So, am I missing something? Isn't Hobie all about keeping boats "identical" for decades? What will happen as F18 designs improve in the coming years? Will Hobie change the Tiger to keep up or will is soon become a legacy boat?
Mike.
The answer is already out, Hobie Corp. WILL change the Tiger design to keep up. They have done so already several times in the past with the Tigers design.
A few examples ;
Switching from pinhead mainsails to squaretops
Adding subdecks in the hulls
Changing trampoline setup and boom setups.
Changing spinnaker setups and spinnaker shapes
replacing the jib that was sheeting of wires running across the trampoline to one that is sheeting of the mainbeam
Than replacing this jib set by a selftacking setup.
Replacing glass boards by carbon ones
Changing sailcloths
Up till now Hobie Corp has written most changes into the Tiger OD rules (arguable not OD by result) but the trend is clear. She will change the design in what ever way to keep up with the F18's for that is the class that is buying most Tigers.
Overhere in NL the last Hobie Nationals included Tigers F18's (Non-compliant with OD Tiger class designs but that are F18 compliant) as otherwise they would have had only 2 boats racing. That in a nations that easily sees 10's of Tigers show up for open class races.
Wouter