Well I gave up sailing my F-18 to sail a Blade 16 for the Weekend at Tradewinds, Want to know who's gonna be there to give me some competition. Gotta see if this Blade F-16 stuff is all it's reported to be.
We'll see. Ya might make an F-16 sailor out of me yet.
Hi Cary,
I plan on sailing Tradewinds. Are you going to be 2-up or uni?
Chuck
He Cary !
I always thought we would see you again a little further down the road.
Your situation just mirrored my own (of a few years back) too much.
You know what they used to say about the Taipan, right ?
Don't test sail one unless you are prepared to want one !
I certainly hope that you got some good winds at the tradewinds regatta and thus see what she can really do
With whom are you sailing ?
Good luck !
Wouter
Mystery Boat Blade #701.
Hmmmmm . . . .
Who might that be?
If he can't make it to my house I'll go to his.
Looking at the Blade Hull performance mostly, I never know what I'm gonna end up with until I write a check.
Might be a 16, maybe a B18 or B-20 or even one of those Blade 28's (if I win the lottery. 
)
Can you sail those 28's solo? 
Just my luck the five man crew wouldn't show up.
Seriously, you know where my Plans lie from Private Convo's, time to see if it's the right thing for me.
You know I have reservations about a 16 foot boat, I also have reservations about hauling a 400# boat up the beach for the next ten years, Gotta find a balance. Need one of those $3000 A-Cats to play with and just keep the F-18.
Or buy the Wife a 24 foot leaner again, at least my kid could sleep in the Vee Berth again.
When You gonna get back over here Wouter???
Been about 4 years as I remember, when the 18HT's arrived & I bought my 5.5SL as I remember.
CARY
Cary, where did that 5.5 end up anyway? Get the Blade, I'm saving my pennies for one too, then we old farts can race each other...to the keg. The Blade would be great for your daughter to crew for you, I intend to take mine with me, and Chuck and Matt both have young girls to crew too...we could have a Father/Daughter regatta! Make the kids drive, let the mom's have the day off at the pool! 
That was the best boat I owned, didn't know it at the time.
Ended up in Maryland, around Virginia Beach somewhere. Tracy Van has probably seen it.
Looking at the B-18 now actually, I may go for a B-16, depends when it gets off the ground. Gonna spend a weekend on the B-16, that will give me a whole new perspective
I'm sure. Woulda been nice if you could have sailed with me according to one of teh original plans, but that was then and things have a way of working out the way they will regardless of all teh plans we make.
Lotta things before Blade decision is made, will happen in the spring, need about 8K for the Tiger first. Boat's is excellent if you know anyone interested down that way I could even deliver it to Tradewinds.
You know THAT drill . . .
Have you listed it on the www.1design.net classified forum? There are some guys selling their I20's to get F18's there. Good luck, hope it goes well.
It will be fun. 
I, too, have been smitten by the Blade. I spoke with Matt M today and he is going to send some more recent pictures my way - as I have not even seen one "live". Anyone else have any good pics? Foils, hull shape, mast, tramp/downhaul/main/traveler, while in sail trim? I ran across some pics from Hiram's and Daytona Sizzler - but nothing with any detail.
Duhhh...just clicked on Robi's gallery. Anyone else?
Just did, been working so much this past year I don't think I've ben on the idesign forum more than two or three times. Even had to reregister, what a nuisance.
$8000 is a good deal on a well planned upgraded boat. Good way to save about $6000. I can bring it with me to Tradewinds if anyone is interested. Save a little gas money, ifyanowhutimean.
Good thing you don't have to put gas in the plane, Timbo . .
CARY
Chuck:
You on a Taipan?
Been looking at the rigging on that on the Proasia website, wanna study that thing some more.
Cary
Cary -
I sold the Taipan and bought a blade - the rig is pretty much the same on both boats. But the Blade has the self tacking jib. I definitely like the extra beam on the blade too.
Chuck
Sweet, so that will be three blades at tradewinds? Chuck, You plan on sailing Uni or Sloop?
Cary, haven't you been reading the Atlanta Papers? Delta wants the pilots to take yet another pay cut because fuel is so expensive, so I will be putting gas in the plane! Next they will have us bring the peanuts too...But, I'm only going to buy the red hot ones!
