There just isn't any list of "sail numbers" for Hobie-16s that tell the date of your boat. Hobie says they don't have such a list and that sail numbers wouldn't be an accurate way to date anyway, because sails are numbered when the sails are made, and do not necessarily correspond to the hull manufacturing.
But, a question about yearly production, asked on the Hobie web site, was refused an answer,-because Hobie considers yearly production numbers as propriatary information. Hmmm..., then it follows that a sail number list for dates, would easily give this secret information away! So Hobie probably does have such a list, but will claim they don't!
SO LET'S MAKE OUR OWN LIST !!!
Post your H-16 sail number, and the month and year your hull was manufactured, as determined by you hull number. If we get enough responses, we'll construct a list as best we can. Then we'll ask Rick to stick it at the top of the Hobie forum as a reference. (You can figure out your hull number at www.hobiecat.com under FAQ, or see http:/
I'll go first:
First Boat: Sail# 23721 -Nov. 1977
Second Boat: Sail# 32098 -Nov. 1978
Even this won't work Jeff, because of the way sail numbers are assigned. Blocks of numbers are assigned to the various manufacturers (that's why you don't see 105000 series sail numbers in the US - they were assigned to Europe)
And whose to say that numbers weren't skipped? There's another thread in the Hobie Forums about how Hobie "lost track" of the sail numbers on the 14's and were putting numbers that were 10,000 off from what they should be.
They make a lot more sails than boats.
What about those of us with hull numbers such as 1460? The number doesn't tell you what year it was manufactured. Incidentally, the sail number is 1260. This is for an H14.
Okay, I will give this a try, but my numbers don't seem to make sense. Here are the numbers: CCMF 0208 M77 P
I am guessing that means that my boat is June, 1977. BUT I could be wrong. The sail number is 10335. The sequence of numbers does not seem to match correctly to the code in Matt's posting, but the F is the only letter that would fall within 1-12.
Great idea making this list!
Richard
Why do we need such a list? As Matt said it won't work. I've had as many as 6 sails in the garage for 2 boats. My 84 beach boat has sail # 102999 that originally came with the boat I bought new in 98. The 84 originally came with 80633, then was upgraded to 98455. Next year if I can find the nickles(after dental bills) to get a new set for the race boat then the 84 will have 104725 and the 2000 boat will have sail # 109xxx. Our Fleet had sail 204 last year for the Nationals that I used for sponsor promo.
Lets see, the '81 was 59501, I think the '80 is 54585.
Now we've got the '82 8405 on the 18 and the race sail '86 is 12853, wow...this is too much work.
Thanks Pat, think I'll have a brew instead.
My 1972 boat hull# 3404 has sail# 3403. 
Jim,
Is the hull# 3404 on your H16 or your H14?
On the H16. I'm not sure about the H14 off the top of my head and the boat is currently 12.9nm to the NNE of here. 
my boat:
hull number ccmB8801a404
sail number 40
Don't have a serial number but just got ride of the last nationals boat and it was a 2005 with sail number 08. Hope this helps
Thanks,
Brad Stephens
www.sunjammers.com
Hobie Division 15 Chairman
Authorized Hobie/Vanguard/Hunter Dealer
brad@sunjammers.com
850-235-2281
Panama City Beach, FL
hi,my hobie 16 is from 1979 and sail # 22813
If you have "replaced" your sails, obviously the numbers will be out of wack.-Don't report what you know to be bad data. But if you bought your replacement sails new from Hobie, the sail purchase date would be helpful. If there are blocks of numbers given to Europe, chances are few of those boats will be in the U.S.-It will just cause a 'jump-gap' in the numbers; not a problem.
If your sails are original to the boat, that is the best data. What we're are actually doing is 'dating' the sails, not the hulls. That does not make the information any less interesting.