Dart 18 before 1984? when the stripe on the side changed to a wide slash stripe. I had the one with the wide slash marking on the side before the one I now have with the center double line. Single stripes have been on and off since the early 70's. See 8th photo at
http://www.tampabaycatsailors.com/2006_hangover_pics.htm for the double line. The class never changed much except for the gelcoat design on the side. Have fun get it out on the water. The designer Rodney March did a great job along with Kim at Panthercraft. They started the first GPR Olympic Tornado.
The dart in the photo does not look too good, so I would not argue about its age. Anyone know its sail number? Darts stick to their sail numbers - unlike Hobie - so you (almost) always know the year.
My first Dart 18 was a '86, with red stripes where you have blue. It was the boat used in Brian Phipps book, "The Catamaran Book". I bought it directly from Kim Stephens - it was our first demo Dart in Ireland.
I remember an '83 boat, sail no. 2589 that had a thin stripe similar to the Dart in the photo. The 90s Darts had a black stripe in the gelcoat - but only on the inner side of the hull.
