Hi Guys,
We seem to be switching horses midstream. At first the ideas for this class were pick up an old run down production boat in the 13ft to 15ft length range and modify it to 14ft and 3 inches overall length. Then put a square top main and spinnaker/hooter on it and let's go racing for $1500.
Now the rules/ideas have changed to a more ideal, faster, all out racing boat, F16HP type. There are no 14.25ft footers in production anywhere in the US, so it becomes a "build your own boat game plan" at a minimum weight of 150 pounds.
Now the cost has increased several times at least in the US. To have a competitive boat, it is going to cost $2000 for materials and several hundred hours of inexperienced labor and many of these efforts will never be finished.
The class has gone from a low cost project with low technology platforms to a high cost project in terms of dollars and hours and a high technology platform. This is a nice dream but it is going to take some real dedication to make a boat happen. When you get through with all of this, your boat is 14/16ths of an F16HP, that is 88% of an F16. Why not go for an F16 and have a larger class and readymade organization to race with etc? Is 12% less cost really worth it? This short, lightweight boat is going to be more sensitive to variations in sailor's weight than the longer boats. Should we go back to the old rules, 240 pounds min weight? There is a big difference in commitment. There is alot going on here. You have to look at it from all angles.
Bill