Thanks for the extra input, Randy, I was struggling to remember the details. I'll add a few more comments to yours.
Some where in the mid 80's, (maybe 84?) the hull stripe was added. I am not sure about the water line stripe. I have seen 17's of both vintages with and without the water line strip.
Just as an example, my new-style 1981 was all one color (a creamy white), no sheer or boot stripe.
I asked Jerry Montgomery about the cockpit locker on the 4 berth model. I have seen 17's with them both open to the interior and enclosed. He said that both the port and starboard lockers where enclosed from the factory on the 4 berth model, with the starboard locker being shallower than the port. I have yet to see a used 4 berth model that doesn't have one locker or the other cut out.
Ah, that jogs my memory - mine had neither locker cut out, and yes, it did have one that was quite shallow and one a bit deeper (shallow one around 6" deep; deep one probably closer to 14"). Cutting one out was right up there on my list of projects, although I sold the boat to go cruising with a friend before I got to that point.
Another small point I have noticed is that the older 17's have what looks like a section of Mast as the compression post. On the newer 17's (not sure about when the change occured) the compression post looks to be chrome bar.
Again, for reference, my 1981, hull #331, had a section of mast used as the compression post. --- Rachel