..... you are correct. But you can sure as hell build a stiffer one with more volume. And to think it would not cost more than an A class and not be a quicker product is sticking your head in the sand.
Right, the more you are screaming that the sky is falling the more you'll get the same reply.
The facts simply contradict your convictions.
All prices are incl. EU taxes.
High hull volume, stiff platform ?
Viper F16 (with alu mast); 15.950 Euro's (and 23 kg over min. weight)
High hull volume, stiff platform AND minimum weight ?
Stealth F16 (with carbon mast stand.) : 15.000 Euro's Falcon F16 (+ carbon mast upgrade): 18500 Euro's (15.000 with an alu mast and 5 kg over min. weight) Aussie Blade F16 (+ carbon mast upgrade) : 17.150 Euro's (15.600 with an alu mast and very close to min. weight)
The pricing for the Raptor F16 is not known to me yet
I seem to remember that basic A-class cats start at 17.500 Euro's in the EU market.
"Hot" A-classes like the Geltek flyer 2 are costing significantly more.
Modern F18's are :
Hobie Wildcat 19.815 Euro's. Nacra Infusion 18.250 Euro's (add 1000 Euro's for race package = standard on F16's !) Wasn't the Cap F18 18.500 Euro's a few years back ? I wonder what the C2 F18 will be sold for ? Even the outdated Tiger F18 is still 16.750 Euro in basic setup (race package costs 2500 bucks extra) Together no less then 19.250 Euro's !
Interesting detail is that the race package on the Tiger and Infusion actually contains the snuffer setup etc; pretty much essentials when it comes to racing; also contains carbon fibre boards etc. All of these things come standard on F16's !
I dare say that any modern F18 is between 19.000 and 20.500 Euro's on the EU market (incl. taxes) and for that you get daggerboards that weight 3 kg a piece (1.8 kg on a F16) !
In fact it seems that the F18's are more expensive then the A's and it doesn't seem to hold the F18 class back much at all !
This also disproofs the "believe" that one can actually force inexpensive boats by tightly regulating the class and using only cheap and heavy materials/components.
