tikipete...you're a trouble-maker!
...so I'd buy you a beer anytime. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
To clarify, I've asked a few things here, but in short, I've asked for "first cat" recommendations, about tilt trailers, and finally about the integrity of used F18's. All hell breaking loose in such online discussions is perfectly normal, although it can mitigate the overall usefulness of a thread with all the subplots that tend to develop. If forum software could ever come up with a good automated indexing system, that would return a lot of value from these fragmented discussions.
Regarding the F18...our thinking is along these lines: we'll want something high-performance ultimately so why not start out with that sort of boat and the F18 fits that, it's becoming more popular by the day, good level of equivalent performance across the various makes, growing availability of good used boats, good resale potential, no need for tilt trailer. Although racing isn't a primary driver for us, Tiger seems to be a logical choice given it's class and one-deisgn race potential; however, they seem to be a bit more expensive on the used market, and whether or not this is a fair perception could be debated, but when talking new, the Capricorn and latest Nacra might be a hair quicker. For my wife and I, it would not matter for quite some time, if ever, as our technique would long remain the speed-limiting factor. Fact is, if it was fast and fun, we'd sail on a couple of old bathtubs strapped together on broom handles and powered by a comforter.
Until now, I'd hardly heard of the F16 let alone considered one, but since some good points have been made about this being a viable alternative to the F18, we'll definitely give this class a look. One obvious concern would be in racing, should we want to get actively involved would we be limited to open class events, or are there enough F16s in the US on a regional level to have class regattas? What about sea-worthiness in bigger water vs. an F18?
