Any recommedation for beach wheels for F16 in US.

See the Online Store. Very happy with my Cattrax.

I'd agree with Tiki', this would be my first purchase ... so don't wait.

Jackmac:

Your boats are real light. Might want to try these and save some money?

http://dgaleana2.proboards56.com/in...action=display&thread=1143785090

Doug

Be sure and use cradles with your F16.
I tried using the CatTrax in the standard Hobie 16 configuration with my Blade. Bad idea. Without the cradles the boat can shift port and starboard on the axle and the hulls got scratched quickly and deeply from the wet, sandy wheels rubbing on the inside of the hulls. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I installed the cradles made by VectorWorks and have had no problems since.
John D.

Yea cradles are a must. My Mystere 4.3 would just roll off the wheels till I added them. You have to bite the bullet on that one. But I would do the homemade wheels. You can buy the cradles with what you save!!

Doug

Thanks for the helpful suggestions—I'm making a purchase. I and one of the Acat sailor from Annapolis area just put deposits on two of the Alter Cup boats. We're totally new to F16, but excited about getting into it. We'll now have 4 F16s on the Chesapeake, that I know of (2 Tipans & 2 Blades). I've been sailing I20s for many years, but never owned one. Decided on an F16 for light weight and option to sail single as well as with spin. It appears that the F16 is getting popular in Florida. Hope to get down there again soon.
Thanks again,
John

Welcome to the club John !

I hope the new boat will be everything you expect it to be.

It will definately be more sensitive then the I-20 you are used to but once you get the hang of that, you'll be smiling.

It is good to see some growth in the Annapolis area. I'm told that the Mekka for US sailing.

With kind regards,

Wouter

John,

I am excited to hear about your upcoming Blade F16 purchase.

This will give us a still small but active group of F16 sailors on the Chesapeake Bay.

I'll contact you individually for details.

Hi Patrick,
I've been meaning to get in touch with you. Ed Mills and I are looking forward to racing with you and Constantine—hope you can make it up here a few times this summer. Looking forward to talking with you.
Thanks,
John

Thanks, Wouter. I certainly hope I'll be smiling. God knows I've gotten alot of smiles from the I20. I have to admit that I'm a little anxious sailing such a light weight boat—I imagine it's not nearly as forgiving in big air. I guess I'll need to sail a little more aggressively.
John

I think the biggest difference you'll find is that the F16 is alot more sensitive to sail trim and the positioning of crew weight. This means, it will go very well when everything is set right and may well not go at all when it isn't. The first season you'll be figuring out what she likes and what she doesn't in the way of sail trim. At some point you'll think :"is this all ?" and the answer always is :"No !, you still have a few doorsways to higher speed to find". Certainly the first period the boat can always be sailed 50 % to 100 % faster then you will probably doing. Sometimes it is putting on alot more mainsheet and sometimes it is slacking the mainsheet more. Downhaul and mast rotation can have huge effects as well, often in the way of pointing.

After a while and after discovering the first doorway you'll know what I mean and then you know what to look for with each new doorway. For some people this becomes and addiction.

Basically the I-20 is a power boat, put the peddle down and go. Sailing the F16 is more like dancing, once you get to know your dancing partner and have smoothed out your actions then you can turn, jive and accellerate at will and with great thrill.

Good luck and there are heaps of posts on this forum to help you through the learning curve.

Wouter