Steve, I had heard from one of the dealers in aus that ther 18 doesn't have adequate buoyancy to run F18 gear, whether that s overall buoyancy or just distribution of buoyancy I'm not sure. But yes it would be a cheap way of getting into f18 if it worked.
Cheers Phil
The biggest problem with the TheMightyHobie18 is that it fundamentally doesn't comply with F18 rules. As somebody else mentioned, the jib is *way* too big. Also the beams on a F18 must be straight (allow up to 15mm?? pre-camber) and thirdly I suspect the dagger boards will be too heavy.
Unfortunatly you would find yourself more or less with pair of hulls and maybe a mast (would have to check if the rigging points of the mast complied to F18) and not much else.
A well sailed TheMightyHobie18 can stay in touch with a F18 upwind in some conditions but it is very much like pushing water up hill in most situations.
Michael
