[quote] I guess the "H" for Hobie Trifoiler (old technology? as DEAN says) still isn’t that bad, being "old technology". Patented “old” technology by the way.[unquote]

Hi, Matt,

First, if no one reads anything else, read this: The Tri-Foiler sells for $14,000. The Rave goes for $10,000. For that $4,000 less you can have a Rave and a used catamaran; the best of both worlds. Now for my rebuttal.

NO,no,no, I said it was "early technology" and it is. My response was to contrast the robustness of the Rave's durable design to the fragility of the skids on the Tri-Foiler and to imply that the Tri-Foiler's early technology with the skids was improved upon by the Rave's system of T-Foils automatically controlled by the wands. I've also said that the skids forward of the bows are not good in a chop and they are not. To sail on a chop you need longer T-foils and an automatic leveling system, the Rave's wands, that does not depend upon a relatively smooth water surface as does the Tri-Foiler's skids.

But, I am glad that you and I both have pointed that this is a moot point because at 10-12mph you're up on the foils in the Rave or the Tri-Foiler. Most, if not all, sailors unfamiliar with foiling assume that you have to have a lot of wind, typical for a light chop, to get the craft out of the water and that's just not the case. Perception and rumours die hard. Some, incredibly, have the impression that foils produce so much drag after liftoff that it brings the boat down. (That was a new level of incredulity. I can only assume he doesn't fly in a plane for fear of it falling out of the sky after takeoff.) I can't emphasize enough that the move from understanding vertical foils moving at a slow speed to the science of horizontal foils at much faster speeds is a whole 'nuther ball game. Cat sailors, for example, do not have to be concerned with the foils moving so quickly that it can literally vaporize the water moving aross the foils' surfaces.

Matt, your observation is correct in saying that the Rave tries to be more of an all-around boat than the Tri-Foiler. That was a marketing decision that seemed to logically follow the boat's basic design. That's not better or worse. It's just different. As Hobie has discovered going to the more pure market was no better than going to the broader market. Neither boat has made much of a dent in the water.

They're all good for what they are. Some sailors would like to keep their cat but hang out the foils at times hence Dave Carlson's clever solution. I've seen Dave's boat foil. Others may want only a strictly foiling experience for which the Tri-Foiler is made. The Rave is a good weekend daysailer with some space to haul what you need from place to place. The bottom line is that, unlike beachcats which pretty much offer the same sailing experience, the foilers all achieve flight in different manners and the owner should choose the personality that he wants to live with when his foiler is sailing only as the amiable Dr. Jekyl. They all offer the Mr. Hyde hair-on-fire experience.

One thing all the production foilers have in common is an incredible lack of promotion. These exciting water craft are all but hidden from the larger market. That's a disappointment and with all the talk of guys who say they love speed, when the money hits the table they go with what they know. Kinda like monohullers when cats were new. Actually, I'm just picking on you. If you want to go fast more of the time a cat is the way to go but please don't look down on me out there on the fringe where lesser cajones fear to tread.