Like ncik, I too was worried about the loss of section moment in the main beam if you put the mast through it, plus 4 attachments for the x-brace makes for a hassle if you ever have to tear the boat apart. Also, means 4 more attachment reinforcements to the hull.....just seems like a lot of fiddly stuff.

Personally, I'm not leaning in any direction, just find it fun trying to deliver something everyone wants, quite a nice brain teaser if there ever was one.

Did the 75kg crew hull, gunwhale is the same, profile the same, just changed the chine, was a nice surprise that the drag coefficient for the hull went down, but not as much as the wetted area went up, so nett gain is to drag (0.7%) but it does produce more lift (sideways) and the overall hull L/D is up by 1.3%, so point will be higher as will VMG

Jeff, my wife is 61, so its a safe bet she'll go for whatever is easiest....more amazed that after all this time she actually wants something I designed <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Pics of 2 hull comparison attached

Cheers
RG