I'm trying to make (and hopefully maintain) a list of year-to-year changes in the Hobie 16. From reading a lot of past threads and doing a lot of searches, I've come up with the following list but there are definitely some omissions and likely errors. Please post corrections to this thread if you have them and if you have pictures to document a specific change you can send them to me (anton at largiader dot com) and I will work them into an improved article.
The most recent version of this will always be on my website
here, although I will update this post as time allows. Here's what I have for now, and than you to the people from whose posts I've harvested this information:
Original main traveller car was sliding metal plate
Original mast step with hook
Early '70s - mast step or base changed to remove hook
1972, '74, maybe later - main traveler with rollers
1977 or thereabouts - 3-hole mast tang
1982 - Shorter shrouds, longer forestay, modified mast step casting to allow for more aft mast rake.
1983 - double-grommeted rear tramp lacing
1984 - weight reduction 340 to 320, red adhesive
1984 - Adjustable rudder castings
1985 - Comptip and main halyard, reef points removed from main
mid-'80s flush boom vang fitting and then removed
mid-'80s clear anodizing ended
1995 - shrouds shortened from 19'2" to 18'11"
- Updated corner castings (injection moldings) and trackless pylons, integrated jib and main traveler tracks
- jib traveller with cleat on pad riveted to crossbar, Delrin sliding car
- Miracle 20-style tiller connectors
1996? - deeper jib traveler track with brass-wheeled cars
mid-late '90s - updated bolt rope in sails
2000 - recut jib
2004 or earlier - upper main sheet block changed from H2604 57mm triple to H2640 40mm triple
2004 - another mast step casting change to improve rotation and hold mast bearing chip better
late 2004 - roller bearing jib traveler with cleat on car
2004~5 - EPO2 rudders standard?
2009 - shrouds shortened slightly to 18' 10.25" - bridle lengthened to 3' 9.5"
May 2013 - EPO3 rudders standard
Unknown:6:1 main using H194 Hexaratchet* on bottom and H2604 57mm Carbo triple upper
Aussie jib halyard system standard (late '90s or early 2000s)
Double trapeze
Trapeze adjusters and "Can't Miss" handles
Coated wires
One-piece, cast gudgeons
Adjustable batten end caps
Single-sided cutaway for mainsail track, deletion of sail feeder
Updated 8/16/2019
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'00 H16 #104691
'78 H16 #32692 ex-rental [gone]
Old Holsclaw trailer
My Hobie 16 pages