#Old town canoe serial number lookup registration
#Old town canoe serial number lookup code
#Old town canoe serial number lookup series

Leaks are easiest to identify with some pressure in the boat, so make sure you not only test paddle an aluminum canoe but bring along some gear. Doug Chapman from Canadian Quetico Outfitters says having a good look at the number of dents on the canoe can give you a general idea if it has been well taken care of. You get what you see with aluminum canoes. Their weight makes them challenging to portage. They are often on the less expensive side and a good fit for casual day trips on flatwater or as a boat to have at the cottage. First produced after World War II by the Grumman Aircraft Company, aluminum canoes are very durable, but also heavy, noisy and downright frigid on cold days.

#Old town canoe serial number lookup code

The Manufacturer Identification Code at the beginning of the HIN for a “home built” boat is an abbreviation for the State followed by a “Z” which indicates that it is a State identification.Compared to wooden canoes, aluminum canoes are extremely low maintenance. Individuals building boats for their own use and not for the purposes of sale are what are referred to as “backyard boat builders.” They must obtain a 12 character Hull ID Number from their State boating agency. The Coast Guard maintains a searchable database of MICs if you want to perform a boat hull ID lookup. Prior to August 1, 1984, the manufacturer had the option of expressing this in the form of a model year designation. The first three characters are a MIC (Manufacturer Identification Code) assigned by the Coast Guard to the manufacturer or the person importing the boat characters four through eight are a serial number assigned by the manufacturer the last four characters indicate the month and year the boat was built, and the model year. The regulations prescribe the format of the HIN. It is illegal for anyone (manufacturer, dealer, distributor, or owner) to alter or remove a HIN without the express written authorization of the Commandant, U.S. The purpose is to help authorities identify your boat with a HIN decoder if a thief or vandals remove or damage the primary HIN boat serial number on the transom. On catamarans and pontoon boats the HIN must be affixed on the aft crossbeam within one foot of the starboard hull attachment.įigure 2 – HIN Format After August 1, 1984īoats manufactured or imported on or after August 1, 1984, also have a duplicate secondary HIN affixed somewhere on an unexposed location inside the boat or beneath a fitting or item of hardware. The starboard outboard side of the hull aft is the preferred HIN location for many manufacturers. On boats without transoms or on boats on which it would be impractical to the transom, the HIN must be affixed to the starboard outboard side of the hull, aft within one foot of the stern and within two inches of the top of hull side, gunwale, or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest. The primary HIN must be permanently affixed (so that it can be seen from outside the boat) to the starboard side of the transom within two inches of the top of the transom, gunwale, or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest.

The boat manufacturer must display two identical hull identification numbers, no less than one-fourth of an inch high, on each boat hull. Understanding A Boat Serial Number:įigure 1 – HIN Formats Before August 1, 1984 The HIN, however, is required to be shown on the State certificate of registration.

#Old town canoe serial number lookup registration

The HIN is a Federal requirement your boat’s registration number is a State requirement similar to the license plate on your car. A HIN hull number is not the same as a State registration number, which may be required to be displayed on the bow of your boat. It enables manufacturers to clearly identify for boat owners the boats that are involved in a defect notification and recall campaign. What Are Hull Identification Numbers Useful For? Think of these boat identification numbers like your car’s VIN. The HIN is a 12 character serial number that uniquely identifies your boat. But, what does a Hull Identification Number mean?Īll boats manufactured or imported on or after Novemmust bear a HIN boat hull number.

Well, if you have taken the Nautical Know How course you know they are Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) and that they are required.

#Old town canoe serial number lookup series

Hull ID Numbers Play The Numbers Game: (What Is A HIN?)ĭid you ever wonder what that strange series of letters and numbers on the transom of your boat are.