Wouter-

Once I'm done with weight watchers to lose a few extra pounds that creeped up while I wasn't looking, our combined crew weight is probably about 285 lbs (those stupid U.S. weights - they are really block heads for not going metric!!), i.e. about 130kg.

I see there IS a substantial price difference between the Taipan F-16 and the rest (but what's another 1,000 Euros anyway...). I assume I have to add another 10-20% in VAT, depending on which country I purchase the boat from??

Also, I looked at a Blade recently---what is that crappy-looking seam on the top of the hulls? It looks awful--do the others have that too? I only saw a similar such seam (but much thinner) on the Bimare F-18HT which made it look flimsy. It looked to me like one of those cheap plastic toys that split open on just that seam when you step on them. What gives?