ODOM??

Do you mean SMOD?

Probably..
One Design One Manufacturer
Single Manufacturer One Design

I owned an Inter 17R for three or four years. For all practical purposes it was a first boat for me. I had had some previous experience with a Nacra 5.7, but nothing really substantial and that was a long time ago.

The I-17R was a fabulous boat. I used it primarily to sail around Lake Lanier. Yes, there was a steep learning curve, but there was another I-17R owner at the lake that was extraordinarily willing to help me get it going. If you (a) know the basics, (b) have access to someone that can help you get started on the boat, and (c) are willing to deal with some a##-puckering moments early on then I think there is a good chance that you'll have a great experience. I know I did.

No I was asking tarbaby (first cat) how much sailing experience she has. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

This man is a Hall of Famer and a very nice guy. He will bend over backwards to help you is you listen. Just don't waste his time. He cut some VERY sweet sails for me.

Bob. I busted my cherry and flew the chute on the Mystere Today in 5-8. Not as hard as I thought. Hope to see you in FW in a year or so.

Doug

Thanks to all who replied to my post. Lots of good suggestions and advice that I can use. I know there are some experienced sailors who took their time to give their input and for that I'm grateful. Rgds. Bill

The F in the F17 is to distinguish the boat as a racing class.

(Just because you build a boat with certain dimensions... does not mean that the sailing public will buy in... eg I17R with a fixed spin size. The term class means that you have a reasonable size group of people who agree to race the boat under a set of rules which determine the configuration)

The formula has to do with crew weight and the size of the chute you are allowed to carry. Since its a single handed boat... the class has worked out the rules to minimize performance differences down wind.

It is much the same as the F18 Class which specs out two size jibs and chutes for teams below certain weights.

granted.. the F18 and F16 formulas allows for multiple builders... and it is owner controlled. The F17 Formula is basically a SMOD with options for the sail size of the chute. Since its SMOD... you can't change out foils or use sails from different sailmakers... Many would argue that these limits are serious and violate the spirt of the term "formula" as understood by the majority of the sailing community.

I'll throw in my .02. I am a member of the "Michigan gang", where F17's are hot. I have been sailing since 1980, and have owned 3 Hobie 16s, 2 Nacra 5.8s, an F18 and now an F17.

Is it a beginner's boat? It can be if you just don't use all of the bells and whistles at first. I would leave the spinnaker off, and learn to sail it as a uni-rigged boat. You still have plenty to do and the boat is plenty fast without the chute. As you grow in experience, add the chute. I race the boat in CRAM, but have also day sailed with my wife (with the chute), and the boat is very well behaved. There is plenty of buoyancy for two people (maybe three).

Why is the boat so popular in Michigan?
- Great fleet
- Great dealer
- No crew needed
- 2007 technology
- Spinnakers are cool

My advice.....go for it.

Roger Cochran

I think it is best you get an inexpensive nacra 5.0 c.q nacra 500 or Prindle 16, hobie 16 at first. That is unless you are already a committed sailor and/or experienced sailor.

These boats are just so much simpler to figure out and as they can be had pretty cheaply there are less of a risk when you are still at the lower portion of the learning curve.

However if you have decided to jump in at the deep end and seriously consider the Nacra F17 then be sure to check out the Formula 16 boats as well.

www.formula16.org

Wouter

I second the idea of starting with a simpler boat. You can always sell an older H16 or Prindle for about the same $$ as you bought it for, so it isn't like you'd be throwing that money away. In the meantime, you won't run the risk of getting in over your head (both figuratively and literally) w/ a high-end boat. Just my .02

In 1973, I owned a small car that I thought was a sporty car. It was a Ford Pinto. I was 16 years old. My sister was dating this rich guy at the time with a brand new MG. He let me take it for a spin. Probably a mistake on his part, but my sister was very pretty!!! You guys know exactly what I did. And that car was awesome!

