In 505 and 526 ... the coast guard shows them built a year earlier than the numbers indicate.
TSP00505M85A for example the CG says was made in 84. which since I bought it at the 84 Newport boat show was correct.
TSP00526C585 was officially considered a 86, but built in 85
By the formula in the other thread, 505 was built August 1984. However the format for 526 appears to be a third variation after the model year version. I first saw this on 515 Avita (TSP00515K485) from the Chesapeake fleet.
I figure the ninth character is the month (for 526, C=October) and digits 11-12 are the model year 85, indicating build date for 526 of October 1984.
I think the Newport boat show is usually in September. So if Vic ordered 526 it may have been built in October. However if Vic bought the boat he saw at the show it was obviously built earlier.
Another problem with this suggestion is I have no explanation for the 10th digit. It has been reported to be 4 for 515 and 518, 5 for a six boats between 523 and 532, and 6 for seven boats between 534 and 546.
