Will the iCat be brought to the US?

Since the other two have been asked about, I figure why discriminate?

Since I seriously doubt it will be imported, is there a snowball's chance of getting one other than having to import it myself iif HC doesn't decide to import a number of them? I don't know how serious I am, but even Paris would say that boat is hot. I've got to imagine the shipping for a single boat has to be astronomical compared to the per unit cost of packing a container full of boats and parts.

I'm sure it's the same as with the Wildcat, price will be $XX,XXX IF you get enough people with 50% down AND a full container load.

Seems like pricing came out for the I-Cat as well yesterday? (should have paid more attention).
I know for sure a 2009 FX-One price was issued.

_________________
Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

Nope, my bad, three EU prices issued yesterday were for the FX-One, Tiger and Wildcat only.

_________________
Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

I was in the ocean shipping business for many years and there is a way of distributing the cost of shipping one container by consolidation - your stuff goes in a container with other people's stuff to a common destination. Since the boat can be broken down to a fairly small volume (with most of the volume being length) then if you are serious about shipping a boat then you don't need to wait to fill the container with other boats like it. To do this you need only contact a Freight Forwarder (which is a travel agent for cargo) in the Yellow Pages and give the dimensions, weight, and description of your stuff, along with the origin and destination and they'll take it from there.

You'd be surprised how inexpensive ocean shipping can be.

I'm not sure I care about $XX,XXX, so long as there isn't anymore X's I'm good at funding the wants, actually on more than a few occasions I've over ridden the needs paying for the wants. Finding others might be tricky...

Certainly possible, but not the best option (by a LONG shot) for a fragile product and especially one like catamarans with long masts.

Understand... Hobie Cat has been at this for a VERY long time.

Product shipped as LCL (less than a container load) or any trans dock shipping method (LTL - Less than a truck load) leads to disaster. I can recall many an issue, but one that stands out is shipping carbon H20masts from Europe. They came as two piece masts. Of course... that was not as intended, designed or shipped, but that is how they arrived.

When you ship "LCL - less than a full load", the cargo is moved, packed, removed from the container and re-packed. Maybe more than once or twice. This is NOT good for the product when fragile like a cat.

Hey...maybe the final delivery truck was too short?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

So Matt.... Is it possible to sneak in a boat with a shipment, or am I screwed if I suddenly have the impulse to blow $XX,XXX?

try and contain your self Karl, hold on to those dollars.

Maybe the iCat will morph into an F16 compliant boat at some point.

Then I will order one with you. Then there will be at least two iCats here. I would bet there could be even more, people will go with the Hobie version of an F16 just because it is a Hobie.

And if no one else buys one we will still have some one else to race against. (If it is F16 compliant)

F16 class is becoming comon in areas. iCat who knows.

_________________
Mike Hensel
'86 Hobie 18, '93 Hobie 14, '80 Hobie 14(restso in progress)
Wind in your sails, water in your shoes, great day!

Just saw thi add on CatSailor,

05 Hobie Europe FX One -- just upgraded to 09 fox 20 make offer to [email protected] dave (NJ)(May)

See a guy is selling a FX that is only four years odd and spending $XX.XXX (BIG BUCKS), for a boat that there are very few of here.

If Hobie made a version of the iCat that was F16 compliant I am sure they could sell as many or more than they are selling of the Fox.

_________________
Mike Hensel
'86 Hobie 18, '93 Hobie 14, '80 Hobie 14(restso in progress)
Wind in your sails, water in your shoes, great day!

Yes my back is sore today and I want a lighter boat than my Tiger.

Good thing it is still 38 dgrees and raining out.

_________________
Mike Hensel
'86 Hobie 18, '93 Hobie 14, '80 Hobie 14(restso in progress)
Wind in your sails, water in your shoes, great day!

It just chaps my ass that the iCat isn't F16 compliant. What were they thinking? All it needs to be is like eight inches shorter, and a bit less main sail area. Had it been F16 compliant I'd probably be calling my dealer inbetween trips to the blood/sperm bank to see if my new boat is in yet. Maybe after HCE sells three of them globally in 2009 they'll change it.

Karl, Having a little trouble following the logic. If you want an F16 why do you care that Hobie builds the product.
Mike

I tattooed a big hobie H on Karls back last year, so he can't sail anything but...

If you are in an area where Hobie regattas are the primaty source of racing, then the Hobie logo gets you into more regattas.

The majority of the regattas that are in the Northwest are Hobie.

An F16/iCat could race with the Tigers until a large enough fleet became common at Hobie regattas.

Besides that, there is allways the tatoo thing.

_________________
Mike Hensel
'86 Hobie 18, '93 Hobie 14, '80 Hobie 14(restso in progress)
Wind in your sails, water in your shoes, great day!

Sorry for my confusion I thought there was a F16 fleet in his neck of the woods. In South cal it's pretty much open class F18 sailing . Being a boat whoe I can not be that picking about the builder of the boat I am pulling strings on
mike