I also bought a H16 that appeared to have its numbers painted over. The paint job on the boat was awful so I stripped the hull down and was able to scrape the paint off the numbers.
I am pretty sure that all Hobie hull numbers are on the right hull, on the transom about an inch down from the deck. Don't sand the paint, but scrape it off with something sharp. I used a wood chisel!
When I purchased the boat, I was told it was a late eighties model. It turned out to be a 1980.
After the paint, she's a beaut!

