10K for a Hobie 16 ain't cheap. What was the price of a hobie 16 in the mid 80's 1500-2000. Do you realize that used 80s and 90s hobies are selling for more then the cost new(20 years ago). But it is not just cats. Look at the laser(same boat higher price).
That conveniently neglects the effects of inflation, which are significant.
My father bought our first Hobie 16 (new) in 1973 - $1250. That's $6400 in today's money.
I bought my first Hobie 16 (new) in 1983 - $3400. That's $7830 in today's money.
I forget what I paid for my second 16 - it was an '89 nationals boat, so it was essentially used.
I bought my third Hobie 16 (new) in 1998 - $6345 That's $8920 in today's money.
My current 16, bought new in 2007 was $7545 That's $8350 in today's money. (Rob Jerry cut me a deal.)
So a brand-new 16 costing $10K in 2012 is not that much different than ones sold a long time ago on an inflation adjusted basis. And the new ones today are a lot better than the new ones in the '70s and 80's.
