What I wanted to say was "without making it meaningfully different to either the FX-one or F16's"

There isn't that much difference between the standard FX-one and F16 to begin with; the two are already in eachothers neighbourhood in target group and major layout. The difference that are still meaningful are to be found in the used masts, foils and other stuff that give sailing either boat a different feel.

With the introduction of the icat I expect the FX-one to drop the shortened alu Tiger mast for a carbon mast and improve on the foils, making the remaining difference to the F16's pretty small indeed. The remaining 10 inches hull length is really not enough to notice and the rigs were almost identical in major specs anyway.

With its introduction the Hobie has all the drawbacks of both situations. It is a more expensive FX-one almost identical to the F16 without being an F16 itself. It competes with their own FX-one class but still has to compete against the established F16 class as well. It has to create and grow its own organisation and fleets against the winds coming from both other classes. Note also that it is very unlikely to qualify even as a F104 ! Additionally, it is another strickt SMOD in a cat sailing world that has gone formula in a major way. Just as with the Tiger and FX-one is will be unable to follow the small incremental improvements over time and fall behind the formula classes even when it is on a par at it launch.

I feel it will be an expensive boat as well with the extensive use of carbon cloth. The standard FX-one was never a cheap boat in comparison to to others. All F16's were less expensive. I don't see the price drop with the improvements made to the icat. I fear it will actually start to approximate the A-cat costs without being an A-cat itself.

I'm expecting it to closely resemble a F16 at an A-cat asking price with the potential market penetration of less then the current FX-one.

That I consider a very steep uphill battle. One that is several times more challenging then simply making a Hobie F16 and tapping into the existing F16 marketing program and knowledge base. With respect to the latter I'm refering to the knowlegde already present with Glaser, Landenberger, Ashby, Goodall, Saarberg, Catamaranparts and other suppliers with respect what works on F16's with respect to sails, masts and foils. Now the Hobie corp needs to spend time and money to develop their icat setup to a level comparable to its competitors instead of simply buying into it. Improving on their competition is an even more challenging effort with the F16 builders completing their second generation designs as we speak.

Indeed, my disageement with Hobie doesn't stem from any desire to see them enter into the F16 class but rather from a simple market analysis. I truly believe that the market potential and associated profits are alot better assured with a boat launched within the F16 concept then outside of it.


Wouter