Hawk 38 in Lymington

ari said:
just genuinely wondering what I'm missing?
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If you mean what is she missing, here's a few things, in no particular order:
- space in general (any 25' day cruiser is beamier that this boat);
- a decent cabin (if you think it's useless in a dayboat, ask any women);
- a wide and sociable cockpit that can be turned into a dining area (that thing at the bow doesn't cut the mustard);
- a large swim platform, unobstructed and close to the water surface;
- a convenient dock accessibility (which here is restricted by the tubes).

That said, I actually love speedboats.
In fact, I've had a Fountain capable of 72mph, and jumping with her on ferry wakes used to be my small contribution to the entertainment of tourists crossing from Cadenabbia to Bellagio and back.
So, I fully understand and appreciate all the above FB design choices, including the separate levers for throttles, which are essential for helming fast boats, even if I would expect several potential Hawk clients to complain about that.

The thing is, imho day boats are about comfort and possibly elegance, together with some speed, but within reason.
Also because, in anything just a tad rougher than a slight sea, any similar size Magnum/Baia/Itama would actually allow the large majority of boaters to reach their destination faster.
Not because these fat arse boats are more seaworthy than anything FB ever designed, obviously. But it takes huge balls and a lot of experience to keep going at 50+ knots, when you must constantly throttle in sync with the waves and flex on your knees upon each re-entry, while in the same conditions a similar size Magnum can cruise at 30 kts on autopilot, with the ladies enjoying the sunpad astern... :cool:
 
MapisM said:
If you mean what is she missing, here's a few things, in no particular order:
- space in general (any 25' day cruiser is beamier that this boat);
- a decent cabin (if you think it's useless in a dayboat, ask any women);
- a wide and sociable cockpit that can be turned into a dining area (that thing at the bow doesn't cut the mustard);
- a large swim platform, unobstructed and close to the water surface;
- a convenient dock accessibility (which here is restricted by the tubes).
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That sounds like a good description of a completely different type of boat. It's a bit like saying a Range Rover is better than a Ferrari because it has more seats, more doors, more room, a more comfortable ride and more space for the dogs, and arguably faster on a bumpy road. All true of course, but a different type of car.

To my mind this boat isn't competing for buyers of fat cabin boats, it's up against things like the Goldfish 38, Boston Whaler 380 Outrage, etc. And it doesn't look to me in that video that dock access is restricted by the tubes any more than a boat without would be pushed away from the dock by a couple of fat fenders.

I think that this boat has a fairly narrow target audience, if I was lucky enough to have £1/2 million to spend on a boat it wouldn't be on one of these (or a Goldfish or a Boston Whaler for that matter), ironically I'd want all the things you mention, cabin, big cockpit - a fat cruiser so I get the appeal of all of those things. And I can see why you'd say it isn't for you.

But I just can't see that it simply isn't any good, I think it's a brilliant boat for its target audience (a rich man's day play thing), the ultimate speedboat for people with lots of money that want a really fast fun stylish Med sportsboat and might otherwise have looked at stuff like a big Whaler or RIB.
 
ari said:
That sounds like a good description of a completely different type of boat. It's a bit like saying a Range Rover is better than a Ferrari because it has more seats, more doors, more room, a more comfortable ride and more space for the dogs, and arguably faster on a bumpy road. All true of course, but a different type of car.

To my mind this boat isn't competing for buyers of fat cabin boats, it's up against things like the Goldfish 38, Boston Whaler 380 Outrage, etc. And it doesn't look to me in that video that dock access is restricted by the tubes any more than a boat without would be pushed away from the dock by a couple of fat fenders.

I think that this boat has a fairly narrow target audience, if I was lucky enough to have £1/2 million to spend on a boat it wouldn't be on one of these (or a Goldfish or a Boston Whaler for that matter), ironically I'd want all the things you mention, cabin, big cockpit - a fat cruiser so I get the appeal of all of those things. And I can see why you'd say it isn't for you.

But I just can't see that it simply isn't any good, I think it's a brilliant boat for its target audience (a rich man's day play thing), the ultimate speedboat for people with lots of money that want a really fast fun stylish Med sportsboat and might otherwise have looked at stuff like a big Whaler or RIB.
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Agreed and I can cite an exact example of the type of bloke will bite :)

It’s aimed at a different demographic audience than with respect the majority of folks on here .
I think it will do well think badge engineering the S/Sker brand crossed with FB .
It’s targets will get that believe me .
My mate with the Benetti ended up with the Boston W because at the time that was the considered the best thing around to tow being double skinned etc and they are a nice quality item to touch n feel .
The Mastercraft was lashed to the side .
I,am sure he would have gone for one of theses Hawks had they been available.He started with S/Skr and out grew them .
Just to add some perspective he runs a collection of aircraft inc a Gulfstream which has a ticket to fly ( hires another pilot as well ) that’s another hobby .
So the price is not significant in terms of his “ Toy shop “
The Benetti winters in the Caribbean and summers in the Med as getting to it is as said another hobby , rather more expensive that running the 7 crew boat if you figure depreciation on the plane(s) .
 
ari said:
But I just can't see that it simply isn't any good
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Neither do I.
In hindsight, I realize that by quoting petem sentence in my post #38 I might have given such impression, but I was only thinking of its point as a Med day boat.
Which isn't a very strictly defined category of course, but if you ask the large majority of boaters, I bet that they would think to a Range Rover rather than a Ferrari, just to stick to your comparison.

