I'm not saying anything in favor or against the Taipan or the US Blade but the Taipan is available now and nobody knows the cost of a US Blade. I would buy either boat but the price has to be right, that's why I decided to do a little research. Major price drops for any F16 boat will be a boost for the class which is something I support, that is part of the reason I am giving out this information, so people know that things are improving in the "F16 cost" area, this will make a F16 boat more attainable to more people.
I'm not to sure about those Aud 17,000 for a Taipan F16. Maybe it is correct for a Standard Taipan (no spi) in the basic setup.
A listing of aug 2001 has the Taipan + spi at 17.541 Aud. That is the most basic setup with glass hulls, glass boards, alu rudderstocks and plain white sails with a spi kite including a single colour spi
I have a quote dated May 13th this year. Complete Taipan 4.9 with standard sloop fitout (glass hull, glass foils) "about" $Aus 17,000. So your right, it is standard, there are many options avaiable but not at a great cost excepting the addition of a spi.
However 17.500 Aud translates to 12.197 Us$ = say 12.200 UsD ex tax, ex shipping. I think shipping is at least some 1500 Us$. So do the adding up. But then again you would have to ship your blade as well, this will be cheaper but it still needs to be added to the price of the BLade.
At today's exchange rate the "$Aus 17,000" taipan cost $US 11,643.27. Due to the exchange rate (which is falling very fast, todays rate is the lowest this year) the cost of the Taipan has dropped $US 561.03 in the last four days! The value of the $Aus has already droped 15% since Feb 15th, and I think it will continue to drop.
I think the exchange rate has to drop to at least 0.60 Aus to 1 Us$ to be directly competing (in cost) with any locally build boats. That is still a 15 % drop.
The monthly average value of the $Aus in April 01 was $US 0.505. I think it will be at $US 0.60 anytime within the next 4 weeks; values change very drastically at times.
I don't live in the states so I will have to pay for shipping on any new boat( shipping, not so much $, I have an good friend who is big in the overseas shipping business) and tax (taxes, no friends there to help
).
What ever the case, I for one am very much interested in sailing F16 am I am doing all I can to get myself a boat. All I can say is that anyone else with interest in the class good new is on it's way in the form of a strong dollar
AND a US built Blade. Take advantage and be happy, things are looking bright
for F16.
