Older Houseboat Hin Numbers
Houseboat HIN Numbers after November 1972
Houseboat HIN Numbers after August 1984
A sample of a pre-1972 HIN on some boats
I am buying a Crest 1973 10×35 houseboat. The title will be transferred from Missouri to Texas. Texas requires a photo or pencil “rubbing” of the VIN or HIN plate. I am in Texas, The boat is in Missouri. The seller of the boat cannot find this plate. Help !!!Thanks for any help, Paul
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What We Need From You To Better Assist With Your Order:
- A photo or sketch of the tag or plate you want made.
- The dimensions: . x .. of the plate or sticker to be made.
- If it needs mounting holes or is a sticker with a permanent adhesive backing.
- If it has a Logo, or other graphics to be printed.
NOTE: Each State has different requirements on HIN plates, U.S.C.G. Capacity plates, or Serial/Model plate replacement and it is the customers responsibility to determine their State regulations to determine if it meets the States approval for use.
If you have any questions on the ordering process, please give us a call on our Toll Free number: 1-866-579-9096.
Exemptions From Hin Requirements
- Any commercial vessel or a regulated Australian vessel.
- A vessel regulated under the Navigation Act 2012 of the Commonwealth.
- A vessel registered to a beneficiary of a will, or to the estate of the late owner or within a family following the death of the registered controller.
- An expired registration when there is no change of ownership and renewal fee is paid.
- White water rafts.
- Dumb barges and lighters where an engine is not attached.
- Hire and Drive vessels .
- Vessels in chains .
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Boat Code Fees Charged By The Agent
| Description | Fee |
|---|---|
| Maximum fee to be charged by Boat Code agent for affixing a HIN to a vessel at the Boat Code agent’s premises* | $100 |
| Maximum fee to be charged by Boat Code agent for inspecting and validating a HIN on a vessel at the Boat Code agent’s premises* | $70 |
* These fees may need to be paid to the Boat Code agent in advance. Boat Code agents may charge additional fees to cover travel and accommodation costs when a HIN is affixed, or inspected and validated, at a location other than the Boat Code agent’s normal premises. Such fees are to be negotiated between the applicant and the agent.
How To Find Out Who Is On A Title For A Boat
Step 1
Check the boats registration. Look on either side of the bow for a registration sticker. This will tell you if the boat is documented with the Coast Guard or if it is registered with the state. The sticker is usually a small square or rectangle.
Step 2
Write down the boats identifying information. Write down any information on the boats registration sticker. Find the hull identification number . Write down the name and port of hail of the boat. This is usually located on the stern, too.
Step 3
Enter the boat into the Coast Guard-documented database. However, if the boat is registered with a state, skip to this step and use the boat-alert.com database then contact the relevant state agency.
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How To Find The Boats Hin Number
Every water automobile has its HIN located in a visible place where it is easy to find.
In most cases, it is at the outside starboard side of the transom or on the uppermost starboard side at the aft end of the hull. Some vessels have the number also in the boat’s interior or under a piece of hardware.
Replacement Hin Tag Uscg Capacity Plates & Serial/model Plate Order Process
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Will The Owners Name Always Be Attached To A Boat
In almost all cases, yes. There may be a few unusual instances when a boat will not have the actual owner listed, but these are rare. Homemade boats, small human-powered craft like canoes and kayaks, and government-owned boats may not have a specific owner listed or have no documentation at all. On the other hand if a boat is homemade but is registered, then the HIN number will start with the XXZ, where xx are the state codes.
Where Can I Find The Hin On My Boat
The HIN must be located where it is clearly visible when the boat is in the water. You will find the HIN on the outside starboard side of the transom. If your boat does not have a transom, the HIN will be on the uppermost starboard side at the aft end of the hull.
Other requirements:
- The characters must be at least 6mm in width and height
- The HIN cannot be altered, defaced or removed
You might also find a second HIN in the interior of the boat or under a trim or other piece of hardware.
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Where To Find And Display It
The HIN is attached to the hull on most boats.
In newer boats its put there permanently during manufacture.
It may be engraved in a plate permanently attached on or near the right side of the transom. This is so you can view it above the waterline.
In older boats, a Boatcode Agent can help you get an HIN. The agent can also get you an HIN Boatcode Certificate.
