samevans & feg.. thank you for your input. valuble information. For the record it must be stated that although I may have been persuaded to buy a boat i can not race as much as I would like, it was not the dealer who did that. He showed me the boat: I bought it. Please don't read any more into it than that. It was my sailing peers who talked me into it, and I'll pay them back on the water. When i suggested that I had been duped, it was in regard to the Hobie corporation marketing a boat as F18 compliant, which i now see that it is, with a twist or two. I am learning. Thanks again for the valuable info, & I hope to see you folks on the water some day. I'll enjoy this boat alot as i get over this more and more each day. The boat is awsome, which is even more reason I want to race it. ciao.