The F18 has a tremendous amount more bouancy than the I17 (F17...whatever). Regarding dry riding, the F18 is probably comparable to the I20 - but they're all wet in the good stuff! Crewed boat around the cans, gimme F18. Singlehanded boat around the cans, gimme I17. Heavier crew around the cans or off shore racing, gimme I20.

The F18 handles very similar to the I20 and upwind this past week at PRW, when it was blowing 15-20, it seemed like our F18s had a slight speed advantage over the 20s going upwind...I was pretty surprised. Downwind was another story however.

I love my F18 and man what a ride! The boat took a beating and smiled! Upwind and downwind in the heavy stuff and 6' seas was not a big deal. However, reaching was terribly precarious in that stuff - kite or no kite. The I20 will handle a heavy air/sea reach much better.