Rick,

Jim Boyer and Greg Goodall designed and manufacture the Taipan 4.9/F16, Capricorn F18, Auscat (A-cat), and Aussie Flyer (A-cat). [See ]http://www.ahpc.com.au/] Jim is about to tour the US and potentially could show you or take you for a sail on his design.

It seems that the various boats you're looking at are found in pockets hear and there. There's a cluster of T4.9s in Florida, a few in VA area (more in the East than anywhere else). There's a cluster of I17Rs in the midwest and (I think) the Gulf coast. There are no clusters of Fx-1s yet, but I've seen a couple here in CA so far. So if you want to be in an already present group, see what's around in your area.

Of course the best way to decide what boat to get is to go out and sail each of them. Then you'll know if the new ones have much to offer over the 5.5, and you'll know which suit your needs best. Also, you can't neglect looks--a boat's gotta satisfy your aesthetic sensibilities too. The F16s (Taipan, Stealth), Fx-1, and I17R are all nifty boats; all are relatively scarce at this point in the US (compared to Hobie 17,eg); all will be tough to find used. (No one wants to part with them.) But you should definitely be able to sail any of them before deciding which you like best.

Good luck and enjoy the process.