"Bringing new familys into racing cats is all about money. Name one new racing cat under $10,000."
"If someone could come up with a $6,000 Dart 16 type boat, double traps and not so prone to pitch poleing, I think it would sell."
Tim, those are interesting thoughts. I`d suggest looking at the design of the Mosquito for reference, not suggesting that it would work in the US market, but the principle is there : It`s 4,9m (16ft), has vacuum-formed foam sandwich epoxy hulls with kevlar and carbon reinforcing, weighs 105kg (230lbs I think)fully rigged with twin traps and spinnaker. It has mylar main & jib and a spi, a moderately sized sailplan (maybe too small for US light winds ?), but it`s relatively cheap due to the fact that you buy the hulls, sails and mast extrusion (blank) and then with a bit of labour (easy assembly) you have a lightweight 16ft racer with spin & double traps. They are very strong although not rotomoulded (thank goodness), but do have daggerboards. The beams are square tubing aluminium, available from any aluminium supplier. The boat was designed as a home-built plywood boat and has evolved into semi-professional construction (hulls and sails are pro-built, the rest you can put together yourself).
We can put one together in SA for about $6800, or R50 000 (our pathetic currency <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)
Of course it`s no I-20 or F18 killer, but to get folks into racing affordably once they have tasted catsailing at a resort on a plastic boat, it might just be a more affordable option than a Dart 16 or Hobie Getaway, and is way faster than both, ISAF rating (unofficial) is around 1.14, based on it`s specs. (faster than a Hobie 16).
Of course it requires that you do some work to get sailing, you don`t buy one off the factory floor complete, but then that is why the cost can be kept reasonable (for comparison a Hobie 16 costs around 35% more in SA, and you get a lot less for your money).
Attached pic of our new National Champs, Miles & Darryn, both 18 years old. (The boat is well suited to youth and female crew combinations, which is good for getting FAMILIES sailing together.)

Steve