However, I do think the F16 association really needs to address the weight issue.
For the association to grow, you need the production boat manufacturers onside. Manufacturers who can build 50+ boats a year like Bimare, AHPC... and maybe even NACRA and Hobie.
The minimum weight limit is very, very difficult for these guys to achieve. The boat needs to be affordable, but still ensure that there is sufficient markup to market, distribute and warranty the boat... (not to mention give free advice and feed their own families!)
I know Greg Goodall has made the conscious decision NOT to build the Viper in carbon, or use higher tech strategies as he knows that if he put an optimized VIPER on the water with the cost.... who knows... then this would probably dishearten all those weekend warriors and probably have a devastating impact on the F16 class.
He, probably more than any one of you, wants the F16 class to survive and grow... It gives him a target market to sell his boats...
