I've been thinking about measuring the platform stiffness on my Nacra, but I have an issue with how the above test was performed. Several factors may influence the results; the ground may be slightly uneven - were the boats all tested in the same exact spot? The boats themselves may not be perfectly flat and may have some pretwist in it - were the measurements taken from each side and then averaged? Truthfully, even before I seated my beams, 95mm (3.74 inches) of deflection simply by lifting an opposite bow sounds unrealistic on my nacra...it's SO much stiffer than my 6.0 was (I would believe it on my 6.0).

Instead of doing the test as described above, I propose that we perform our own independent test. We should start by loosening the rigging substantially so the rigging doesn't help support the hulls and beams adding a variance to different width boats. Then we support the boats by both sterns and one bow and measure the height of the unsupported bow from the ground. Then apply, say, 10kg to that unsupported bow and measure again. That will give a more accurate indication of vertical axis platform stiffness and would also remove some of the ground level variance and most effect from any preexisting platform twist.

Of course I probably won't have access to the Blade F18, or any Tornados soon, but would very much like to see the results there too. Can someone help with that?

Mary, if you're still putting up with this thread, can we submit a Catsailor article on the test results? Perhaps we can do some testing at Tradewinds. Wouter, want to co-author it?