Hobie-ish...Prindle-ish...WTH kind of boat did I just buy!? :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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Hobie-ish...Prindle-ish...WTH kind of boat did I just buy!?

bacho

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 17, 2011

Last visit: Sep 24, 2023

Posts: 783
Posted: Jun 13, 2012 - 03:13 PM

smackdaddyHey all,

I was referred here by eric_e over at Sailing Anarchy. Anyone know what this thing I just bought is?

The PO said it's a Hobie, but the hulls don't quite look Hobie-esque to me. I looked at pics of 70s-80s AMFs, Prindles, etc. - and nothing exactly like it...although the Prindles come close (except for the tramp pylons).

I'm keeping the mustard yellow and rainbow stripes though. Seriously pimpin'. I just need to find me some neoprene bellbottoms.

Thanks.Edited by smackdaddy on Jun 12, 2012 - 07:23 PM.

The bows scream Prindle to me, I think I have seen one of those before. I thought it was a Prindle at the time but later learned Prindles did not have the raised tramp. It almost looks like a stretched P16 hulls with rocker removed. The Prindle sterns do not have that flat bottom and the casting are not Prindle.

--
Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
--
smackdaddy

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jun 12, 2012

Last visit: Mar 04, 2013

Posts: 19
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 02:33 PM

Okay, just what the hell is this thing?

The hulls just don't seem to have that rocker and roundness of the Hobie 16. They look maybe a bit more like a Hobie 18, or a lot more like Prindle (but not quite).

But then the hulls have the pylons for the tramp frame like the Hobie 16 (and unlike the Prindle or 18) - but the tramp frame doesn't have that camber on the forward edge like the Hobie 16.

And the rudder/tiller assembly looks different (i.e. - no kickdown/lock at the tiller connection) than a Hobie.

I've also searched other boats like Chrylsers, AMFs, etc. Nothing similar that I've found.

I'm going to pick it up this week so I'll look for markings on the hull. But this one sure looks interesting.

Edited by smackdaddy on Jun 15, 2012 - 02:35 PM.
smackdaddy

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Registered: Jun 12, 2012

Last visit: Mar 04, 2013

Posts: 19
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 04:27 PM

Interesting...looks like another one of these was posted in the photo section:

http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=79798
DamonLinkous

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Registered: Jul 19, 2001

Last visit: Nov 15, 2024

Posts: 3446
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 05:56 PM

smackdaddyInteresting...looks like another one of these was posted in the photo section:

http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=79798

Yep, I'd say that is the same boat, and it wasn't ever identified either.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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klozhald

Rank: Chief

Registered: Apr 19, 2011

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Posts: 1461
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 06:00 PM

Decks sure look Hobie-ish.
Maybe a prototype?
How long is it?

--
Sheet In!
Bob
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Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
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erice

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Posts: 671
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 06:31 PM

googling around the rudders do look very prindle

apparently geoff prindle and friends sailed a prototype prindle 16 around a for a year in 1971 before releasing the finished boat

it would make sense that he started with a lot of hobie16 ideas

could these boats have been the prototypes?
smackdaddy

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Registered: Jun 12, 2012

Last visit: Mar 04, 2013

Posts: 19
Posted: Jun 17, 2012 - 10:30 PM

Okay, just got the boat home. No time to do an exhaustive search, but I did find the following SN on the starboard hull:

4750 1700 AUCM

It's 17' in length with a 92" beam. Any ideas?

Edited by smackdaddy on Jun 17, 2012 - 10:38 PM.
erice

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Posted: Jun 17, 2012 - 11:54 PM

hmm...

letters should be first in the current code

and there appears to be no date there

1700 could be length???

this list correctly shows the old nacra MIC code TRR

and has the prindle as PDL

http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cibmanuals/files/Code/HTML/boatmakeandbrandnamecodes.htm

somewhere in the archives and on the web are a couple of pages from popular mechanics? that show beach cats and prices in about 1979

Edited by erice on Jun 17, 2012 - 11:59 PM.
smackdaddy

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Last visit: Mar 04, 2013

Posts: 19
Posted: Jun 23, 2012 - 06:52 PM

Okay - so I found out this thing is a "Spirit 17". One of the guys on the Hobie forum recognized it.

Then, when I was laying out all the sails they threw in with the boat (mostly Hobie 16 sails)...

I found this tattered main with this insignia...

So, now we know what it is. But I can't find ANYTHING about these boats online. The Google seems clueless. The dude over at the Hobie forum said that Spirit was sold to someone else, but didn't know who.

It's a very interesting mix of Prindle and Hobie parts, design, and technology. Interesting knock-off. And there sure don't seem to be many of them around. So I'm sure it's worth hundreds of thousands as a collector's item.

Edited by smackdaddy on Jun 23, 2012 - 06:53 PM.
halliske

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Posted: Jun 24, 2012 - 12:37 AM

RIGHT !!!

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Hal Liske
Livermore CA
H 16 (6+ 1.. Friends) H 3.2 N 5.2 (2) H 17 (2) H-18
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erice

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Posted: Jun 24, 2012 - 02:55 AM

not listed in the 1977 popular science edition on beach cats

http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=71977

if you create an album here called spirit 17 others will eventually find it with google

Edited by erice on Jun 24, 2012 - 02:56 AM.