[quote=robpatt]Congrats on the boat and the progress.
Not sure what opportunity you have, but the BIGGEST thing I've learned since moving from a few years on a Hobie 18 to an F16 would be this: "Don't overcomplicate things" aka Keep it Simple..S..
Basically, and folks will almost universally agree, when the 18s were built they didn't know design limits for materials as well nor the loads they will encounter.... so more was better. So the boat is overbuilt. Fine, no problem. However, the down side can, and often is, more parts are used than necessary, which can lead to unnecessary weight (not a big deal), unnecessary complexity (could be an issue), and therefore multiple points of failure (definitely an area of concern).
Then the balance is simplicity AND convenience while sailing. Each sailor has to find their own mix.
That said, there are a LOT of things on the original H18 design which can be simplified or made more convenient (which may add complexity, but it's purposeful) by examining the rigging and layouts of more modern boats. I'm finding it real interesting.
Cheers - Rob.[/quote]
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