I've completed my conversion. A few more tweaks and she will be all she can be. I really want to thank those that gave advice and those that helped with parts, Dan Delave-spin and main, David Lennard-spin pole, Rick Harper-jib, Trey Brown-self tacker,rigging, and SX mast. Advice from Ollie, Jake, Dave, Rick, David and Nigel. Without this help I would have never figured this out. The boat handled well and my wife is now excited about racing again, a big plus. Thanks also to the organizers of the Pee-Dee classic, much fun indeed!

Can you post some pics?

Dont forget to let us know how it compares to "real" F-18's <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Initial observations are that it won't point as high to weather. I could actually watch the F18s lift to weather in puffs, the 18 didn't. The chute is not quite right so downwind speed wasn't comparable. If there had been a green f18 crew there we would have been more able to compare. We raced against the best F18 crews in our region Nigel Pitt, Rick Harper, Jake Kohl, David Lennard, Dave Mosley and Lloyd Graves. My wife had never sailed this boat with the spin or the self tacker installed. She looks great but isn't very strong so the chute and flukey wind wore her out quickly. We actually parked in the middle of the first race and practiced her trap disengagement technique, after almost capsizing because she couldn't get disconnected. It was a learning experience for both of us.