I've always wondered if the early boats were perhaps closer to design spec because production wasn't as flat out so perhaps more attention was paid to details.
I don't like the idea of adding keel weight. We perform like a hot damn upwind already, and our weakness is wetted surface/weight down wind. The only logical solution is to start saving for a carbon mast, boom and pbo rigging!
On a fun note:
One of my crew is building an i550 right now so he has been doing a lot of research into laying up carbon. After a Guinness or two last night our conversation turned to what in the J/30 we could turn into carbon fibre to get the speed up. Everything from buying a carbon fibre head to making all the storage hatch boards, but we decided best bang for the buck would be to lay up a new carbon engine cover complete with companionway stairs and a new nav table, Those things weigh a ton