Imho, 50+ kts boats are meant to enjoy driving them, not to spend a day out on the water.
The fact that they are floating is just incidental, so to speak.
In fact, proportionally speaking, you can surely find more superfast boats on lakes rather than at sea, and rightly so.
When considered strictly as a driving machine, I'm sure that the Hawk will deliver, even if personally I'd rather go for the full monty FB38 above, if I would (still) be interested in that sort of boating experience.

Bottom line, you are probably right in saying that it has its niche as a rich man's day play thing.
As long as these rich men are aware that cruising at 50 kts (let alone 60 or more - the challenge increases exponentially!) is something they will very rarely be able to do anywhere in the Med, unless they are willing (and able!) to cope with a bit of a handful beast, that can surely withstand much more than most helmsmen can even imagine.
 
MrB said:
Mike, do you have a Bugatti Veyron? I have only seen that colour interior/exterior in a Veyron??:cool::encouragement:
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Er no I wish I did. I have a Range Rover Sport with what L-R amusingly call a tan interior which in sunlight looks very orange

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And yes I did choose it myself;)
 
Niiiiice, I like it!
Considering that the steering wheel is on the civilized side :p, if you take good care of it (as the plastic protection on the carpets suggests!), I might even make you an offer, when you'll be tired of it! :encouragement:
 
MapisM said:
Niiiiice, I like it!
Considering that the steering wheel is on the civilized side :p, if you take good care of it (as the plastic protection on the carpets suggests!), I might even make you an offer, when you'll be tired of it! :encouragement:
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Er its not mine. I cant be arsed to take a photo of my actual car with the steering wheel on the correct side but its the same
 
MapisM said:
Imho, 50+ kts boats are meant to enjoy driving them, not to spend a day out on the water.
The fact that they are floating is just incidental, so to speak.
In fact, proportionally speaking, you can surely find more superfast boats on lakes rather than at sea, and rightly so.
When considered strictly as a driving machine, I'm sure that the Hawk will deliver, even if personally I'd rather go for the full monty FB38 above, if I would (still) be interested in that sort of boating experience.

Bottom line, you are probably right in saying that it has its niche as a rich man's day play thing.
As long as these rich men are aware that cruising at 50 kts (let alone 60 or more - the challenge increases exponentially!) is something they will very rarely be able to do anywhere in the Med, unless they are willing (and able!) to cope with a bit of a handful beast, that can surely withstand much more than most helmsmen can even imagine.
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I agree with that. But then I drive a (limited to) 155mph car that never exceeds much more than half of that because it is extremely capable at that (compared with a car with a maximum speed of 90mph for example, that in theory would do all I need).

And in that video, when it's doing 35-40 knots, it looks very comfortable indeed. Maybe more so than a boat with a max speed of 35 knots (and hull designed for max of 35) running absolutely flat out?

So maybe the real benefit of a boat that will top 60 knots (and has a hull that will cope easily with it) is how well it runs at 2/3 that, just like we all drive cars that go much faster than we do.

Anyway, thanks for clarifying, totally understand what you're saying. Just seemed to be a lot of hate for the thing which seemed unjustified (appreciate not directly from you however).
 
ari said:
I promise I'm not trying to be argumentative or deliberately obtuse, but I am struggling to understand your logic here.

Driving fast for the sake of it, lots of people enjoy that - everyone with a speedboat or fast RIB for example. You certainly don't need to be a 'megayacht owner' to want that, or have any desire to 'test your own back wave jumping'.

Why would it make no sense as a dayboat for someone who owns a villa, surely it's perfect for that? It's fast, looks a fun drive, has a very capable hull, day space the full length of the boat, sunpads, somewhere for the Seabobs, a seating and dining area, a decent private loo, it's absolutely ideal for that surely?

And although this is new territory for Sunseeker, fast open dayboats are nothing new, from Boston Whalers to stuff like Goldfish RIBs.

As I say, not trying to be argumentative for the sake of it, just genuinely wondering what I'm missing? It's completely out of my league, but if I had need for a fast fun Med dayboat I'd have thought this has real merit.
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you must have a valid point otherwise they wouldn't be being made...

Other way to look at it at least they will give Aquariva owners something to laugh at. :rolleyes:
 
ari said:
Anyway, thanks for clarifying, totally understand what you're saying. Just seemed to be a lot of hate for the thing which seemed unjustified (appreciate not directly from you however).
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As I said earlier, I don't think any of us feel strongly enough to hate the thing. As a superyacht tender it probably does its job quote well. So unless I'm mistaken for 100% of us the thing is a total irrelevance (unlike the original Hawk 34).

At least Fairline are still trying to make a <35ft boat that some of us might be interested in buying.
 
petem said:
As I said earlier, I don't think any of us feel strongly enough to hate the thing. As a superyacht tender it probably does its job quote well. So unless I'm mistaken for 100% of us the thing is a total irrelevance (unlike the original Hawk 34).

At least Fairline are still trying to make a <35ft boat that some of us might be interested in buying.
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Check the height before you buy one for the superyacht or you might have to store it on the flight deck
 
I'm sure it's a lot of fun to drive, and 60kts is good.
But it doesn't look like you have spent £650k+ on it!

Moored up in Ocean Village:

OVR0Mv.jpg
 
FlowerPower said:
I'm sure it's a lot of fun to drive, and 60kts is good.
But it doesn't look like you have spent £650k+ on it!

Moored up in Ocean Village:

OVR0Mv.jpg
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I concur, as much as I like SS and this boat, £650k is taking the proverbial for two outboards and a portaloo.:rolleyes:
 
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