Lateen Rig on Hobie Cat?

I reread your original post.

Go sail the boat. Find out first-hand how it behaves.
Go sail the boat. Why dream up what if solutions to non existent problems?
Go sail the boat. Few conformists sail.
Go sail the boat. See when it needs to be depowered.
Go sail the boat. An earlier post gave good direction as to how to depowed as currently equipped.
Go sail the boat with whacky sail combos.
Go sail the boat in a three jib fiasco.

When you have figured it all out;
Go sail the boat with grandma (or not)
Check out Kami Richards flying 3 spinikars

 

I'm sure the headsail-only idea will work if I put on the extra leeboards. I'm just not sure I'll have the time to do that before my parents' scheduled trip in June.

I absolutely intend to sail the boat with the new sail. I figure, with a rolling furler, even if I don't like the way the genoa is performing I'll be able to reef it back to something similar in performance to the original jib, so no irreversible damage will be done.

I'm actually pretty excited about this project. I was just amazed at how I was able to find the perfect genoa sail, and the price was crazy good. (The sail with shipping to California from Florida was cheaper than a replacement original jib would have been.)

There is still some work that needs to be done on the boat before it's even ready to put back in the water. I should have the new sail by then. Then, I'll rig it, sail it, and then come back here to let everyone know how it went.

 

I almost wish I hadn't made the suggestion. Anyway, if sitting forward on the tramp doesn't work you still have the original rig. Minimum requirement is ability to sail upwind and tack.

 

About the spinnakers, carbon fiber mast? That looks like a easy way to get demasted.