Let me make sure I've got it right, you want a boat that
1. Weighs about the same as an A-Cat
2. Costs about the same as a Hobie 16
3. Performs like a F-18 (or maybe a Inter 20)
4. All while remaining as bulletproof as the original Hobie 18.
5. oh yeah, and still has an established class with active fleets and Class Racing from coast to coast. (that one is for me)
Ok, pardon me for being a smartass ! !
I couldn't help it.
Where did all this come from? Why wouldn't you want your new hulls to be better than whats available used for far less money? I can still find solid light hulls for less than 1K just about anywhere. I'm a huge fan of the TheMightyHobie18 but after sailing one for 20yrs I need more. I bought the lastest and greatest in '01, the Fox, and quickly destroyed it by beach landing.
What I would buy is new hulls made with new technology that have solid glass keels. Its the sandwich glass on the keels that concerns me about the new clam shell designs. Once you wear thru the outer skin there seems to be no way to repair and get the strength back. New glass doesn't hold to the exposed foam and the strength is gone, or at least that has been my experience.
Price is not the real issue for me, its durability and functionality, I dropped 15k on the Fox used. My hotrod TheMightyHobie18 covers both of those issues and adds pucker factor with the spin. I'm going to have a custom jib made for my self tacker and forget about this hull argument.
Good luck with this venture, hope it works out well for those that take Hobie up on this offer, that said I'm out!
