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Which F18 to buy |
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psymedic
Newbie Joined: 08 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 19 |
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Topic: Which F18 to buy Posted: 29 Jun 09 at 10:11pm |
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I had a good look at the Shockwave, Wildcat and Infusion at the East
Coast Piers Race. I have to say that having looked at all the F18's the Infusion seems to have the highest spec fit out by a country mile and is clearly the cheapest/best value, whilst I am disappointed by the build quality of the Wildcat (very soft/flexible hulls). Unfortunately given the very light winds at the East Coast Piers Race, I don't think the results told me anything other than who made the right decisions on the day! Despite the Shockwaves great results in the fickle wind conditions at the U.K. 2009 long distance races so far, I am not sure it can match the Ist at Eurocat 2009, 1st+2nd at the Texel Dutch Cat Open 2009 and the 1st at the F18 Worlds and Europeans 2008 of the Infusion-but time will tell. I think I will wait till the Worlds have finished before making my final decision-this should produce some final truths about the current performances of the various F18's. Edited by psymedic |
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Too many hulls for ISAF
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fatbloke
Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 15 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 09 at 12:49am | |
I beg to difffer! I have nothing but a fleeting interst in the F18 fleet but was also at ECPR and would say that the shockwave looked great. If you can imagine a big brother to the spitfire then your on the right track and we all know how pretty the spit is. |
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psymedic
Newbie Joined: 08 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 19 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 09 at 8:00am | |
I am not sure why you are begging to differ! I believe the Shockwave, Wildcat and Infusion are all good looking boat hence my careful research into their individual merits |
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Too many hulls for ISAF
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Tornado413
Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 09 at 8:39am | |
So your not convinced that a brand new design straight out the box that the crews havent got up to 100% yet that won Round Texel by a substantial margin, the Isle of Wight race by a huge margin and just won the ECPR by a good margin, not to mention winning the ECPR saturday series, Grafham F18 TT last year, Weston Grand Slam, Datchet F18 TT, 3rd Texel Dutch open aswell. Also Loday / White have only one Pro Team pushing the boat against the might of Nacra/Hobie who have thrown a huge ammount of resources in to the big events, yes im sure time will tell but you cant hide the fact the Shockwave is flying at the moment !!! |
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F18 man
Newbie Joined: 19 Jun 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 09 at 12:11pm | |
Thats very true, I'd like to Eco those points I don't think you can take any thing away from the guys who won ECPR. My friend was on one of the ribs and said that downwind there was a fair race and that though out the hole race the shockwave was clearly the faster boat. Also Stuart Gummer won the Saturday series, and i heard he only collected the boat on Friday afternoon! That is seriously impressive for a first time sail. He was also 2nd F18 home! Shockwave 1 & 2, I'm sold on the Shockwave!! Ive had a look at the wild cat and i agree that the hulls don't seem very strong. I have heard rumors that 50 boats have been returned to Hobie after cracking at the main beam? and that it already has a nickname, Kitty Cat? can anyone confirm that.
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ITA128
Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 09 Location: Italy Online Status: Offline Posts: 2 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 09 at 12:36pm | |
I heard the same thing, also the Nicknames are true Kitty Cat because there isnt anything wild about it. i heard in Texel.
Shockwave is looking very good and from what im hearing and seeing its the fastest and best built, I hear they fully rig every boat mast up before sending it out. bet the other builders don't. Also you get North sails with it and Whiteformula (the builders) are probably the best catamaran builders in the business |
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psymedic
Newbie Joined: 08 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 19 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 09 at 1:19pm | |
Hi Simon, As you know I am looking at all the F18 options at the moment before I make my purchase. I don't dispute the Shockwaves flying at the moment, but do feel that the real comparative test will be the Worlds. I have heard a lot of differing opinions relating to the true validity of the results of the events you have listed, so feel that the Worlds will give me the opportunity to look at the performance of the various F18's over a large number of races with hopefully consistent winds. Long Distance races can be won or lost on a single decision as I am sure you are very well aware-whether it be a bad tactical choice, a wind shift, "the wind Gods leaving you", miscalculations about the position of sandbanks, etc., etc. Yes the Shockwave has had some excellent TT results, but so has the Infusion and the Wildcat. These results again can sometimes be deceptive as I am sure you know-sometimes a gear breakage, or an error in counting the number of laps completed, etc. at a 2 day event can screw the results for a leading team. Obviously there is a huge battle between Nacra and Hobie on the European scene, but in the U.K. there is as far as I am aware 1 Shockwave pro team and an occasional Infusion pro team on the F18/Cat Open circuit. This is why I feel it is important to look at the "average" club/open event teams as well as the known leading non-pro teams results rather than the Pro Teams (you could put any of the pro teams in a bath tub and they would probably come out on top!!) at the forthcoming World's to get a better idea of the relative performance of various F18's. What I do know at the moment, much to my surprise, is that the Infusion is the cheapest F18 available in the U.K. by a considerable margin. Also, I am very impressed with it's quality of finish and standard of "fit out". Quality and price are as equally important as results to the average "Joe" like me who will never light up the scoreboard on the ultra competitive International F18 scene. What I require is a boat that I know is exactly the same as the top teams use and doesn't require many, many hours of changing and tinkering to make it fly and therefore gives me the chance to concentrate on improving my skills. So please Simon don't be offended that I am not going to go out and purchase a Shockwave just on the basis of half a dozen great results. I wish all U.K. F18 teams attending the Worlds every success and look forward to reading the race reports and results. Edited by psymedic |
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Too many hulls for ISAF
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oz man
Far too distracted from work Joined: 26 Apr 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 247 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 09 at 2:03pm | |
as an interested outsider to this thread (i have an aclass and a tiger) a couple of things strike me 1 knowing si as i do i wouldnt think he would be offeneded if you dont buy a shockwave on the back of him winning the ecpr by a country mile. 2 waiting to see who wins the worlds is a strange thing to do there will be 1 pro shock wave team against 5/10 from wild cat and 5/10 from nacra think you may get quite a biased view of the fleet. 3 if you want to improve your skills i reckon you would be better going for a proven second hand boat for a year or two then go for a new boat. 4 ita 124 has a good point, north sails loday/white builders= quality 5 if you want a boat that you dont have to tinker with and is the same as everybody elses your looking at the wrong fleet. why dont you buy a topper |
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dave794
Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jul 09 at 11:23am | |
hi everyone,
if anyone was interested i am looking to sell my current nacra infusion and get a new one, so if anyone was would like any details about a second hand infusion send me and email. dave_062@hotmail.com |
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Tornado_ALIVE
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Nov 04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 611 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jul 09 at 12:41pm | |
Don't knock the Kitty Cat........ Mean little boat.
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