David,
I agree with a lot of you're saying. I think if you look at some of the long-standing one-design classes you'll see classes that had occaisional updates to the boats, gear, or sailplan. Compare a Star class boat to what it was in the beginning. If it hadn't changed, it would have died. What I see in the one-design classes for cats is a hard core nothing changes attitude, and the boats begin to fail to capture the imagination and passion of the sailors.

When I sailed my 18, I mused quite a bit about an add-on package that would pump the boat up a bit. I didn't want to have an 18 that was as fast as some other boat, I just thought there were some things that could make a more enjoyable and up to date version. Similar things to what you mentioned - removable daggerwell inserts to allow use of higher aspect boards, a spin package, and a modernization of the sail plan. As a package it could be added to the boats for HC racing and removed for OD. If it gained wide enough acceptance the change kit might make it back into the one design some day. I did add a spin to that boat, and I can say it is an addictive thing.

When I had my 20, I used to think about how easy it would be to do a simple modernization of the sail plan, along the lines of what was done for the Tornado. Change the cut of the main to a square, make the jib self tacking, and add a modern cut high aspect spinnaker. I never wanted to do this simply to keep up with the I-20s, I just thought the boat would be really nice to sail in that config, and such a beautiful boat deserves a modernization once and awhile. And I honestly think it could add new life to the class, but that's just me. Forget adding a carbon spar or other costly things. You could still do a removable insert for the wells to run different boards.

Now people say "requiring new sails would kill the class" - only if the new sails are prohibitively expensive or require expensive updates to the platform. Many OD racers replace their sails very often, so honestly buying new sails shouldn't be an issue. Keep the area low on the spinnaker, but make it a more efficient cut, and you shouldn't scare off the mixed teams either. For that reason, the Tiger set-up is probably ideal, also considering it comes from Hobie.

But again, I wouldn't make the emphasis on being faster boat for boat with the I-20s. I would concentrate on modernizing the boat in a reasonable way the builds on the strengths of the design and the people that want to sail it. Add the mods up for your handicap, show people how nice it is, and maybe it will catch on.

As for no mods made ever for the 20 or other one design classes, I can only what a shame. Class designs should be able to reasonably update with the times.

I still like the 20 and definitely had fun going head to head with you David! But I must admit I love my 6.0...