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).
Oh FFS! Mid 80's was near 30 years ago! As CEO/General manager/President or whatever you call it in your part of the world of several businesses, one industry I wouldn't want to be in over the last 5 years is boat building. Save a few long established OD classes such as H16 it'd be a very hard gig. Let alone on a development class such as F18 where one month you have the fastest mousetrap only to be the trash next.
For me, the cost of R&D is very much under estimated. The number of boats it's amortised over, even if you are on a winner is really quite low, especially when you take into account the ongoing costs such as sail and foil development over the lifetime of a hull.
Of course it's not a total explanation of costs but the business of selling boats these days would be a hard gig IMO.