What's my point? Beginner boat vs F17. It was ..............like sailing a Hobie 16 compared to an F17. When I first got my F17, I was almost thrown overboard during tacks because of the boat's quick acceleration. It's an awesome boat! (Before the F17, I had 2 Hobie 16's and then a NACRA 6.0) If you can afford it, get the F17. Depower the thing and have a blast. You will not need to buy any other boat for a while.

And since I'm on here, every time that I have raced an F16, I have found that the boats have about the same speed. It usually comes down to the skipper's ability. Boat weight..........I repeat boat weight is not an issue. The sail area on the F17 is more than enough to compensate. Also, the extra weight and length makes the F17 better in distance races especially offshore.

Tom

Litespeed Vortex Dura-Ace Ksyrium SL3 Wheelset

Anybody know the weight of the F17 platform, and the aspect ratio on the boards? Thanks... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The boards on the F17 have a high aspect ratio when compared to many of the other boats that I have seen. Again, I'm not sure of the exact weight of the F17, but it isn't an issue.

Tom

Litespeed Vortex Dura-Ace Ksyrium SL3 Wheelset

I have a 2001 boat and it weighed in around 330 the last time the previous owner had to weigh it in. I found a ratio of 4.75:1 for the boards on a dealers website, not sure if that is accurate or not. It comes with the standard Inter/Nacra boards, but the F17 class rules let you cut them down 14" or so.

This is my first year with the F17, coming from a Prindle 16. I sailed the prindle 4 years and it was my first boat. The learning curve of the 17 is steep, but manageable. The biggest new thing for me is the spin. I got some practice with some medium air spin jibes today (16 gusting to 24), but still managed to go over a couple times.

The boat can definitely be a handful, but it is a blast!

ak
129

Can you right your F17 solo?

The F17 rights easily solo. I should know since it was my first spin boat. I flipped the thing more than my other 3 boats combined. You just have to stand on the daggerboard. Make sure you always have all the daggerboard gaskets in place or else the board will slide back into the well when you stand on it. Also, I never broke a board while standing on one. They bend but don't break.

Also, don't forget about the jib option. It makes an excellent distance boat with that jib on.... especially in light air solo. But, the competition may complain some

:-)

Tom

Tarbaby,
Last year in May I had this same question. I had been sailing for only 5 months. Or I should say, I had just touched a sailboat for the first time 5 months before I bought my boat.

I settled on the Mystere 4.3. It is a very forgiving boat and handles very well. It has all three sails. After a year with it sailing just occasionally (I also completed my last year of grad school so didn't have a lot of time) I can single hand it with the spinnaker up. It isn't pretty but I can manage.
The boat is reasonably priced and at just under 300lbs I can get it on and off a trailer alone. You should be able to right it without assistance as well. That makes 'finding the limit' a little less scary.

I also really really like the Blade and will probably look at them for my 'next boat'. However, the Mystere 4.3 is a bit slower (or maybe that is just me) and much less expensive so makes it a better first boat.

The down side is there are not many around and unless you live near Canada you will be hard pressed to sail against another one.

Lots of fun, great boat to learn with. I have heard some say that you should start with a non-spinaker boat and work your way up. I really don't agree. Spinakers are relatively new to sailing but I am 'newer'. Everything on the boat was new to me. The Spin is no more 'new' than the main from my point of view. Learn them all at once. Then all three will seem natural to you.

Oh, and the Mystere doesn't have daggerboards. There is also a metal strip that runs along the bottom of each hull.
That means that you don't have to think about the boards and you can sail right up onto the sand and not worry about the bottom.

Wendy:

Well I finally flew the spinnaker this Sunday. Was not as hard as I thought. I love the feel of the Mystere 4.3, Really sails nice. Like the neutral helm. Found it likes weight as far forward as you can get, going to weather or downwind either one. 4.3 would be a great first boat. Let chat sometime. Added you to yahoo messenger, but never see you online.

Doug