Alfred,

Here are my comments :




FX-one will be slightly above your maximum weight limit. They are adverised at 125 kg but I have yet to see anybody measure a FX-one below 142 kg (incl. spi package, excl. jib setup). And I do keep track of these things.

SL-16 is quoted at 153 kg by the builder Sirena http://www.sirena-voile.com/fr/bateaux_neufs/sl/sl.html and at 145 kg by one of its dealors in Germany (Sven Linstadt) http://www.sirena-voile.com/contenu/documents/0001_000008.pdf. This is ready to sail including everything; spi package and jib setup. Note however that the SL-16 is not much of a Formula 16 boat. It appears to be fully compliant but it is rated significantly slower then a true F16. Actually it is rated about the same as your Hobie 17.

nacra 500 is quoted by Texel measures at 147 kg when singlehanding (only mainsail, no spi) and at 150 kg when doublehanded (incl. jib but no spi). Source : Texel handicap system http://www.watersportverbond.nl/data/5Z2_numdet1_3-7-2006.pdf

Topcats weights (Texel measurement sheet) ; K2 = 163 kg and K3 - 147 kg both without a spinnaker package. And That topcat K2 truly has ALOT of sailarea for a 16 foot boat. Almost the same as F18 (Tiger). Can't tell you much else about them. These boats do have a dedicated following in eastern parts of Europe and Germany.

Javelin 16; Now we are getting somewhere, Boat should be below 120 kg's. They ones I know about are pretty much between 100 and 115 kg. Bimare advertises them as low as 90 kg but ... well you probably understand what I'm trying to say here. They have good rigs for singlehanding as these are practically a copy of an A-cat rig. Boat doesn't have a jib however and that sort of makes it less then optimal for doublehanded racing. In my book an attractive boat for the money, but don't expect top quality. Do a search on this forum to find details. Most of Bim rudder setups have been modified by their owners to name one example. I do consider the quality of the bims to be below that of FX-one, nacra 500 and F16's. I have not seen a SL16 in person but the Kl15.5 (its father) was a dependable design.

And you haven't named this boat, but you should also consider the Swell Spitfire. This boat is 140 kg ready to sail (jib + spi with snuffer) and is actually a very fast boat. Also their are several second hand offers. This boat has a better following then the Hobie FX-one is both faster and lighter.

In the way of pricing I think you must assume to pay more then you were quoted.

The FX-one with spi but without jib setup is about 14.500 Euro's in my recollection.

The SL16 fitted with spi and jib setup is at least 12.000 Euro's (source : http://www.sirena-voile.com/contenu/documents/0001_000008.pdf) and that I already find really inexpensive. It is certainly the lowest OFFICIAL SL16 quote I have seen. There were alot of rumours about 10.000 Euro's ready to go but I dare any dealor to actually deliver the baot at that price fully fitted (jib, selftacker, spi, snuffer, pentex race sails)

The Nacra is the cheapest of all (don't know about the Topcats) but even that one will come in at least 10.500 Euro's with only the very basic fittings on the boat. Most buyers order at least 2 or three upgrades to the boat and end up at around 12.000 Euro's anyway. If you want a spinnaker and selftacking jib setup to this boat (only then can you compare it to the FX-one, SL16 and F16's) then you are looking at adding at least 2000 - 2500 Euro's. If you want a snuffer system for your spi then add another 500 Euro's.

I don't have dependable pricing info on the Bim.

The true F16's are between 12.000 - 14.500 Euro's with the Taipan F16 (16.000) having been discontinued in production. That boat will be replaced by the new Viper F16 that is projected at 14.300 Euro's. As good as all F16 designs come standard with a selftacking jib setup, a spinnaker with snuffer system and pentex sails. Typically these are all upgrades or extra's on the other boats discussed (exception = SL16). This in effect means that if you want a pure uni-rigged singlehander F16 (no jib, no spi) you can deduct about 2000 Euro's from the quoted prices.


Personally, I would only consider the FX-one, F16's, SL16 and Javelin 16. The other boats look like much the same as the Hobie 17 you have just sold. The SL16 is really to heavy at 150 kg's and 13.75 sq. mtr. is really not much sail area for nice singlehanding unless you regulary sail in decent winds. I only included it because it will have good resale value and because it is at least a boat with all the new stuff on it. Personally, I would order the Bimare F16 instead of the Bim Javelin 16. These two designs are not the same and rumour has it that Bim has a fully optimized F16 prototype in their yard. Javelin 16 is not going to make it as a design. It has been out several years and it is not making a class. Besides, if the new bim 16ft design is based on the Bim XJ A-cat and Bim F18 then it is going to be a better boat then the javelin 16. Basically its strongest point is that it is cheap.

With this I really do think the true competition for your situation is between the FX-one and the true F16's. I don't name the nacra Inter 17 as that boat is doing almost as bad as the javelin 16 on the European market. Between the FX-one and F16's it is a tosh up about what is best for you. F16 is not big at all in spain and Hobie undoubtably is. F16 will get there in time, but "in time" is not the same as "now", is it. F16 however is doing alot better then FX-one outside of Europe and its future is not in any doubt anymore. Also the F16's are getting more and more ahead of the FX-one, that is simply the truth. Both boats are priced about the same. I've seen a bunch of Blade F16 weight data and these boat are indeed around 110 kg fully fitted. So it all comes down to what you want. A local dealor but a 145 kg boat, or a 110 kg boat and having to receive your replacement parts by mail order.


Good luck,

Wouter

ohh of all boats discussed the true F16's (not SL16) are the fastest, followed by the Bim and FX-one and then at a distance the others.