Demise of Dinghy Innovation?

The UFO was specifically designed to use a windsurfer mast and the Dave Clark copied the Herreshoff wishbone boom to add stiffness and control. 

If there has been a great development in recent years it is the modern interpretation of that rig. 

Details of the rig at the bottom with a picture of the Herreshoff original 

Because it's a large financial outlay for something that could go out of fashion or become obsolete at any time.

The development of the OK kit boats is an interesting twist that makes home built a bit more workable for the average modern person and I'm sure the method could be applied to other designs, new or existing.

The main plus point is that there is almost zero wood cutting to be done. You send the CNC files to a laser cutting shop and they do the millimeter accurate cutting of all the ply panels and the jig to build it in. It then all comes together as a flat pack, building the accurate jig first and then the boat inside it. No messy stitch and glue - just epoxy fillets that most people can handle. Dan Leech who did the OK kit reckons about 60hours build time for the average person and you get a boat as fast as any other in the world and painted no-one would know it's not plastic. Have a look at http://www.leechboats.com/sail/leech-ok-dinghy

The OK can do this because it has, sensibly, a relatively heavy weight compared to some original kit boats that are impossible to build from wood to weight by the average Joe. To further make a wooden boat less likely the once kit boats are now made in foam sandwich all baked in ovens. Obviously it market driven but a shame.