The A class rules are a box formula. As long as you are within them you can be classified as an A. Technically the Hobie Wave measures in and could if they wanted to be sold as an A class and be raced heads up.

This is obviously not going to happen, and anyone actually looking to get into the A class should have enough buyers education to be able to recognize the difference.

A boat at 200 lbs though is something that given the right price would be a perfect intro boat. There are a lot of people who do not have the skills to be able to tell the difference and a less expensive into boat lets them play the game.

Too many people seem to be getting wrapped up on this weight issue - weight of the crew, weight of the boat. Yes it makes a difference, but is way down on the list of things that make you go faster than the next guy or make sailing fun. Back in the hey day of cat sailing when 100 plus boats would show up for a local race no one seemed to care much and I know there was upwards of 30 lb differences in weights between some of the H16's in our club. Now peoepl are getting all bent over whether a boat that is over weight by 5 lbs can still be called by its class name, and we struggle to get 10 boats to the line. Is there a connection here......Hmmmmm??? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

A competitve A class boat is expensive due to both materials and the labor that goes into it. The class is open though, so if you feel you can do it your self, everyone will welcome your boat in the fleet (even if it weights 166 lbs)