Interesting to hear this.
When I first found my Taipan 4.9 I had no people at all to talk to about what the boat was. On going to the AHPC site I read that I had bought the fastest boat on the planet which basicly s**t miracles.
I suppose I just wanted to believe all of that because I had one. It has taken a long time to find it is still a strong, high performance boat but has fallen behind because of lack of development and others emulating it. There are a whole bunch of boats that would usually whip it's A** and I am in this conversation because I felt the overenthusiastic rethoric on the site made me feel lied to. That made my sailing growth slower.
Firstly, tell me which 16 footer without a kite is quicker than a Taipan 4.9 ?????
Also, if you fully optimised the platform to F16 specs (increase beam, self taking jib, snuffer, updated sails etc), I think you will find it to be at the top of the F16 class. The T4.9 was a $hit hot boat when it was first released some 14 yers ago..... and continues to be.
OK, Capricorn have spun events in their favour to help market themself..... Just like many other manufactures and other products in the past...... That's marketing. Not like Hobie Cat have not been down that path before.
AHPC make a very good product which can not be denined..... It may not be a Merc but if you want that sort of quality, expect to pay double and give Marstrom a call.
My personal opinion is that the Capricorn is a better finish and a more user frendly lay out then the Tiger. That is my personal taste and you do not have to agree with it..... But that is a large part of the reason I bought a Capricorn.
The Cap has also shown that it is atleast no slower than the Tiger as the Infusion will do also in the future.
I will say it again, the truth is there is [email]F@%K[/email] all difference in speed between the boats and unless you are at the very top of the fleet, you will not notice the speed difference.
Now lets all stop this Manufacture bashing and just get out and sail...... Let the Manufactures fight it out themself whilst we sit back and enjoy the spin offs from it like improved quaility boats and competitive pricing.... The just choose the boat that is better suited for you.
