A-Class: Lindhal Composites LR4 One-Off
John & Ian Lindhal has been building one-off A-Class for a while now with several versions of the LR series. Now he is on the LR4, and it is going to be raced at next Worlds in Florida.
This construction method is one of the alternatives we will offer for the F18 Open project.
The major cost reduction is that you don´t need to build a plug and then a two half female mold as production boats are made. And if the final product is quite refined and performs you can even use one of the hulls for a posterior mold to make a series.
So it is the most cost effective process for the home builder and even for small yards wanting to launch a new boat.
These kind of projects are a real life alternative for owning a Formula cat, but as I talked with Alex here in BA on his asking about real cost reductions. The catch with this method is that you don´t spend that much cash but in fact you have lots of man-hour work and other intagible or hidden costs, but if you have the time and not the money this is your #1 option.
Although the major goal of course is not to replace the good work done by the boatyards but the main goal is to promote the sport, and if in the process you can provide alternatives to home builders and even a good design to be built in a production series by these same yards, it is a win-win scenario.
I will contact Ian for an interview after the Worlds.
Thanks to Jeff Rehm on his mail about the LR4-
Check more details and Ian’s contact info at lindahlcompositedesign.weebly.com
Don't know about A-cats but had a thought about F18, please correct me if I'm wrong.
Buying a complete new F18 cost guestimate about 21.000 euro. Selling an old but good Capricorn or infusion and you get about 10.000.
If you build one yourself . Do I guess right that it will cost you excluding the work hours 13 – 15.000 euro for the parts needed. And after say 8-10 years the value of your totally unknown home made will be between 2-5000 euro depending on what results you can show for.
Maybe I'm being negative but to me it seams like a good second hand would give you a very good, reliable boat with clear trim guides (only that has to me a VERY high value) at a very low cost.
I would love to get a new F18, my own design. It would be so cool but I don't think it would save me money nor give me any advantage over the well tested main brands.
Has anyone done a budget for building a F18??
I have and I think it can be done for around $15-17k USD in the US. Costs will probably be more in the EU.
I think the critical part is getting a good design. Hopefully Martin will update us on the Open F18 idea soon. I think there are a few people who would be interested in building a boat..
That is the right target: 14-17.000usd for a fully competitive New boat, no handicap.
Of course we are working hard to achieve that goal. After sailing many, analyzing all of them and seeing the class results over and over, it is clear that extremes features have shown they don´t work for every condition.
So the first aim is still there, designing an overall performer.
We are working with foils now in parallel with more CFD tests.
I have received many mails on interested people willing to build one.
I will build one for sure.
Reasons:
– try an idea no one else will build
– learn to build stuff
– satisfaction in sailing something you have built (+/- designed)
– save a bit of money at expense of time
I think the satisfaction thing is pretty significant. I love answering the question "where did you get that" with "I made it".