MB - I was thinking our hulls were built in Asia, shipped to Bendigo and fitted to beams, tramps, gudgeons, etc - to make sure the fit was proper. The hulls, sails, foils, mast fittings, boom, spin package, jib gear (everything but the mast) were then boxed up and shipped to the US. The masts were already in the US. The boats were reassembled in the US (I remember the beam bolts were marked, so they would go back in the same place) and the masts fitted out in the US.

A little more expensive, but the people at AHPC get to lay eyes on the platform before the buyer. I have heard of some AHPC boats NOT being shipped to the customer due to finding something that was not quite right at inspection time in Bendigo (not F16, but A's). I would think a production manager in Asia would catch some heat if the hulls did not meet some sort of specs.

If my recollection is right, that is a pretty good customer service model. If my recollection is wrong, don't tell me!!! I like the story.

Hans - sorry to hijack your thread. The Raptor looks great. I hope she sails as good as she looks.