Pearson Hawk 16
Description
The Pearson Hawk 16 is a nimble, trailerable fiberglass daysailer and pocket racer designed for solo or small-crew fun on lakes, bays, or protected coastal waters. As Pearson's entry into the compact performance dinghy market, it features a fractional sloop rig with a centerboard for shallow-draft versatility and a lightweight hull for easy towing (under 800 lb dry). Emphasizing simplicity, speed, and responsiveness, it's ideal for beginners learning to sail or experienced racers seeking a lively club boat—affordable, low-maintenance, and surprisingly capable in light-to-moderate winds without feeling tippy. Designed by Philip Kaiko (not the usual William H. Shaw) and introduced in 1979 by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the Hawk 16 was created to compete in the growing fractional-rig trailerable class, inspired by high-performance dinghies like the Laser but with added stability for casual use. Production ran until 1983, with approximately 100 units built, targeting youth programs, sailing schools, and recreational sailors. It was one of Pearson's few small-boat offerings amid their focus on larger cruisers, reflecting the 1980s trend toward accessible, one-design-like racers. Discontinued as Pearson shifted priorities, the Hawk remains active in regional fleets through owner associations, with strong resale value for its durable build.
Construction Details
| Designer | Philip Kaiko |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 16.000 ft |
| LOA | 16.000 ft |
| LWL | 15.000 ft |
| Beam | 6.500 ft |
| Displacement | 520 lb |
| Ballast | 100 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.000 ft |
| Min Draft | 0.500 ft |
| Year Built | 1979 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 16 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 6 ft |
| p | 20 ft |
| e | 7.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 ft | 6 ft | 20 ft | 7.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Sails
Pearson Hawk 16 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | 20 ft - (6096 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 7.42 ft - (2262 mm) |
| Leech | * 20.96 ft - (6389 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.65 ° |
| Diagonal | 21.167 ft - (6452 mm) |
| Head (inches) | 4.5 in - (114 mm) |
| Area | * 77.47 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Pearson Hawk 16 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 16.58 ft - (5054 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 6.25 ft - (1905 mm) |
| Leech | 14.83 ft - (4520 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 89.12 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 5.57 ft - (1698 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.92 ° |
| Area | * 46.17 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Pearson Hawk 16 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 16 ft - (4877 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 6.25 ft - (1905 mm) |
| Leech | 14 ft - (4267 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 90.5 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 5.43 ft - (1655 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 9.13 ° |
| Area | * 43.44 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Pearson Hawk 16 - GENOA
| Luff | * 16.23 ft - (4947 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 10.44 ft - (3182 mm) |
| Leech | * 14.63 ft - (4459 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 153.83 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 9.23 ft - (2813 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 7.31 ° |
| Area | * 74.9 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Pearson Hawk 16 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 15.81 ft - (4819 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 11.25 ft - (3429 mm) |
| Foot | * 11.25 ft - (3429 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 151 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.