NautiusMaximus
New Member
Could anyone help a newbie out on identifying the model year of a Porpoise II? I need the year number to register it, but I'm stumped.
I recently bought a cheap Porpoise II so I'd have something I could rough up while learning and not feel bad about. However, I don't exactly know the model year. The boat was not registered by the previous owner, so there's no registration to reference. There is no HIN, so my understanding is the boat needs to be made before November 1972. I've found a few Google Books references to the manufacturer (Molded Products Co out of Michigan). I found two catalogues listing the Porpoise and Super Porpoise in January of '71 and January of '70 without the Porpoise II, so it must not have been on the market yet. The earliest catalogue reference I could find was 1974. Plus the trailer I got with the boat provides no clues. When I went to register it the tag office said it was made 1978 (homemade trailers aren't titled here, just given a serial plate and it wasn't registered by the previous owner). I found a a post on here with a picture showing what I assume is the HIN on a Porpoise II, but mine's got nothing there. The closest thing I have is the plate with "P 174" (serial number?) and "P 248" on the rudder's metal assembly.
So does anyone know the production years of the Porpoise II? Mine's got to be pre-72 (or someone screwed up with the HIN) but it doesn't look like they were available before early 71. The company appears to be out of business and I couldn't find them in the Coastguard manufacturers list with any combination or name/city in Michigan.
I've attached some photos of the boat. I believe it's all original except the darker green paint and drain plug. The original color I can see under a few flakes seems to match the sail. Also, the mast doesn't have a cleat and has a block near the top instead of a fairlead on top of the mast (so it doesn't quite match my limited knowledge of rigging a Sunfish). So please pardon the ugly rope work, I just wanted the sail to stay still for the pictures.
I recently bought a cheap Porpoise II so I'd have something I could rough up while learning and not feel bad about. However, I don't exactly know the model year. The boat was not registered by the previous owner, so there's no registration to reference. There is no HIN, so my understanding is the boat needs to be made before November 1972. I've found a few Google Books references to the manufacturer (Molded Products Co out of Michigan). I found two catalogues listing the Porpoise and Super Porpoise in January of '71 and January of '70 without the Porpoise II, so it must not have been on the market yet. The earliest catalogue reference I could find was 1974. Plus the trailer I got with the boat provides no clues. When I went to register it the tag office said it was made 1978 (homemade trailers aren't titled here, just given a serial plate and it wasn't registered by the previous owner). I found a a post on here with a picture showing what I assume is the HIN on a Porpoise II, but mine's got nothing there. The closest thing I have is the plate with "P 174" (serial number?) and "P 248" on the rudder's metal assembly.
So does anyone know the production years of the Porpoise II? Mine's got to be pre-72 (or someone screwed up with the HIN) but it doesn't look like they were available before early 71. The company appears to be out of business and I couldn't find them in the Coastguard manufacturers list with any combination or name/city in Michigan.
I've attached some photos of the boat. I believe it's all original except the darker green paint and drain plug. The original color I can see under a few flakes seems to match the sail. Also, the mast doesn't have a cleat and has a block near the top instead of a fairlead on top of the mast (so it doesn't quite match my limited knowledge of rigging a Sunfish). So please pardon the ugly rope work, I just wanted the sail to stay still for the pictures.
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