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PostPosted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 9:50 am 
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Location: Bowling Green, Ky
Have just aquired an older Hobie 16 and am trying to define the date code stamped on the trapize supports. The older Hobies I understand are supposed to have a 4 - diget number but mine only has three digets. The same stamp on both front outside suports is # 808 !! Can someone difine this for me? The boat is in very good shape for it's assumed age. Ready to sail with a little clean up. Thanks for the Help! :D


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:23 am 
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On boats prior to 1973, the number stamped on the front pylon is a serial number. There is no "date code." It's just the number (presumably sequential) that the factory stamped on the pylon to identify the boat.

#808 would be a very old boat, circa 1972 (the year Hobie 16s were first manufactured).

In 1973, the federal government mandated "Hull Identification Numbers" - HINs - in a specific format (similar to Vehicle Identification Numbers - VINs) for all boats manufactured in the US. Your boat predates that.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:47 am 
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MBounds wrote:
On boats prior to 1973, the number stamped on the front pylon is a serial number. There is no "date code." It's just the number (presumably sequential) that the factory stamped on the pylon to identify the boat.

#808 would be a very old boat, circa 1972 (the year Hobie 16s were first manufactured).

In 1973, the federal government mandated "Hull Identification Numbers" - HINs - in a specific format (similar to Vehicle Identification Numbers - VINs) for all boats manufactured in the US. Your boat predates that.

History[edit]

Thanks so uch for the reply. Here is where I get confused. (Got to love the internet) This information is taken from the Wikipedi sight and contradicts the 1972 date. Can you explain or direct me to more information. :|

The company founder, Hobart Alter, began as a surfboard manufacturer in the late 1950s. According to another source, Alter's focus changed in 1961 to designing an easily beached fibreglass catamaran. The impetus of this shift is attributed to a 1961 boat show in Anaheim, CA which placed Alter in a booth selling surfboards, next to Art Javes, the designer of the new (1961) AQUA CAT 12 sailboat. That sailboat featured lightweight fibreglass hulls with an aluminium tube structure supporting a trampoline style deck for seating. The AQUA CAT catamaran did well in shallow water, but relied on dagger boards to reduce slippage sidewise under sail. Dagger boards were also used by the much heavier Pacific Cat from 1960. That design featured a solid fibreglass deck on a 19' x 8' boat, giving it a weight of almost 500 pounds. Following the 1961 boat show, Alter contacted Arthur "Art" Javes, designer of the AQUA CAT to tell him he was also entering the fledgling catamaran market. The first Hobie Cat is credited with being first built in 1965 and featured a structure similar to the AQUA CAT, but slightly heavier with rockered hulls that did not rely on dagger boards. This design was more readily beached than the AQUA CAT or Pacific Cat.

From 1967 on, the new Hobie Cat Company went on to become the largest manufacturer of small catamarans in the world. In 1967, Alter designed the Hobie 14 Catamaran. Alter wanted to make a boat that could be easily launched into the surf. In 1969, Hobie released the Hobie 16, the most popular catamaran ever and the most competitive catamaran class in the world. Over 135,000 Hobie 16 Cats are sailing around the world. The Hobie 18 in 1976, Hobie 17 in 1985, Hobie 21 in 1987, Hobie 18SX in 1989, Hobie 17 Sport in 1990, Hobie 20 in 1991, Hobie 21 Sport Cruiser in 1992, Hobie Wave in 1994, Hobie TriFoiler in 1995, the Hobie Getaway in 2000, then the Hobie Bravo in 2002.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:39 pm 
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The Wiki is incorrect.

Hobie 14 was first followed by Hobie 16 in the early 70's

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 4:52 pm 
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Location: Bowling Green, Ky
mmiller wrote:
The Wiki is incorrect.

Hobie 14 was first followed by Hobie 16 in the early 70's



Thank you Matt!! I was looking forward to your response. That puts you over the TOP ! Not many organizations respond as you have. Again Thanks. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Tim Huston


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:23 pm 
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Location: gippsland lakes australia
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=50282
got you beat i own number 292


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 3:19 am 
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Location: Harsens Island, Michigan
What?! Wikipedia is wrong? How could that be?

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1979 Hobie 16 "Orange Crusher"
2017 Hobie 16 "Cayman" sails 114795
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 8:49 am 
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Hey Mat. Can you help me with the Hull ID # to find out what year i am looking at. CCMQ5954M82I


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PostPosted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:25 am 
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mark.cullifer wrote:
Hey Mat. Can you help me with the Hull ID # to find out what year i am looking at. CCMQ5954M82I


CCMQ5954M82I

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


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PostPosted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:32 am 
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thanks


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