So, if you are saying that there isn't much difference in the fitout etc then why is an A cat so much more expensive than an F16?
Because our formula rule do a much better job of keeping cost under control.
The A-cat rule set is alot more open then ours and the rules that they do have are alot more challenging to meet. A spinnaker package and a few extra blocks don't weight 30 kg for example. There is a major difference between a 75 kg A-cat and a 100 kg F16 (without the spi package). Although not so much in performance apparently. Come to think of it the Viper had a right killing in that All-carbon SMOD F20 class lately. Seems we were right all along. Using carbon fibre and other hot stuff isn't really all that it is hyped up to be.
Plain and simple.
A Class and F16 have essentially the same rule set:-
unlimited use of carbon
no restriction on core
carbon masts
carbon beams
carbon foils and rudder boxes
these are the main drivers of cost
The F16 requires extra strength in the platform compared to the A class due to the loads of a jib and spi, plus the F16 is required to carry 2 crew and added to the extra volume required to carry the additional sails the hulls are much larger as well as the beams, this accounts for a large part of the weight difference.
add in the self tacker, carbon spi pole, chute and hardware for jib and spi (don't forget the sails) The weight difference isn't so great by now...
plain and simple enough?
