What so just because i share similar veiws, i must be the same person. I sail a H16. And I just ran the numbers and i can get a spanking new tiger for cheaper than the stealth the viper and the blade with carbon mast. According to the viper website i cant get a minimum weight one of them.
So get a spanking new Tiger, want to guess what it weighs?
Look it wasn't my intention to put you guys offside. I just dont wnat to spend a truck load of money on a boat that would be left wanting by a boat that was 20 Kilos lighter. I don't have the time or the inclination to build my own. So unfortunatly i would have to rely on one of the Big Bad manufacturers to supply me with a boat.
The Big Bad Manf. don't build F16's and probably won't, for all the reasons Macca has too many times mentioned. It takes real builder skills to get the boats down to minimum wt. and the Big Boys (Hobie and Nacra) are just not interested in putting that kind of effort into such a small customer base, especially when it might be taking customers away from a boat they all ready dominate, the F18's.
From what ive seen the class would rather keep the major manufacturers out to suit a few homebuilders. Therefore majorly limiting the growth of the class.
Sue
"The Class" couldn't care less if the Big Boys get involved or not. There is a minimum boat weight. Most of us have no idea what our boats weigh because it is nearly impossible to weigh them correctly at home, and there are very few reliable scales available at regattas. I can honestly say I have NEVER seen a scale at any regatta, that includes the Alter Cup.
So here's the deal with the F16 class and boat weights. You either want a light, fast, 16 foot boat with the ability to race Uni or 2 up, with a spinnaker, or you don't. There are other classes available to you, go there.
If you think being at min. wt. is a big deal, pay your money and get as much carbon on board as you can, and keep weighing your boat, and you will have no problem getting to min. wt.
There was a guy who Pimped his F18HT back a few years ago, maxed it out per the rules, rumor is he spent about $50,000 doing it. And it killed the class as nobody else wanted to spend that kind of money to play catch up. Is that what you want?
I'm happy to sail a stock factory boat and trust the builder has done a good job trying to keep them all even and at or near min. wt.
