2014 OCSA Racebook Proof October 2013 | Page 30

i550 Fleet http://www.i550NorthAmerica.org/ The HOTTEST sportboat coming to Portland this spring! Watch for the fleet at a regatta near you! Have you always wanted a performance sportboat, but didn’t have a performance sportboat wallet? Coming in at around 1/3 of the price of a Viper 640, Melges 20 or Open 570, this is a serious Bang-for-the-Buck contender! The original i550 was created for the MicroTon class, but it has since been turbocharged and redrawn as a one-off sportboat for fleet racing. The ease of building for an amateur builder with the “stitch-and-glue” method ensures a light, solid hull, and a quick build for even those with NO boat building experience. Due to this simple construction method, there’s not much to the construction process. The whole thing can be cut out, and “stitched” together in a weekend. The construction process is simple and straightforward. The boat is fast and agile, yet there is even room down below for simple accommodations, and “camp style” sleeping. Plenty of room on deck ensures comfort both up and downwind. A bulb keel gives stability and righting moment while allowing the boat to keep dinghy-like performance. But, don’t take our word for it; listen to what these satisfied builders have said: “I pushed my Melges off of a cliff and collected the insurance money! Now I’m ready to build.” “We took one look at the i550 and lit a fire in the cockpit of our J-24!” “Look, if those knuckle-heads can build one, I am sure I can build one better!” “I just traded my Cal 20 for 19 sheets of plywood, a few gallons of epoxy and some glass cloth.” “Why wouldn’t I want to drink beer and build boats with these guys?” With well over 425 plan sets sold worldwide, 30 current builds in the Northwest, and 8 builds in Portland alone this is just the start of something really big. FLEET CONTACT www.i550NA.org Eric Rimkus 503-490-6801 [email protected] 30