You can get a look at Chuck's new Blade on the www.1design.net site, click on Pictures Page, then click on Hiram's Haul, then look through the pictures, I think it's on the first page, lined up on the beach next to Matts Blade. It's a very nice shade of baby blue with a fatter square top.
oh this one! SEXAY!!!![[Linked Image]](http://www.floridamultihullsailor.com/hirams2005_web/fol01/IMG_4685.jpg)
Yeah, that's the one, thanks for that Robi! And Matt, I want a Pink one. (my 9 yr. old daughter's favorite color)
Me I want one of the Red ones, but only if it's a Color Bill can match with Red Imron he uses to repair them.
(Can of Krylon would be fine with me) As long as you plan the color ahead of time, I don't want a boat you can't get the Bottom refinished on, or the color matched. Will have to talk to Bill Hendrix before I make such a decision.
Red would look good with that same Color Sail pattern Robi has. Red Kite too.
CARY
I WANTED A RED BOAT!!!! 
couldnt afford it
I hope to finalize a deal with Matt (this week or next) on a Blade. I am in Bham, AL - but not too far away for a "once in a while" trek to Jacksonville, Daytona, etc. I'll get to the Gulf Coast more often and probably Spring Fever - nothing in concrete (kinda like my boat deal).
I'd like to put together an ad hoc F16 race calendar where we get as many F16s on the water as possible at the same events. Any input - likes, dislikes, already have one, etc.....?
couldnt afford it Robster:
Red Krylon is $5 a can
Doesn't run too bad . . .
He HE Heh . . . .
That will be your job on Friday. <--- That is my first order as skipper to my CREW!
har har har meiteee
![[Linked Image]](http://community.the-underdogs.org/smiley/happy/pirate.gif)
<img src="http:/
I'd like to put together an ad hoc F16 race calendar where we get as many F16s on the water as possible at the same events. Any input - likes, dislikes, already have one, etc.....?
Let me know how that Boat deal works out, I'm in for the same ride.
Hope that Alter Cup qualifier deal works out for Matt. I'm sure it will influence the US F-16 class in a large way, at least in terms of numbers of boats available.
Wonder how many boats that will be? Also if that will make getting a Blade harder or impossible to obtain when they're tooling up for a volume run like that?
Any any case I'll see you at Spring Fever, Who knows what I'll be sailing on by then, have had ~9 cats at Spring fever in 6 years, I generally deliver or pick up my new boat there annually. (Thanks to Nigel)
I May be sailing F-18 or F-16 next year as SF, if I'm between Performance Cats I'll have to be on my Hobie 16 what a Pain o Rama!
har har har meiteee
Hey Rob, no Prob.
RRRREDDD Runny Paint is My Specialty.
Vato Man wit da can.
(Just don't ask me to wash the boat. I don't wash my car I don't wax my boat, If it gets dirty I buy a new one, or send it to Bill for touch-up. Hope he never figures that one out.
CARY
couldnt afford it All seriousness,
What's the hull color option cost?
ah, thats Matt's deal meng. I really do not like to discuss his prices publicly. I am sure his price could have changed by now anyway.
Keep looking for a sales flyer with some pricing options, haven't found that yet . . . . .
Every year during the spring there is a combined A-cat/F16 (1-up) event at Tampa, Florida. There have been 2 of these already. 2004 and 2005. This event should be the first to go on any F16 calender.
See here for more info
Prices have gone up some. Partially because improvements to the building process and partially due to it being more expensive to get components. The base boat is cheaper than the base I17R, but me thinks some of the options are must haves (carbon foils and cross bar, stamaster adjustment system, pentax sails and maybe the internal 12:1 downhaul). These options bring the cost to a little more than the base I17R...but, IMO, the base I17R needs some work (i.e. $$$).
Does anyone have any input on the kevlar hulls upgrade versus the standard build hulls? Not any lighter, but stiffer...is there concern the standard hulls are fragile and prone to denting (or why have the kevlar option)?
Cary,
I'd either send Matt an IM on 1design.net or try emailing info &*& vectorworksmarinedotcom