Alto Dinghy

Jim C, the car analogy is a red herring. All aspects of car design have improved in absolute terms since the D-Type was or original Morgan were designed, just as indeed the build technology of 505 hulls has kept pace. But you are really talking about fluid dynamic aspects

While car aerodynamics have improved in absolute terms, hull shape is much more a question of choice of compromise. Whereas the D-Type probably had lots of detached flow and could be improved on in absolute terms, most hull designs, and certainly the 505's, work without significant flow detachment and cannot be improved in the same way.

So it's merely a question of choosing which characterisitics you require. For example, between early, fast planing, wetted area, waterline length, inherent stability and sea-keeping. Modern designs tend to choose to sacrifice light airs performance and wetted area for improved planing, but anyone who has tried to race an RS800 in light airs on handicap will know what a loser that is, just as anyone who has pitchpoled a flat-rockered boat like a 49'er will recognise the compromises that have been made to sea-keeping. On the other hand, you only have to watch the video I posted above to see how well the 505 hull copes with heavy weather and waves.

So I can't agree the 5oh hull is out of date or superceded. It just may or may not suit the style of sailing you want to do right now. You may wish to go fast on flat water in planing conditions; others might well prefer to sacrifice some planing performance for better light airs and seaway performance.

I look forward to watching the progress of this, and would love to have a shufty and trot round the block in one.

Keep us informed.......... well me anyway

Good luck