New A-Cat Design...

Tony:

Will this be a production boat? How much in the US? Looks a lot like a Nacra A2.

Doug

Doug
It looks like the A2, but with more hull volume
Bill

I think I'm in love...

jrg

Bill.

Looking at the bows it reminds me of the DK-17. Am I too far off?

Ed

Yeah, me too. The whole shape is similiar to the DK17. And others have made the same comments. I wonder who designed it? Dirk is in Spain.

Bill

Pricing on the Balance A.

Via email

thank you for your interest.

The boat is proving to be faster than any other existing A-Class.

The platform price starts at 15800 Euro ex VAT. For the first 5 boats (which are now 3 as 2 are already sold) we are doing a lauch discount of 8% so the price reduces to 14536 Euro.
The complete boat price ready to race is 19500 Euro ex VAT. The same discount applies so the price reduces to 17940 Euro.

The cost of shipping is around 800 Euro per boat. The only thing is that we must send around 10 boats to get this price in the shippping. We are starting moving to get some boats sold in the US so as soon as we get 10 or so we will send a container there; we'll let you know. If you think you can join 10 boats let us know!, if so we can get a good deal.

Do not hesitate in contacting me if you have further queries.

Kindly,

Sito Avilés Ramos
Balance Arquitectura Naval, sl
María Isabel 25, 1D
28011. Madrid. Spain.
t. +34 667792562
f. +34 914792191
www.balance-an.com

Whats ex VAT mean? Does that mean you add in VAT? How much is VAT in Spain? Anybody know?

The current Euro to dollar exchange rate is 1USD = .8413 Euros, so without VAT and shipping its $23,176 (19500 Euros).

Gotta love this statement.

yeah, that's cute.

VAT - Value Added Tax. Its a "local" tax that is refundable to "non-locals".

For boats exported to outside Europe, VAT is reclaimed at port of departure. Some countries operate a declaration system so that you don't pay the VAT in the first place if item is for export. You will then have to pay any applicable taxes and duties on import.

Spanish VAT is 16%

Bill,

VAT stands for Value Added Tax.
The rate for boats is 16% in Spain, however it applies only to sales within the EU, not to sales outside.
It seems that the Balance A cat is quite pricey:
even the Marstrom A cat is cheaper at 17,400 EUR for the complete boat ready to sail (VAT and shipping excluded).

Another price for information purposes: my AHPC Flyer with beams bonded by Piet Saarberg etc was €13300 ex VAT. Ready to race, but in Holland! Using the exchange rate above that's $15800.

So has the time come a Flyer has to be considered not top of the rank in A-class ??

This weekend there will be a race in Valencia with one of the new Balance´s participating, let´s see what comes out..

Any ideas who designed the Balance A?

Guys:

Balance seems a little high. And what are those flanges on the side? Still think the Nacra A2 is best buy for the money. Good at all weight ranges (sailor weight that is). We have a local at 250 that is deadly in 15 and up. I hear they have made some nice changes. You can now raise boards with a line, so I think you could do it from the weather side. Sent Pete Melvin a email for info on changes.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
Soon to be Nacra A2 and maybe Blade
www.tcdyc.com

Doug,
Because A cat hulls are typically canted outward at the bottom, the tops are inboards about 2" from max beam. Since you trap out from the top of the hulls, many A cat designs add these little flanges so that you are trapping from the max beam.

I agree the Balance A is high.

why dont you buy and XJ and a Blade from Vectorworks, they'd probably give you a discount if you bought two boats at once. It would be easier in terms of delivery too.

Bill

Rumors Rumors and more rumors.

Sailing Anarchy floated two rumors today.

Hobie will be annoucing their A cat in the fall. Anyone know more?

A Flyer 2 is being built in Australia by someone other then AHPC?

Anybody have a running count of A cat bulders?

The announcement has been on the European website for almost a year now. So I guess it has some truth to it.

So I was told as well.

more info : http://www.ashbysails.com/

I quote :

Boats
I am pleased to announce in conjunction with Ashby Sails, Gel-Tech and Aicher Egnar the release of the Australian built 2006 Flyer Mark 2. The new “A” Class Catamaran. designed in Germany by Peter Egnar and Aicher Egnar gmbh and is manufactured in Australia by Todd Pickering of Gel-Tech Quality Composites Bendigo.

The Australian production and manufacturing of the Flyer Mark 2 is primarily to service the Australian, South East Asia and American markets with the possibility of overflow production to Europe.

Gel-Tech Quality Composites was founded in 2005 by Managing Director
Todd Pickering owner and operator of the business. Todd has 18 years experience in specialized boat building, fibreglass manufacturing and composites construction. Todd was previously employed as the Production Manager and Foreman at Boyer Fibre Craft.

Gel-Tech Quality Composites manufactures Australian made high performance sailing craft including, fibreglass laminating, resin infusion, carbon kevlar, foam sandwich, and various other specialized techniques.

Todd’s exceptional attention to detail and excellent craftsmanship will ensure he and his team produce an excellent Australian product with an incomparable finish.

The boats are now available and performed exceptionally well when sailed at the Australian championships at Blairgowrie YC in Victoria. The boats came in first and second place, sailed by Glenn Ashby and Brad Collett respectively.

http://www.usaca.info/ and http://www.a-cat.org/

A-Class Catamaran Builders

Nacra A2 designed by Melvin and Laundergan
WATERAT designed by Melvin and Laundergan
Boyer Fibrecraft Auscat
Boyer Fibrecraft Flyer
Marstrom
Bimare
Vectorworks
Balance A
MIKAN A-Class Catamaran
Titan
Pulsar
Scheurer Bootswerft AG

Hall Spars (Masts)
Fiberfoam (Masts & Battens)
Unicorn (Home Builder Plans)
Saarberg Masts

A-Class Catamaran Sails & Gear
Glaser Sails
Ullman Sails
Ashby Sails
Goodall Sails
Cocoanut Grove Sails - Representing Landenberger Sails
Elliot Pattison Sails
Kinder Industries (Boat & Blade Covers)
OXOsails
Racer X Sails & Gear

"Boyer Fibrecraft Auscat" is discontinued in favour of the AHPC Flyer. I'm pretty certain about that.

I don't know anyone who still builds MIKAN A-cats today; I don't think you can order one anywhere, nor have I ever heard of homebuilding plans for these.

Is the waterrat still produced ? I would expect this boat to have been discontinued in favour of the A2.

That is what I can add

Wouter

I just copied it from the two websites and didnt verify and of the info.