Well I've got a call into several F-16 builders. We'll see what happens. Thanks all for the input. I got a bunch of PM's in support of going ahead with this project.
One more question...
I ran into problems selling a-class cats because every year it seems like there is a new favorable design and I always feared getting stuck with a boat that was out of style. It's like anticipating and hitting a moving target. I feel like this situation is not as extreme with the F16. Would you agree?
Thanks again for your responses!
The class founders made every effort to foster/encourage innovation in the class without creating an expensive "arms race." For example, the weight is light but not extreme, so regular glass or timber boats can be competive; although carbon fiber masts are allowed, the minimum tip weight rule neutralizes the weight advantage.
As far as different boats go, reading through the Viper review thread is insightful--here's the latest design with many positives, yet one sailor who has sailed the viper and taipan says he would prefer the taipan but with the viper rig set up. The taipan is a 15+ year old design now and is still and will continue to be competitive. The Stealth hull design is over 8 years old and no one is indicating that it is in any way obsolete. What's happening is that as a formula class people can get a boat with characteristics that suit them. Boats should have a very long service life, and the excellent build quality of the F16 makers boilsters that.
The attached photos sort of sum of formula 16 racing--it's different from one design, but sometimes the ferraris win and sometimes the porsches win. Biggest variable will always be the driver.
