Yes, a lightweight TheMightyHobie18 would be a kick-a** boat. Using carbon fiber throughout could probably keep all-up weight under 300#. In the late 70's and part of the 80's Hobie advertised the TheMightyHobie18 as "fastest 8 foot wide cat on the market". This forced NACRA to catch up by making the N5.8.

It's hard to say how this suuperlight TheMightyHobie18 would do agianst boats such as the Tiger or Taipan, but it would make a fun experiment!

D. Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067