There goes another crazy idea:

I dreamed about a "Kid-cat" using as many Optimist parts as possible. Then, the "upgrade kit" - cheap, because it would make use of existing Optimist parts - would allow kids to choose if they want to sail the regular Optimist or the Cat version.

I'd expect that kids sailing the cat would soon discover that they are faster and generally more interesting - and develop an earlier interest in multihull sailing.

The Optimist rig is extremely easy to move from one boat to the other. In my club (and probably most places), the rigs are left assembled inserted in small tubes that were cemented into the ground near the wall of an enclosed area. The hulls are kept elsewhere. If we made a small cat that could receive the same rig, a kid would be able to use either the Optimist or the Cat anytime - no fuss.

It woud be better if the same daggerboard and rudder could be used - ideally one each, instead of a cat's usual double rudder / double board setup.

If this is not technically impossible, then the kit would be a) two hulls and b) a connecting platform w/daggerboard case, mast support and rudder gudgeons.

Sounds simple, but... Can it be done?