Can a boat use titanium or alloy bolts in place of the standard stainless-steel bolts?
No
The Cape 31 International One-Design Class Rules are closed class rules (preamble to part II).
The World Sailing Equipment Rules of Sailing 2021-2024 define Closed Class Rules (ERS C.2.2) as “Class Rules where anything not specifically permitted by the Class Rules is prohibited.”
Accordingly, the absence of the class rules specifically allowing replacement of stainless-steel bolts provided with the boat is prohibited.
Any boat which has made such a modification of bolts must replace titanium or alloy bolts with stainless steel bolts of similar size, weight and type to the original supplied bolts to be deemed in compliance with the class rules.
Andy Wibroe
International Class Measurer