My concern is that this may set a new precedent--find a boat with equipment you like and you can change your boat to match it.
For example, like the shorter pole track, at some point the teak and holly sole became standard and later boats like Wildcat and Bebop have wood battens on the interior of the hull. Since early boats don't have either is it now OK to to tear them out to save weight? This is not a hypothetical, two boats in our fleet actually did this.
Hull #545 was among the last few J/30 produced. It was delivered without halyard winches or deck organizers. Several other class members noticed and removed these items without contacting the measurer.
I appreciate as here and on the other post when people do the right thing and contact the measurer for guidance. It shouldn't be easier to ask for forgiveness than get permission.
J/Boats made numerous specification changes during the eight year production run. Some are obvious, others not so much. Boats are alike but not identical.
J/30 Class Rule 1.3 states, "No alternatives or modifications are permitted unless explicitly stated in these rules or on the official plans or building specifications." It's up to the measurer to interpret the rules and leave it to the BOG to change them where necessary.
