Hi Ed, You need to get more info about the Wave before you write anything else about it since you are terribly misinformed. The Wave does retail for $3800 and can be had for around $3200 after the Nationals in December at Rick's Place (ten boats this year, at least). I write "around" because Hobie likes to set the price only at the last minute to make it harder for interested buyers so they have not set the price yet as far as I know. I bought my last one there last year for $3200 after sailing in the regatta. Also the boat does come with "upgradable features" as you ask for in the form of a jib kit, a spinnaker kit, and a back rest. There is no need for diamond wires as the sail is about as roachy as you could make it and it works fine as is. Also the main desirable feature of the boat is its simplicity and quick rigging time so you would not want to mess that up.
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<br>Also it is DOES NOT have the low price locked up in North America. The Mystere 4.3 is still available with main, jib, and spinnaker w/snuffer for only $3400 US. Only delivery is extra and, speaking from experience, you can get a pretty good rate per boat when you ship 30 at a time! This is a fully outfitted boat with top notch equipment like Harken airblocks, Ronstan autoratchets, extendable hiking stick, etc. I have owned and raced a cat since 1980 and this boat is an incredibly low priced fun maker. Mystere sells a comparably equipped 5.0 for $5400 U.S. When word got around here last winter that we were getting an order together people of all experience levels and incomes joined in. So I know that price IS an issue and having a good product was a bonus (people had already sent there money in without having even seen the boats). When they got them they were nearly awestruck at their good fortune to have received such a nice boat and equipment. Manufacturer support is just as awe inspiring! Ever hear of Hobie or Nacra offering free sails to owners who raced at enough regattas? Well next week I am going to pick up free spinnakers for the owners who raced at least seven regattas during the sailing season! There were a number of boats that were barely used during the season for the various reasons already mentioned in this string and then some. But I have not seen another boat in a very long time get so many people out sailing, especially kids and females, and I have not seen any other boat get so cat sailors to try a spinnaker. The cries went from "that spinnaker is too big" early in the season to "can we get a bigger spinnaker?" later in the season as their fear turned to fun! So if people do invest the time in the boat they learn quickly and get hooked. Most of the boats with very little use were rigged with masts up at a club with easy water access. More fodder for the mind.
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