Steve, David, and Bob:
You guys all make some very interesting points.

Maybe for high wind/wave conditions:
1) With lower volume bows lighter is better?
2) With higher volume bows heavier is better?

Who else has experience comparing light vs heavy cats in high wind conditions in cats with higher volume bows? What I'd really like to compare is something like Taipan 4.9/F16 to I17R in higher wind/wave conditions. Anyone sailed both?

Also, to be clear, it would be nice if there could be some agreement as to which designs have high vs low volume bows. Here's my stab at it (but please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong):

1) Higher volume bows:
a) "lighter" cats: Taipan 4.7, Blade, Auscat/Flyer/Marstrom A-cat's, newer T's
b) "heavier" cats: I17R, Tiger, Nacra F18, SC/ARC, H17, TheMightyHobie18, older T's

2) Lower volume bows:
a) "lighter" cats: Mosquito, Stealth?? (John, please correct me if I'm wrong)
b) "heavier" cats: FX-One, Fox, H16

Note: I might be wrong about Stealth's bows but I got the impression they were fairly narrow; may not be applicable because of Stealth's unique T-foil rudders.

Comments?

Jerry