The need for a two person race boat for a normal weight team that is also non spin seems to be fundamental. In the universe of dinghies... a class like the Albacore is very successful in the two person non spin, market.

The notion that the race classes of the future would be the Hobie 16, F18, and A class should include two separate niches... the F16, for the one up or two up whenever world and the Hobie 18 (at least in North America).

Goran Marstrom would say that his hulls would last forever... replace your beams and alu mast after 10 years and foils as needed and you would have a new boat.

Hobie Inc claims to have stopped production of the fiberglass when their parts inventory hit the point where they would have to make another expensive extrusion order.

I would think the curved front beam is a likely replace item on the 18. Is that a factor in people's upgrade plans?