Some ramblings...

The differences between the H20 and the P19 and NE 6.0 are that the P19 class was pretty much already dead when the MX rig showed up, and the NE 6.0 seems to be dying for just the reason folks would like to see Hobie update the 20 - it sounds like they're going to the I20 because it has a factory rig that includes the spin instead of having to cobble something together.

The 20 is still a viable boat in some areas, and even if you don't add the spin, some updates to the rest of it just may help keep things going and fresh. I always got the feeling with Hobie that once a boat is designed and built, that's it, no updates to the class. After awhile it feels like a joke.

So Hobie is left with no viable answer to the N20, and until they can find another boat to import, they won't. And by viable answer to the N20 I don't mean something that will necessarily run head to head with it, but something that will at least capture sailor's imaginations enough to stay with the Hobie. From a new boat perspective, I'd see little reason to buy one over a Tiger, except that at my weight and size I like a 20 foot boat, so it would be N20 for me if I wanted a spin.

At the point I sold my 20 I was contemplating adding a spinnaker, not because of any illusions of catching I20s, it was just because I really liked sailing with a spin. I was a bit hesitant regarding the hull strength, as my boat had previously had a repair to the infamous hull problem - it had been repaired with no problems showing anymore, but I didn't want to push it.

I liked the feeling of the 20, it's pretty and it's responsive and balanced and quick, but it wasn't up to the speed of a 6.0 with no spin, and the 6.0 holds crew weight better. The first time I powered through chop without slapping the crossbeams and tramp in the water I knew that even though I missed the 20 I was happy with the new boat. But, if the 20 had the speed potential near the 6.0 I probably would have stuck with it.

So maybe there's an idea for the 20 foot non-spin boats - try to get some parity among them through updates and sail heads up in a non-spin formula class as well as in one-design. I'd bet you could update the H20 with mods that could fold back into the class, and give it dual life, and breath some life into some dying classes.

I've always felt that with dying-class boats that there was an opportunity for an owner's group to form a non-factory class association and take the boats where the factory won't. This could happen - the NE 6.0 guys had something like that going, but it's now faltering. I think in the end, the basis of strength for these kinds of things would come from people willing to breath new life into older boats because they don't want to spend the cash for a new one, or are just big fans of the particular design. But it also relies on something else that is a big soap-box issue for me - you need enough sailors. Here I'll get off topic, sorry.

We're still in the game of moving sailors from one class to the next. In the end, one class thrives and another one dies. Maybe that's just the way it will be, some sailors are always going to move around, and why shouldn't they? But if we continue to bring new sailors into the sport, the variety might thrive and might indeed be the reason the new sailors come in.

So, new blood, new blood, new blood, new blood. With new sailors comes the critical mass to keep existing classes alive and keep new ones growing. David - spec out some changes to the 20, and pump it up not just among the existing sailors but to new blood - "here's a great bang for the buck alternative, find out if you like cat sailing without buying a new N20" kind of a thing.

In our area the A-Cats are the growing class, and with good reason. And some people have traded in their whatever boats to go there. But we've also gotten some mono converts, and we're always looking for the next batch of people to join the WRCRA to take the spots the A-Cats might leave behind.

Why am I saying this? Because the H20 is a nice boat and I think an upgrade would be great, but no upgrade is going to change an I20 sailor back. But it might make a great alternative to somebody who hasn't gone there yet, and that person might be the fresh blood - whether the upgrade is something Hobie offers or some other package of specs. The Hobie 20 is not unique here, I think the 18 could still be used in such a manner, but it would take some vision. And you'd have to remember that the target is new blood.

As a relatively new 6.0 sailor, I have to admit I'm disappointed that the NE scene doesn't seem to be working out, it's something I would have moved my boat towards. But we've got three 6.0s in our club, who knows, maybe the Chesapeake 6.0 spec is next...

Ramble mode off, Happy New Years to all!