The FX-One has the most hull volume of them all, its also quite a lot faster than the I17 and with your weight you will have no trouble righting it.

I've seen all named boats (I-17, FX-one and F16) handle doublehanded crews of 350 lbs, so all we handle it without damage. Actually both the FX-one and F16 it was I who loaded them up and raced them.

As far as I know all named boats are garanteed to 180 kg = 400 lbs in Europe.

With respect to your weight and length I don't see much reason to favour one over the other. At 240 lbs yoy can right all, handle all heeling moments (mast length times sail area times wndforce) and you sure muct be a strong guy as well so you can beach handle/trailer handle them all.

All named boats have ample volume in the hulls and at your weight the FX-one will sit better in the water as well (my personal opinion). F16 and FX-one have the same size rig, with the F16 being significantly lighter. The I-17 is also heavier but compensated largely by having more sail area in the rig.

You are of the stature that you have a completely free choice of boats.

My personal preference is the F16, but I admit that I'm strongly biased to that boat type. In my opinion it is the lightest and most easily handled boat of them all. As such it comes closest to the A-cat in feel. I also feel it is the faster singlehander of them all and I really like the aspect that I'm not forced to buy every replacement part from a single supplier. At this time it also appears F16 is becoming the larger class of the 3 named boat types. And it is American build !

Wouter

The F17 would be the best boat for you because they have a larger spinnaker available under class rules for people over 230lbs, and the main has more sail are so you would still be competative.

Wouter, of course many of us share your bias, but wouldn't it be fair to say that his size would affect the power to weight ratio less on the F-17 than the F-16?

Mark.

US version of i17 - F17 is faster than FX-1, I believe, from personal observation and Portsmouth numbers.
I'm not sure that FX-1 has more hull volume as well. Distribution of valume is different, F17 looks skinny, however it has highter freeboard and a lot more volume in bows.
I can not comment on F16, I see the boat ones, liked it, but never sailed.

F17 can support heavy skipper, and I believe, it acctually fawor heavy guys.

I would choose a boat based on local fleet and availability of OD racing. Is there any other FX1 or F17 of F16 racing in the area?

No,

When singlehanding, the crew weight is not very important and under the (TRUE) formula rules of the F16 class you can have your mainsail cut adjusted to your weight (many do). The other two classes are "one size must fit all" and it simply doesn't work that way. In the end, the "stock" mainsail of the single supplier will favour one particular crew weight. And I seriously doubt whether the FX-one or I-17 mainsail is cut standard for 108 kg (240 lbs). I suspect it is cut rather for 75 or 80 kg. In effect he will always be looking for more power when his competition is nicely trapping along. In true formula classes this guy can order his boat without the stock sails and have a sail maker make him a custom sail that is optimal for his 108 kg weight. Is he still at an disadvantage relative to a 75 kg crew in say 6 knots, yes ! But less so then sailing at 108 with a mainsail optimized for a 75 kg crew.

Also people make far too much of some 20 kg weight difference. When you are in the top 5 of world then yes 20 kg will matter, but for the rest of us dummies it simply doesn't.

And if people believe it does then why don't they feel the same about 40 kg boat weight difference ?

Wouter

Thanks very much for the feedback. We have several I-17s in the area but I haven't ever even seen an FX-one or F-16. I'm not really worried about righting the boat. Mostly concerned with performance solo racing portsmouth. I have found heavy weight to be most detrimental in moderate conditions (6-10kts). Very light or heavy air has made weight differences a little less important for me as far as boat speed is concerned. I think all 3 would do fine also for a cruise with the wife on board.
Thanks again.

With a spinnaker fitted (and hoisted) the weight differences between crews becomes even less important. The onus is then more and more shifted towards handling skills.

Galvaston Texas ?

There should be a couple of F16 in that state. I think two of them are in the neighbourhood of Houston. Contacting these however may be difficult as I don't have their contact details. Maybe the US F16 class organisation has them.



Indeed, no problem at all. If this is off interest then I can assure you that just the mainsail + spinnaker is enough to have good fun this way. The jib package is nice but not really necessary unless you two start racing together. May save you some bucks.

Wouter

[quote]
Galvaston Texas ?

There should be a couple of F16 in that state. I think two of them are in the neighbourhood of Houston. Contacting these however may be difficult as I don't have their contact details. Maybe the US F16 class organisation has them.
[quote]

There is one Blade F16 I know of at Houston Yacht Club. John - I have the guys contact information. You may have seen the boat at Wayward Winds?

Chris.

Not entirely accurate.

A-Class Midwinter Race Week had 57 boats racing.

NAC this past May in Annapolis did have 30 boats but that was primarily due to the west coast not coming because those sailors are saving their days off for the WC in November.

WC currently has 86 boats pre-registered and we expect to hit the maximum limit of 100.

The A-Class in the US is healthy and strong right now. We expect the momentum to continue. 73 sailors participated in district events over the spring. I personally have sailed 6 A-Class regattas this year so far.

Bob Hodges
USA 230

The racing in the A-class is growing and getting more exciting. There are A-'s out there that will support your size and be competitive. the Tool for one and you can contact Lars Guck and get information about him building a DK-17 for you. I think that the designer might as well. Also there is Ben Halls "Flying rat" for sale on the usaca.info website. I do not know the weights involved with that boat though. I just know that the workmanship involved in it was outstanding.

Here's the pricing I got today.

08' Hobie FX-One $14,800
Jib + Furler $1285
Spinnaker $1285
Trumpet $350
Comfort Wings $1000
Self Tacker $350+-
Total @ retail $17,570

Throw another $1000 on there for tax, this thing is ain't cheap. Apperently it comes with cradles for a trailer, and another set for cat-trax which is nice, another $150 that wouldn't have to be spent.

Ouch!

Thanks Karl,

Up till now I had been working off an old quote sheet for the F16's, so I've updated my info.

I present it here as a comparison and to backup earlier statements :


A Blade F16 in USA during 2007 goes for :

USD 14,515 Boat complete

Which means : Kevlar outer hulls (white), Pentex sails, fully rigged for doublehanded sailing with selftacker and snuffer system included as standard.

With the kevlar hulls included in this quote I have actually no idea what is still left as an upgrades/option !

If the spi package or jib package is removed then that will roughly lower the cost by 1600 USD for each. (=roughly 3200 when both are removed).

Thus making the bare "F16" (no spi no jib) = around 11315 USD. say 11500 USD


The quotes for 2008 will rise a little.

Wouter

PTP,
Speak for yourself, i find Vectorworks Marine unresponsive and defensive.