The funny thing is that quite a few sailors here (Netherlands) regard the dart hawk as a very good design and at least on a par with the Tiger. Most see the exchange rate of years past and the wrong marketing of Dart as the causes for the demise of the Hawk. I think these are probably the main cause over the fact that Hobie bought all the good sailors away.

A group of us still believe that the Hawk has live in it with a few mods to bring it up to speed with regard to the newer F18's. Simple stuff like selftacker and snuffer, and some mods in the sail cut. The hulls and beams are good.

It is also generally believed that F18 would have grew and dominated anyway with or without the Dart Hawk in it. In fact the net sales of the Hawk are believed to have increase compare to potential net sales if it were kept out of the F18.

I would personally rather have a Hawk then a Inter 18/ nacra F18 or Tiger. I would only put Cirrus F18, Hunter F18 and Capricorn F18 over the Hawk at this time. All others (7 out of 11) are on a equal footing or inferiour to an updated Hawk.

Wouter