What is an F16

You said it Granite.....

Plus, of course, you narrow the number of potential punters when you come to sell the boat.

Yes, we/they really do race boat-for-boat in either configuration.

Why optimise the hull volume for single handing?

You would take away the flexibility of sailing in either configuration that is one of the most attractive things about the class!

The F16 could be a major part of the future of catamaran sailing worldwide. Where the F18 class has already taken off in a big way with the involvement of major manufacturers and some independents, the F16 at present is exclusively the preserve of the enthusiast and the small independent builder.

The F16 is much more than a scaled down F18 though, it's power to weight ratio is much better and it is a much more open formula as mentioned above. As a result innovation is welcomed, in fact positively encouraged. The boats are theoretically on a par with F18's on a boat-for-boat basis and many have demonstrated that they can be faster!

F16's are, without exception, very rewarding to sail. They are light and responsive and the slightest adjustment to the rig can be felt straightaway. They can be dead and slow one moment and then with a pull on the downhaul or a tweak of mast rotation the boat will spring into life and let you know that it's set correctly. In this respect I haven't had so much fun from a boat in over 30years of sailing. It's a tweakers joy!

To describe it as the Cherub of the cat world is close to the mark BUT for me its major selling point is the ability to sail the same boat two up or solo by simply removing the jib and then sailing to the same handicap! I sail my Stealth in both configurations and there is no noticeable speed difference other than manouevres are quicker two-up (more pairs of hands ).

Downwind with a kite solo is an absolute blast!  And yes, I have been out solo in a F5-6 with no real problem  (I only weigh 65Kg) and when I did capsize, I was able to right the boat on my own and continue racing. There aren't many cats other than A-class that you can do that with! So now when I race I can push really hard, knowing that if I/we capsize it won't be a problem, we'll be back up and racing again in moments. Just like being back in my dinghy days!

I think F16s are great - I'm having a ball!

It is as close as you can get to a CHerub on two hulls!

Literally a box rule boat  - the weights Simon was talking about are all-up sailing weight not hull only, about 18m2 white sails and 17.5m2 kite.  Have a look at the orange cat photo I posted on the Favourite Photos thread...