While I am certainly not qualified to comment on the I17, having never seen one, I'm sure they are great boats and I've heard lots of praise for them. I would like to comment on SoloWildman's comment on the FX-1. I've had mine for about 1 1/2 years and have never had any trouble raising or lowering the chute. In fact, this boat has met all of my needs and I love sailing it solo or with crew and have a blast on the race course.
I've come to find out there are many boats for many people. For me, the FX-1 is a superb boat. The wave-piercing hulls are just that......wave peircers. They slow down not one iota in heavy wind and seas. I've had my wife and others on it and it still goes and goes. If I have one complaint, it is that is a little fast actually (I know, sacreligious). It's not the speed that gets me, it's blowing away the competition. I race in an area without an F18 to compare to and would love to meet up against one. There are a few N5.8s around, with spin, and they just don't match up. If I sell the boat, it will be to get something more competitive, having nothing to do with the performance of the boat itself. In that regards, again, I have no complaints.
Again, having not seen an I17/F17, I can't comment on it, not will I. I just wanted to disparage the rumor that the spin is difficult to raise/lower......something I have not encountered.
Good luck in your quest for the boat that is right for you!
Kip
FX-1