Sample plate showing Hull Identification Number . The HIN is attached to or moulded into the Hull
How To Identify Your Boat
Since November 1, 1972, federal law requires all boats, including inflatables like rafts, IKs and SUP boards, manufactured in, or imported into, the US to have a unique 12-character identifier called the Hull Identification Number . This is often referred to as the boat serial number or boat ID number. The number is usually found in the stern and can be engraved on a plate or stamped into the boat material.
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How To Decode The Hull Identification Number
The HIN 12-digits identification is used to explain the boat and the make it has. The first three characters found is the Manufactures Identification Code .
The codes are given to the manufacture of the boat or the person who is importing it. The coast guard is the one who appoints the numbers.
The digits 4-8 are the serial number assigned by the manufacturer. The last four digits are there to show the year that the vessel was built and the model. When you get a boat, this information is important as it will give you details of the boat.
How To Permanently Affix State Assigned Hull Identification Number To My Boat
State and Federal regulations require you to permanently affix this number in two places. The primary hull identification number in watercraft with transoms shall be affixed to the starboard outboard side within 2 inches of the top of transom, gunwale, or hull deck joint, whichever is lowest. On vessels without transoms or impractical to use transom, to the starboard outboard side of hull, aft, within one foot of the stern and within 2 inches of the top of the hull side, gunwale or hull deck joint, whichever is lowest. On catamarans and pontoon boats with replaceable hulls, affix the hull identification number to the aft crossbeam, within 1 foot of the starboard hull attachment. Do not alter existing Hull ID numbers newly assigned numbers by the Department should be attached above existing Hull ID number.
The duplicate hull identification number shall be affixed in an unexposed location on the interior of the vessel or beneath a fitting or item of hardware.
- Each hull identification number must be carved, burned, stamped, embossed, molded, bonded, or otherwise permanently affixed to the watercraft so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious.
- Use of a plate must be fastened so that removal would cause scarring or damage to surrounding hull area.
- Hull identification number characters must be no less than 1/4 inch in height and not attached to any removable part.
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What Is Hull Id Lookup
When buying a boat, getting the vessel report is not enough. It is paramount for you to do a HULL ID lookup. Most of the sites will require you to fill in the boat model, year, and HULL ID.
The information you fill in the HULl ID lookup site will be enough to determine if the ID is for the boat you have or not. In most sites, it will not be asked to pay to get this information.
Before a man buys a boat, it is critical for you to get this information to ensure that the boat you have bought is right for you.
Getting the information is a way of protecting your interest and ensuring that you are not scammed.
S To Find A Vessel Owner Using The Hull Id Number And A Boat History Lookup:
Step 1Copy the HIN from the upper right hand corner of the stern of the boat. You can also find the HIN on the boat registration certificate or bill of sale.
Step 2Go to a website that sells boat history reports. Examples are boatfax.com and Boat-Alert.com. Read the disclaimers since owner names are not guaranteed.
Step 3Enter the HIN in the space provided and follow instructions to proceed. You may be asked to select additional reports or pricing options. If you enter a valid HIN into the search, you get basic information on the boat for free, but not the name of the owner. Prices vary.
Follow instructions to enter your credit card information to pay for the report. You should downloaded it instantly and it should show registered owners..
Q) Which States are covered in the Boat Alert Owner Search Search?
This tool is NOT the same thing as the full Boat Alert History report. It only searches for owner names and addresses and is meant for companies wanting to search multiple boats on a monthly basis. Consumers looking at just one or a few boats should run the regular Boat Alert History Report purchased on our home page as it will check all database for hidden problems.
Not all states and federal databases will disclose owner name information due to privacy laws. The owner search subscription covers only the following:
- owner name + address
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How Do You Find The Owner Of A Boat
If the boat is at a marina, you can ask the patrons or employees, and chances are someone will know to whom the boat belongs. For boats at private docks, never approach the property owner from the water unless there has been an accident or other emergency.
If you find a lost boat, there has been property damage, or you suspect a boat is stolen it is best to alert the authorities. You can also check the NICB database using the HIN.
