Anyone know how I can date an old classic Hobie Long Board?
Thanks in advance.
There’s a serial number on it somewhere. Better pictures would help too.
I read somewhere that they (Hobie crew - Phil Edwards) designed the concave for the Morey noseriding contest in 1965 - It looks as if that board has one, so I’d say '65 or later.
I just uploaded some better photos. Serial number is there too! 30653.
Comp stripes were all the rage, in the 1962 thru 1964(poss early 1965)time period. Per Mako, more and better photo’s would be very helpful. From your one photo, that board looks really clean.
EDIT: Ah ha! The ‘‘Dog Bone Box’’ moves the time frame up to late 1966, '67, '68 period.
It’s in pretty good condition too! I snapped a 1972 about 15 years ago. Road great. I have enjoyed Rozo and Stewart as well. Picked this one cheap. I have a client that runs a big surf shop in Florida and thinking about having them hang it with the other classics.
Better photos uploaded.
One more observation, the outline seems to be the same as the ‘‘Phil Edwards Model.’’ Good score.
So I did good at $200? Would you ride it or hang it? Only 2 minor dings one of them on the tail other on the bottom right rail.
Thrailkill. Always glad to have someone with knowledge of the sport. Wish I had more.
I’ll give you $400. Just tell me where to send the money.
Even if I were to think about getting rid of it, $400 is no where in the park with the condition it’s in.
Dating a classic. Take it to dinner then, ride it.
On the serious side, hang it in a place to enjoy the visual, but most definitely take it out when conditions are appropriate.
Thanks Surfity, Always a great feel and sound when riding on a classic.
…those boxes make more sense than the normal straight ones…regarding impacts
My Hobie Noserider had a serial number in the 26,000 range. It had a D fin not a dog bone box. It was built in 1965. Yours appears to be a later, more refined version of the Noserider. Measure the length of the board, then measure the distance from the tip of the nose to the stripe near the nose. I would bet that stripe is placed exactly 1/4 of the way down. The early noseriding contests had a criteria that the nose of a board was the forward 25%. So, most noserider models had a stripe at that spot to delineate the area.
The noserider pretty much disappeared from the Hobie lineup around 1967, when “signature” models were the rage. It was usurped by the popularity of boards bearing the names of Edwards, Carroll, Hoffman, Propper, etc
In fact, the Garry Propper was marketed as a noserider and it had a flat bottom instead of the deep concave.
Given the serial number and the finbox, I think your board is quite likely a '66 Hobie Noserider.
FYI, my '65 Hobie was in worse shape. It had some open tail dings in the corners and old Slipcheck on the nose and tail, which I sanded off. I won’t say what I paid for it, but I sold it for $1200. It’s primary value was in the fact it was one of the first ones made.
FIn looks great. What are you asking?