Well, I guess if you are looking for a boat you can single hand that also has performance, maybe PN's would be the way to go. Let's take a look......
I17R 67
Taipan 4.9/F16 uni(1 up) spin 67.6
NACRA 5.5 uni 69.8
FX-1 71.2
Tom
I17R #124
lets also look at :
FX-One sail area 160 sq ft
I-17r sail area 176 sq ft and carbon mast
5.5 uni sail area 175 sq ft
so the numbers dont tell everything
I think the A Class fragility myth is due to the class' rules regarding no minimum weight years ago..... Cannot remember when the introduced min weight.
Since the introduction of min weight, the A Class has moved on to become one of the finest constructed boats in the world. Gone are the days off one regatta A Class'.
We have quiet a few A Class cats in our club which include Mark IV and V Boyers and Flyers. We have past and present A Class greats in our class such as Steve Brewin, Bruce McArthur and veteran John Goodier. We also regularly see the likes of Glenn Ashbey, Scott Anderson, Dave Brewer and Brad Collett.
These guys put their boats through conditions that send other boats back to shore and have keeped Tornados on their toes.
I have also seen A Class race on Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Australia. This place is notorious for its large steep chop and strong wind.
I think the issue with their sea worthiness in waves as with all boats is the nut on the tiller and his skills steering over and down the waves.
These boats do not deserve the title fragile as the platforms are very stiff and reliable...... more so than many other classes.
As for the speed argument between the I17R, FX-1, F-16. I have never seen and FX-1 or I17R in OZ but I am sure all the owners love their boat and consider them quiet quick.
If for example you have a fleet of FX-1s in your club and have great racing.... would you realy care if an I17R is quicker????
What else are you going to do with the extra minute or so less spent on the race course........ Oh thats right get to the bar........ I'll just jump on my Tornado now and see you there 
Hey Stephen,
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said " if you have a fleet of FX-1's." I can add or a " fleet of I17R's. We are trying to get more boats in our fleets. Well, that's why I am talking up the I17R anyway. We had five in the Pensacola area but one of the guys is selling his for the unbelieveably low price of $7,000.00 (he is buying a house or something)
Hey Vicatman,
There's your chance. Get it while you can. If you are over 200 pounds the I17R would be perfect for you! Then you could get ole Bruce to get an R also!!
Tom
ps. That I17R is for sale on the Catsailor Classifieds!
Where can I find the website for the I-17?
Hey Jake,
I took my NACRA 6.0 out late last year for a sail. (I was going to sail it for the " Round the Island " race but my son/crew couldn't make it)It drove like a truck as compared to my I17. The rudders are really loose. Have you changed anything on your rudders to get rid of the slop. Part of the problem was that I had way too much mast rake. I was trying to depower it some, but I will have to do it another way. I cannot stand that much weather helm. The I17 is about neutral. By the way, anyone have a spinnaker pole and spinnaker for sale for a NACRA 6.0
Tom
Actually yes I have. When I bought the boat, the rudder pivots had already been re-drilled to establish more forward rake (less helm) for spinnaker. After I got it and was disgusted with the amount of slop in the rudders, I bored out the castings, inserted nylon bushings, and replaced the rudder arm/crossbar unions with the rubber joints like the Bimare F18HTs. I am proud to say that I have practically no slop in my rudder system now (although I have to wrestle with the hotstick to get it to extend since rotation of the cross bar is no longer limited). The boat sails very neutral upwind with forward weight placement.
Having steered the I20 in comparison (I imagine the I17 is similar), I agree that the 6.0 is a much 'heavier handed' boat in that the I20 felt 'twitchy'. I felt in control on both of them but the I20 is much more susceptible to driver error and demands proper main sheet etiquette during tacking. It's close but I still prefer my 6.0.
Well, I hope I don't have to redrill the pivot hole. I hope I can just add the bushings or something.
I am looking forward to following the Tybee 500 this year. I want to see how the 6.0's do. I understand that there are some rather good 6.0 drivers going this year.
Also, the Performance Nationals will be in Tybee this year. Does that mean we will be racing in the Atlantic or some inside area?
Tom
well after the surgery Im down to a slim tril 220..lol...
The guy that finished 2nd in the I17R Nationals last year was about 220. I believe he was like 1 or 2 points from 1st. Came down to the last race.
theres really no "inside" area around tybee where a deep draft boat will be able to sail. More than likely you'll be sailing right off the beach from 18th street out past the breakers.
Tom,
Unless you plan on adding a spinnaker, you shouldn't have to redrill the rudder pivots. If you decide to do so anyway, let me know and I will measure mine.
Improper rudder alignment can give you a lot of helm too - make sure the rudders are even or toe'd in ever so slightly.
Jake,
I probably will add a spinnaker sometime. It may be one of the old large ones though................specifically for a light wind RTI. It all depends on when I find a pole. I am in no rush. I am going to use the I17R for RTI this year. My son will be sailing the 6.0 for fun this summer is all. If he does the race, it will have to be with just main and jib.
I totally redid the boat last year to sell it, then he wanted to use it. New tramp, rigging, righting line, trap wires, even the lines on the rudders and traps. New mast base (cracked the little wing piece off the old one). New rotator, the old one was broken in the middle there. 2nd Sail number is 335; used about 12 times.
Tom
Tom,
Has the rudder rake adjusment screw been removed from the bottom of the rudder castings?
Chris,
Yes, I removed them last year. I think it my have been a mistake though. Adds to the slop maybe or it may just be that I am not used to the 6.0. Either way, the mast is coming up some. There is just too much weather helm. Or as another guy said I could redrill.
Tom
PS. To clarify a bit, I want to fix both the large amount of weather helm and the slop in the rudders. When I raced the 6.0, it was like 3 or 4 times a year. Since I bought the I17R, I have been racing like 20 times per year at least. I want to " fix up " the 6.0 now that I know a bit more and maybe do a distance race every now and then. The 6.0 can definitely blast through a wave that would hammer the I17!
Tom
Well
I have to say it was a tough decision. I opted for the Tiger.
I understand all of the thoughts and appreciate their contribution. I supect this thread and others like it will be read with enthisiasm, because all of us go through a stage like this sometimes.
Once again thanks!
Congradulations,,, Frozen,,
Hope we will see you sailing it at the NA F18cc's,,, in QC, in July. Check www.naf18.com for details.
enjoy,,
Al
I think I may volunteer to help there.
Al