One of the biggest differences in a Box rule or Formula class structure as opposed to a strict 1 design is that the life span of any given model is now limited. People expect that the builders and designers will continue to offer new models every X number of years. In the A class this seams to be about 3 years for any given hull design. Properly constructed boats if maintanied will last years. In competitive and growing classes where there is a good used boat market many of the top guys and those who can afford it, upgrade to new boats every few years. Motivation to do this is hightened if they can not only get a new boat (It may be only deck styling or color or hardware options, but its new), but something that is different and not have to jump classes. This is 1 huge advantage for class growth if the sailor base is there and understands the concept of a formula class. (It is a bad deal for the builders because of trying to amortize tooling and design costs, but thais is another thread)

Given this, if the F16 class can show growth, and is seen by others around the globe, as builders look at new models they will be more tempted to to build in the future to the F16 spec. If we grabbed a general rule to try and bring in a lot of already built boats we would have a much different rule: longer, heavier, more sail, all the things that were avoided and now the selling point of the class we have currently.

Bimare has already identifed customers for its new boat. I did speak to them about building something that was compliant to a rule as they are very close, but it required more changes than they were prepared to make to fit what they could sell now.

Our charter as the F16 class has to be to just continue to sell what we have and grow the class. With numbers and visability others will join.