How the manufacturer produces a boat is one thing! How the sailors/class associations agree to race them is a different matter. If the manufacturer gets a reputation for ripping off existing sailors class associations have been known to 'break away'. Very few SMOD boats continue without change. Who would risk investing in a new SMOD cat from a manufacturer with a record of not working with its existing customers? Very often a MFR will impose change, generally based upon profit rather than design/quality issues. Sailors do have a voice (and wallets), they just need to use both effectively.

Cheshirecatman