this 80% figure is quoted from our local hobie cat rep. It may be bs or not I don't know. This is what hobie states. I do know for a fact that both the dealers and hobie make more $$ on the sale of a rotomoulded (truly plastic) boat. I think this is the reason why these are selling so well. The hobie dealers talk these ppl into these hunks o' junk, and the rest is history. I work in sales. Take whatever sales course you want. But I will tell you everything you want to know about sales if you want to know. It all boils down to one thing: tell them what they want to hear. That's all it is. What makes a succesfull salesman is determining what they want ot hear and/or creating such a thing that your competitors can't say. Take whatever sales course you want. This is the real world. If you want to sell something, the key is to keep shooting on selling points until you see that one or 2 points that makes their eyes twinkle. Believe me or disbelieve me if you want, but this is how my I17R was paid for. Ppl who have sailed a wave on a cruise or club med vacation or whatever want to hear this. This is a beginners boat. This just isn't true. This is a "I want to make as much $$ out of you as possible sucker, boat as possible" (getaway). Point is beginers want to hear about a boat for beginners, and Hobie knows this and they offer their non-boats (this is my term for the rotmoulded hunks of (you know what)) If these ppl would only come down to the cat clubs and talk to the sailors before buying a boat...