First Post.

Hello all, this is my first post on the forum. There doesn't seem to be too much activity on this subforum, but I hope that looks are deceiving. I've been sailing Hobies for 5 years now. Just this week I managed to finally get my own boat (being a college kid is financially difficult) and it happens to be a 14. I have two questions for you to start off, but they are rather simple, and very specific to this boat. (sorry for not using a list, I'll experiment with this forums BBCode later):

The boat is too old to have a Hull Identification Number. It does, however, have a patent plate, with no date, and the title says "West Coast Catamaran Corporation". Was that a dealer or is that significant in some way?

The traveller that came with the boat is of a type that has a rope with loops and cleats on both sides rather than the more common "main sheet runs through traveller" setup. I could easily travel the mainsheet upwind past the halfway point, or really put it anywhere I want. I believe that this would help the boat to travel further upwind. Is that correct and are there other benefits to this setup?

The image below is to clarify on the traveller. My boat has the same traveller, but it also has cleats on both sides of the track, and the line runs in a continuous loop, tied to both of the outside holes in the traveller.

The serial number would be a 4 digit number on the outboard sides of the forward pylon posts.

This boat is late 60s to 1973 possibly. Then the serial number system changed to an engraved number on the transoms.

Coat Catamaran was the Corporate name for Hobie Cat back then.

There is no benefit to traveling upwind. The current roller traveler and swivel cleat in the center is highly prefered.

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

Looks like a 16 to me. The chain plate looks to be attached to side and not the beam as the 14 has.

Steve

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84 Turbo