I'm continiously updating the info as provided through the F12 Website :
http://www.xs4all.nl/~whijink/F12/It has taking a while by I know have a firm quote for a suitable F12 mast made from straight high 0.2% threshold aluminium tubing that will take a F12 sleeved mainsail. The mast can be taken apart into two or three parts.
The same mast is used on the Promo landyacht which are becoming very popular. Its length is 5.5 mtr and the cost is 240 Euro's including 20% European taxes.
The 5.5 sq mtr sail (not suitable to F12 as landyacht sails are too flat for soft water craft) cost 577 Euro's including 20% European taxes. However, the costs shouldn't change much when entlarging the sail and giving it more draft. The total load of a 5.5 sq. mtr landyacht sail in 20-30 knots of wind and a F12 rig in sub 20 knots winds are as good as identical. Please note here that Promo's use 5:1 to 7:1 purchase systems to sheet the sail as flat as a board. That is alot of rig tension ! The promo's are also 2 mtr wide and weight 60kg themselves and carry adults up to 90 kg without a fuss.
Mast, sail, battens and boom will weight a total 14 kg or less. Say under 15 kg. That is certain now. Its centre of weight is below that of a normal prismatic mast as the promo mast is obviously tapered.
I feel confident now that we can have a commericially build and offered F12 unstayed rig for 850 Euro's including 20% European taxes. The amount of EU taxation will be enough to cover shipping to any place in the world.
This result still allows us to achieve the design goals of less the 3000 Euro for a ready to sail F12 and as this can be purchased ready to go it will also go a very long way in achieving the "building under 100 hours" design goal. The Dotan rudders are purchased as well. So that only leaves building the hulls, beams, push rods, trampoline and assembling the components. I think we can get darn close to 100 hours building time.
Anyone out here want to look up dependable pricing for 5.5 to 7.0 sq.mtr surf masts and sails ?
I would be very thankful if I don't have the spend the time to do that. I already invested alot more then I can justify.
Wouter