How To Get A Hin
People wanting to obtain or verify a HIN will need to contact a WA Department of Transport-approved agent, known a BoatCode Provider . BoatCode Providers are located throughout the State and can:
- verify a HIN on a new vessel
- attach or verify a HIN before a vessel is sold
- attach or verify a HIN before ownership of a vessel is transferred
A full list of BoatCode Providers is available from the WA DoT’s website or by telephoning 13 11 56. Payment of a fee is required to register a HIN.
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What Is A Hull Identification Number
The Hull Identification Number is a serial number assigned by the manufacturer that uniquely identifies a boat, similar to the VIN on an automobile. Hull ID numbers distinguish one vessel from another and help prevent theft. Vessels build on or after November 1, 1972 should have a unique 12-character HIN and should meet one of the approved US Coast Guard formats. Vessels built before November 1, 1972 may have a non-standardized Hull ID format.
The HIN is found on a metal or plastic plate, typically on the transom of the boat, usually on the right starboard side of the transom within two inches of the top of transom, gunwale or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest. On vessels without transoms or impractical to use transoms, the HIN is usually affixed to the starboard outboard side of hull, aft, within one foot of the stern and within two inches of the top of the hull side, gunwale or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest. On catamarans and pontoon boats with replaceable hulls, the HIN is usually affixed to the aft crossbeam, within one foot of the starboard hull attachment.
How To Read The Hull Registration Number
Here is how to read the hull registration number especially if your concern is to know the age of the vessel. Part of the HIN comprises the month in which construction commenced and the year in the last two bits. The first part of this pair has characters that denote month as coded accordingly by Transport Canada Marine Safety. The months are assigned alphabetical characters running from A for January to L for December. In the example above, for instance, CA-ABC1AB11F020 would indicate that the vessel construction commenced in June model year 2020 .
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First What Are The Ways To Identify A Specific Boat
The initial step in identifying the owner is to identify the boat. Boats have many identifying features including registration numbers, names, and hull identification numbers . The most visible feature will be the name or registration number. We have an article that discusses all you wanted to know about Hull ID Numbers.
Documented vessels, normally found on navigable waters like oceans, large rivers, or the Great Lakes, are usually larger and are federally registered. For those, you would want the USCG official number as well as the Hull ID Number.
They are identified at a distance by their name, which will be on the stern in at least 4-inch block letters. Most will have the name on either side of the bow above the waterline as well, although this is not required for recreational vessels.
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Smugglers often use stolen boats and, in the U.S., you never know if someone is armed. If you want to find the owner yourself, then you can try an online search of the HIN. You can also try the state office responsible for issuing registration numbers, but they are unlikely to give out personal contact information.
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Where Do I Look For The Hull Identification Number
The hull identification number on all boats built after November 1, 1972 is permanently affixed to the rear of the transom usually on the upper right corner. It is required by federal law and must appear on the registration application.
The HIN consists of 12 letters and numerals at least one-quarter inch tall that indicate the manufacturer, hull serial numbers and/or letters, and model year and/or month.
HULL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FORMATS FOR BOATS AFTER AUGUST 1,1984
Key to Month of Production of Hull Identification Format
Tips For Finding A Boat Owner By Hull #
- Ask the marina owner and neighboring boat owners if they know who owns the boat. If they do not know, perhaps they can pass along a message for you.
- Post a notice at the site where the boat is located, stating that you are searching for the owner of a specific boat. In addition to your contact information, you may wish to include a picture of the boat.
- Use Facebook lost and found groups
- Enter the name of the boat into an Internet search engine like Google to see if there is a website that mentions the boat and its owner. This is a good way to track an owner of a boat that is linked to a business with its own website.
- Post an ad with a picture of the boat in the local newspaper or on a website with a Lost and Found section.
- Visit the Vessel Registration of your State or province
- Contact the secretary of state
Since states require the HIN to appear on registration certificates, you can find the boats owner by purchasing a boat history report online and paying with a credit card. Not all States will disclose this information so it is not guaranteed in the Boat Alert report.
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Boat History Report gives our customers peace of mind when purchasing used boats from us and helps us retain higher profit margins than our competitors who dont utilize Boat History Report. It has been a priceless tool for the entire boating industry in ensuring that the pre-owned boats we buy or take in have no hidden pasts.-Jani Gyllenberg
Our industry’s reputation for transparency and access to accurate information is behind the times. BoatHistoryReport.com provides consumers with exactly that, which is why I use them and think products like this will strengthen our industry.-Bob Denison
