Today I was digging through some old paperwork that was given to me when I bought my Hobie 16 a few years ago to find something. While I was at it I started to try tracking down the man I bought it from, because I always wanted to show him what has become of the boat he sold me, but that's not where the mystery leads. In the folder I have there is a May 1974 copy of the Hobie Cat Hot Line addressed to a Fred O. Miller of Saginaw, Michigan as well as a Probate court of Saginaw County Letters of Authority talking about the estate of Frederick O. Miller. Don't ask me how this ended up in here, in the 3 years I have had this boat I have never noticed it. Anyways, through random curiosity I did a Google search of this mans name and "hobie" just to see what would come up and it turns out that there is a 1976 book called "Multi-hull racing: The Hobie Cats" written by Fred Miller. While I can only image that Fred Miller is a notoriously common name I can't help but wonder if I have the boat of a past Hobie great. The boat was certainly an early 70's boat as it only comes in at number 6 on the sail pattern guide, so time frame its at least consistent with a Hobie writer from the mid 70's. If anyone has any hints, clues, or information that would help fill in this puzzle that itself would be beyond expectations, and honestly I can't help but wonder if he is any connection to our very own mmiller.
Unfortunately this mystery was not easy and that's not my boat on the cover.
A lot has changed since this photo.
