Hobie sail numbers-what do they mean?

Do Hobie sail numbers have meaning, or is it just the number coresponding to the # of boats made at that time? My very first Hobie was a '79 14 with emerald blue sails. I THINK the # was 34579. Can't really remember, that was way back in 1983.

Thanks,

_________________
Sean Wheeler
[email protected]
http://hobie-14.ning.com/profile/SeanWheeler
'83 Hobie 14 Turbo "Rio"
Blue Hawaii Sail #40954

They have no inherent meaning.

It's more like the serial number of the sail than anything else.

They do not correspond to the number of boats built.

The only real purpose is identification for racing.

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

That being said, a boat's original sail number gives some clue to how old it is. The hull# and the sail number are usually pretty close on a new boat.

That may have been the case prior to 1974, but after that time... serial numbers became very different. The "number" part is just four digits and resets to 0001 after 9999 by using a different leading letter code. Sail numbers quickly became 5 and then 6 digits.

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

whats the most sail nujmbers you can have and be race legal?
6,7?

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

There is no limit to the chosen number that I am aware of... except for irritation of the Race Committee! I'd imagine there is a minimum size of the digit and the length of the panel would limit the digits.

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

Most race committees now look only at the last three or four digits anyway.

For example, at the 16 NAC just concluded, there were 54 boats and only 2 had the same last three digits. (They became "995 gray" and "995 white")

On Lasers, the last four digits are typically a different color.

I was looking for 7 digits on a tiger sail.
8675309

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Hey, that's Jenny's number.

Do the numbers vary depending on the model of the baot itself? For instance, my '97 H21SC has sail #235 and all the other 21SC's I have seen are three digit #'s.

_________________
Rvandel

Yes, each model (or Class) has its own sequence.

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

Rookie question but where can I find the year my boat was built?

I looked on the inside of the hull where I thought it was and couldn't find it.

Pre-1973 - # stamped on front pylon (no year, just a sequence number)
Post-1973 - Transom - last two digits (model year)

I have recently come into ownership of an old Hobiecat in great condition.
The number engraved on the aluminum pylon and stitched into the sail is 210.
So, it seems to be older than most of the boats discussed in the forum.
The sail has been replaced with a new one, and now we have the original sail, just collecting dust in the garage.
QUESTION:
Is that sail worth anything to collectors? Should we try to sell it on e-bay or here on the forum?
I was thinking about having it made into a custom gear bag for my friend, who gifted me the boat in the first place. But my husband wants to know if the sail has value outside of the material itself and sentimental value to us and the giver of the boat.
Thanks for your collective wisdom on this.
[img]IMG_7907[/img]
[img]IMG_5082[/img]