Preliminary conclusion.

As in the preceding years, the commercially offered Formula 16 boats are cost price wise at the bottom of the market. That is to say with respect to similary configured alternatives. However, the F16's are also never more expensive then 1000-2000 Euro's compared to the cheapest 2-up and spinnaker equipped options available.

This is in my (biased) opinion a considerable achievement because the F16's came standard equipped with components that are regulary considered upgrades or optional race-packages with respect to other designs. Point in case are snuffer systems, selftacker systems, carbon foils and pentex sailcloth. Such upgrade easily add 1000-2500 Euro's to the base price.

In this respect the F18 quotes are alot more dependable as these two included the basic stuff that F16's consider standard. Only exception here was the Hobie Tiger quote.

Clearly the F18 quotes are on a par with a commercially offered F16 that is fitted with a carbon mast. In that setup the F16 in question is very close to the minimal class weight of 107 kg. This will make the F16 in question a more advanced boat altogether for no additional costs compared to basic F18's. This is without the need to have anything other then plain cost effective glass/vinylester hulls.

I feel this positions the F16 boats very nicely in the larger beach cat scene and validates the F16 concept (and class rules) as it currently is.


On to the future !

Wouter