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John
What I mean is that people have to spread the word outside the current sailing community.
Hobie took off in large part from the Life magazine article and Hollywood movie placements. Bo Derek and such.
(Deep breath Wout, trying to learn here)
Having all this information here or even on it's own website is not nearly enough.
Someone like you will have to go to a local venue such as a yacht club or even a town or state park and pitch the idea to have a sailing program for kids.
You will need a team of people to build maybe 6 boats.
There would need to be some advertising in newsletters, websites and local papers that there is a sailing program available for kids.
Our town holds Parks and Rec for the kids in the summer for a small fee.
These are a bunch of kids that have no idea about sailing that could be introduced and hooked. You could then let the parents know that the plans for the boats are available and maybe have a how to work shop for dads that may have all the tools and ability already to build a boat for his kid that has never turned on a computer.
There are some sail schools at lakes near us, but they are expensive and only known to club members.
Design and building is the easy part. Manpower and marketing to make it successful will be difficult.

PS: Jake got the point

Wouter: How about a break down of the 200 boats and how you did.
Do you have home build numbers vs. factory boats that can be confirmed? That would be interesting.


Well...I've been away for the past few hours setting up our Hobie Fleet 297 display at the Kansas City Boat Show (Bartle Exposition Hall, Booth 212, Wed thru Sun, stop by and say hello!). Have to run now for the Building Committee meeting on the new Sailing Center...starts at 8:30.

Maybe later I'll have time to oil up the jig saw and tidy up the garage.

When we have a boat built we'll start talking.


John H16, H14