Robert and all,
It appears to be that the class is not really moving anywhere. It is the
same discussions
every year and ideas and suggestions are brought up, but there is no
leadership to move
forward with them. Whats the point of asking for yet another round of
suggestions? Will anything
happen to them! Anyway I will give you some suggestions and ideas again.
(some are repeats of previous years)
In my opinion there is a number of issues with the rules, that just does not
fit reality of our
members. So maybe we should consider a re-write of the rules to fit our
members a little better. Maybe
re-write them with the home builder in mind, so that the boat becomes easier
to build and the margins
are widen a bit.
What about considering ideas that would let home builders, build the boat
easier and less costly. E.g. let go of some material
restrictions. The bottom part could easierly be build from thin plywood.
Considering that there were 40+ lbs different between the
4 boats we weighed in Hampton last fall. (lightest and heaviest) a plywood
version would probably come in about average. A lot could
learned from studying the way other home building boats are being sold.
(Check out www.bateau.com as an example) After all that is
mainly what the class is. (nothing bad about that) Obviously just copying
what they do, might not work, but they are focused on growth
and making stuff simple so customers recommend them.
PY number. Anything moved forward on that? I think this is key to get more
swifts sailing (and more exposure of the boat to other sailors)
in regattas, particular for swift owners who cannot get the mandatory 5 boat
limits to show up for a regatta. This appears to be one of
the downsides to not having a manufacture out there to promote your class.
If the EC is not going to pursue it, just come out and say
so. I'll stop bugging you about it.
I'll probably stop by in Florida for a few days. (be flying down, so no
boat) So we can get some more discussion on this.
Christian
On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 1:27 PM, Robert Harper <rharper@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Andy your comments are well known and have been at the heart of the
> discussion from the first time we all gathered together. I have no
> intention of making the ownership of a Swift to be an exclusive
> proposition. I would just like to protect the ability for an average
> builder to be able to produce a competative boat should he decide to go
> that route. I'd like to keep it so that you don't get caught up into the
> SMOD idea of the MPS. It is great for the MPS and the RSnnnn boats but I'd
> prefer not to see it in the Swift. We also have to find a way to cheeply
> produce boats by whatever means that almost any comercial builder could
> produce boats from a licenced mold but at the same time, the home builder
> can produce a similar quality boat that will show little if any difference
> on the water. Then there is the whole who ultimately owns the plugs and
> the molds and many other issues to sort out. Finding a good balance from
> all of this will be one of the biggest hurdles the class will probably
> have to get over.
>
> Right now I am open to all suggestions but I will only be pigheaded on
> keeping a place at the table for the home build.
>
>
> --
> Live large, love lots, and sail fast!
> The mark of who you are is determined by what you do when you don't have
> to do it.
> USA 050 Fugu
> 77959 Wasabi
> Robert Harper
>
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>
>
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