xnomad wrote:
So the Aft pylons have
1021 on them. I'm confused by the Turbo sticker and that the stamped numbers are on the aft pylon. So is that definitely the hull number I have to put in my insurance forms, seeing as they are on the aft pylons, or should I try scrape paint off the transoms and look for others?
Also did they sell sticker kits back then with Turbo upgrades? I can't imagine selling customers long hull stickers like that as they would be difficult to put on straight, just a Turbo sticker yes, but not the long stripes? That's why I reckon those were put on during the manufacturing process.
You see my Cat at the moment isn't really a Turbo it only has the Dolphin Striker and the wire between the chain plates for the jib blocks. So I would have thought it was bought brand new as a Turbo and that the turbo gear got trashed by previous owners.
Maybe when the Jib needed replacing they couldn't afford a new one so sold the blocks and trapeze to someone else. Or they didn't want the hassle of a jib and swapped with someone who did. It wouldn't make sense to buy an expensive Turbo upgrade and then get rid of it or not maintain it somehow. So I thought if Turbo's weren't officially made until 1983 that it would be from around then. For what it's worth the sail number is 24889, a nice 5 batten rainbow mainsail.
If it is 1973 or older that's way older than me!
The hulls don't leak one bit and seem very sturdy, no soft spots at all, not what I'd expect for a boat that's nearly 40 or older!
Without seeing some more details, I would guess the following:
- Black anodized aluminum was not introduced until 1976.
- The bow tangs look like (hard to tell in the photo) the single bolt version vs. the four bolt version - that would place it at about 1983
- The hull stripes / turbo stickers appear to be aftermarket. I've never seen any like them, but that may be an Aussie factory thing.
- The dolphin striker appears to be OEM - that would also put it in the early 80's.
If it's got rake adjustable rudder castings, then that places it to at least 1983.
My guess is 1983 - 1985. Don't know what happened to the original HIN, but it should be on the transoms. Don't know what the number on the rear pylon is.