greetings. i recently purchased a dinghy class sailboat called a Dolphin Sr. It is 14' 5". the folks i bought it from said it was a 1973 model. the metal rudder head says "universal plastic prod 21 A" the other side says "universal plastic prod houston, tex." the NADA online guide only has listings for 1971 and 1972 Dolphin Seiniors made by universal plastic prod. are these the only years UPP produced the dolphin sr.? the vessel has never been registered so i can't find a paper trail for it. UPP is now defunct and my searches have not turned up any information. The folks could be wrong, but i want to be correct when i title it. However, Dolphin/midwest Dolphin (likewise defunct) made them in '82 and '83. it looks just like the 80's models i have seen pictures of in the web. How can i tell if it is a '71, '72 or really a '73 like the folks said it was. thank you, travis
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- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
check the HIN
the last few numbers in the Hull Identification Number will tell you the year and month of manufacture. It will be located on the transom somewhere if the boat was built after Nov 1972.
the last few numbers in the Hull Identification Number will tell you the year and month of manufacture. It will be located on the transom somewhere if the boat was built after Nov 1972.
MIght be in code too.
"A" could be January... "1" could be January. But the last few digets could give you a clue. Yours could be before they started putting HIN numbers on. It gets interesting to decipher. Very cool... looks to be in good shape!
"A" could be January... "1" could be January. But the last few digets could give you a clue. Yours could be before they started putting HIN numbers on. It gets interesting to decipher. Very cool... looks to be in good shape!
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
we also have a dolphin in your yacht club fleet
I am not sure what model it is, but know for sure that it is a Dolphin. It belongs to our club fleet so I could check the HIN on it as well, next time I go down there and give you a comparative figure. Also if you want or need pictures for comparison, (rigging etc) I could do that for you. Drop me a line offline at roger02 att mts dott net if you need comparative info from a sister ship.
I am not sure what model it is, but know for sure that it is a Dolphin. It belongs to our club fleet so I could check the HIN on it as well, next time I go down there and give you a comparative figure. Also if you want or need pictures for comparison, (rigging etc) I could do that for you. Drop me a line offline at roger02 att mts dott net if you need comparative info from a sister ship.
HIN
the HIN is 2800. it's drilled into the back and the only number on the vessel. but it's there clear as day so i'm sure i'm not missing any numbers. thanks all
the HIN is 2800. it's drilled into the back and the only number on the vessel. but it's there clear as day so i'm sure i'm not missing any numbers. thanks all
dolphin
yes, it is indeed a Dolphin. and thanks, when i saw it i said "it's perfect!" Now also being an American football fan the idea that it could be a '72 dolphin adds to the coolness factor. (for those of you unfamiliar with such things the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to have a perfect season in football history)
yes, it is indeed a Dolphin. and thanks, when i saw it i said "it's perfect!" Now also being an American football fan the idea that it could be a '72 dolphin adds to the coolness factor. (for those of you unfamiliar with such things the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to have a perfect season in football history)
HIN maybe not
Okay, maybe that's not the HIN. i've just been informed that the HIN should have letters and the 2800 is the hull serial number. however, there is nothing else printed or scratched or tattooed on the vessel. the plot thickens.
Okay, maybe that's not the HIN. i've just been informed that the HIN should have letters and the 2800 is the hull serial number. however, there is nothing else printed or scratched or tattooed on the vessel. the plot thickens.
Dolphin SR.
I bought the last 2 Dolphin SR.s by Midwest. They were manufactured in the industrial caves in Kansas City. I also had one of their bigger boats, the Dolphin 17. One of my Seniors was exactly the same color combination as the one in your picture. 82/83 seems like the right time frame. If I find the guy who bought my blue one, I'll see what info he can provide. Fun boats
I bought the last 2 Dolphin SR.s by Midwest. They were manufactured in the industrial caves in Kansas City. I also had one of their bigger boats, the Dolphin 17. One of my Seniors was exactly the same color combination as the one in your picture. 82/83 seems like the right time frame. If I find the guy who bought my blue one, I'll see what info he can provide. Fun boats
Dolphin Sr.
Bill, yeah it looks just like the 80's models. However, having seen the photos pasted earlier here on their original website sailing texas dot com, they advertise it as an '82. look at the front decal. it just says Dolphin. mine says "Dolphin Universal Plastics Productions, Huston Tx". like you said, in the 80's Midwest made the vessel, but in the 70's it was UPP. but it is reassuring to me that mine looks as good as one from the 80's. at least in the pictures.
Bill, yeah it looks just like the 80's models. However, having seen the photos pasted earlier here on their original website sailing texas dot com, they advertise it as an '82. look at the front decal. it just says Dolphin. mine says "Dolphin Universal Plastics Productions, Huston Tx". like you said, in the 80's Midwest made the vessel, but in the 70's it was UPP. but it is reassuring to me that mine looks as good as one from the 80's. at least in the pictures.
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