As we in Singapore are about to start our sailing season in the Northeast Monsoon, we are also on standby to receive our first Vector Blade. Exciting times lay ahead..

But just out of curiousity, have any of you seen the new Blade site at www.bladecatamarans.com - it a fresh approach at least. Have a look...

SkunkWORX,

Now that is the way we need to go in promoting the F16 boats and the F16 class !

Of course this website hasn't taken me by surprise as I have been aware of it during the development stages.

I'm only missing a true picture gallery and some video clips. Eventually, after their interested has been awakened, the buyers want to the see the product in every detail.

I got a score of Blade picture, several good ones as well As does Robi of his own boat. I also have some video clips you can well use.

Would you like to have these ?

If possible, can you open a feeder page to your gallery so I can upload the best pics for you ? Just as you have done with the Asian_F16 website ?

Many thanks to Alice for building the website; I can assure you both that her effort are much appreciated. This website is definately making a great product even more easy to sell than before.

Regards,

Wouter

Very nice site Scott!

Congratulations to you and Alice on a job well done!

I'm looking forward to meeting up with you in Singapore in the spring and perhaps a ride on Agent Orange?

WOW!

great site, sold me.

I want one. Or two. Or three.

Regards Gary.

[quote]As we in Singapore are on standby to receive our first Vector Blade. Exciting times lay ahead..

Have any of you seen the new Blade site at www.bladecatamarans.com [/quote]
Skunk:
[url=http://www.bladecatamarans.com]www.bladecatamarans.com site is indeed impressive, was mentioned in an earlier thread, glad you brought it back to everyone's attention.
Also hope we can get some other content uploaded, I have 4 Blade Movies myself. Wish we could see some of the preview pix of the Blade-18 too.
Most Curious why you would buy a Vectorworks Blade when the Pro-Asia site would be closer to home? I am SO sure Matt appreciates the business and complement, but wouldn't a Pro-Asia Boat have Cheaper shipping at least?

Nice! I spotted some pictures I took in that website! WOOT!

[/quote]

Most Curious why you would buy a Vectorworks Blade when the Pro-Asia site would be closer to home? I am SO sure Matt appreciates the business and complement, but wouldn't a Pro-Asia Boat have Cheaper shipping at least? [/quote]

How does that work out cheaper when Vectorworks is the only ones making them in FRP right now?

If you don't live in Singapore? Is it still cheaper?

What's this on a blade 18? Is that F18 (180kg) or will they be going light? thanks..

How does that work out cheaper when Vectorworks is the only ones making them in FRP right now?

If you don't live in Singapore? Is it still cheaper?

What's this on a blade 18? Is that F18 (180kg) or will they be going light? thanks.. [/quote]
Just figured he was closer to Pro-asia than here, figured shipping something halfway across the world had to elevate the price.
There's been talk of an 18 foot Blade since last year, Wish we could see some pictures released. All F-18 class boats have to weigh in at 397#. No light boats, tight control in the class. They would not even let the Nacra 5.5 in the class even though it met all specs after you added the spinnaker.

Theres a startling new design on the horizon, looks a lot like the Capricorn or the Blade 18.
NACRA F-18 Infusion, excellent Video
See Below

Thread on the F-18 forum.

A second Blade F18 has just recently "hit the water" here in South Australia, and yes, it is a fully compliant formula 18, down to the last gram of weight. (looks and goes VERY sweetly as well)

As asked here a picture of the Blade F18. I think this picture actually made the Harken product catalogue this year.



Wouter

A pic of the second Blade F18

Quite the beast. Harken 2006 catalog also features an illustration of a F18.

Yep, second boat is Blade 18 Mark 2, the Blue Hulled boat pictured in this thread is the Mark 1.

Unfortunatly that boat met its demise a few weeks ago. I believe it nose dived into a sand bank when the owner was coming back to shore at some insane speed. Broke 1 hull off at the front beam. They are currently assessing weather it's worth fixing or not.

Michael

who makes the sails for the Blades?

David,
If you are referring to the Blade F18- Marcus Towell made the sails.

Phil:
What happened to the Mark 1? Heard it had a mishap.
PS thanks for the B-18 pix. Looking at the sail, Interesting how with such a big Fathead Squaretop, They chose to drop the angle of the top of the sail down about 25 degrees.

/|

Other sail designers seem to keeping the top angle 90 degrees from the mast or parallel with the water. Thoughts on that change?
Cary

Interested in more Blade F18 pics ?

If so then take a look here :

http://www.sailingsupplies.com.au/Gallery/F18%20Pics/index.html

or here

http://www.sailingsupplies.com.au/Gallery/blade%20f18%20July05/index.html

These are all pics of the first prototype. Some of the pics show it sailing in the Australian F18 championship.

The pics of testing the second prototype are coming in as we speak.

Here is one teaser.





Chris Dean/Marcus Towell/friends are really doing alot of builder and testing with this Blade F18. In addition Marcus is also building a Blade F16. This is a serious development group that is currently providing alot of really interesting test data.

I expect good things to come from these efforts.

Wouter

I suspect there is a practical reason for the mainsails outline, like batten stiffness and length or something, but perhaps Marcus reads this and responds.

Theoretically an elliptical shape is superior to a square shape, but in practical sailing there doesn't seem to be much difference. There was a more pronounced trend towards an elliptical top in the Tornado class three years ago, but everybody are back to sqare tops now. The Tornado does taper it's mainsail towards the top a bit more tough..

Many thanks for all the comments RE: the Blade site.

I'll try to sum up all the answers here,
Pro-Sail Blades cheaper yes they are but some folks would prefer not to wait and have a boat custom built.

We'll do a back-to-back comparo' soon. Matt's boat is indeed a beauty but right off the bat, Pro-Sail's package has the big square head main (I believe a big bonus in performance terms). The main (Pro-Sail) is lighter due to the foam sandwhich battens v's nylons (I think) that come with the Ulman Sails from Vector.

There are other differences in the fit out as the Pro Sail Blade has THE range of Harken Carbo's! It's pretty funny that a boat from USA has Ronstan stuff and a boat in Asia has harken stuff!

There's no doubt that the Vector Works boat will be a mover on the water (tomorrow) and the fit and finish is very good. At this stage my only other comment for Matt would be - selling the Blade into Euro' might warrant a change of Imperial to Metric on the mainbeam bolts as others (like me) will have to go and buy new tools to bolt it together!

As for the other bits on the site, yes it'll expand to include the other Blade (F-18) once things are finalised on that front! The gallery and videos, yes they'll be included too.

cheers and I'll post a more detailed account as soon as the Blades had some water time.

cheers
the Skunk