better still F4.2, or just maybe ......

Gareth