Hey Mike,
Was just wondering if we could/should start some kind of registry. Is there any info available anywhere that we could track our hull I.D. numbers. Maybe this isn't a good idea? would be kind of cool to see where the numbers fall inline as to build dates options and such.
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We'll see what Mike has to say about this. What kind of information would be included on this registry?:
Jim Bova
Owner, NerdyiT LLC
The problem with a Blackfin official registry, similar to what Bertram, Hatteras and Chris Craft (old CC) have, is that no one has the builder's information - Bertram and Hatteras are still around, so they have all their build materials and such, and with Chris-Craft, when they were sold to Murray in early 1981, the company donated their entire archives that dated from the 1922 to 12/31/1980, which included hull build sheets for every boat (119,000+), photos, plans, brochures, manuals, engineering and lots more to the Mariner's Museum in Norfolk, VA.
So other than collecting information from us, current owners, it won't amount to much?
1992 32' Combi - 3116 CAT's
Man thats a shame. Thought maybe someone had the info buried somewhere. I actually got the original purchase order for mine but thats senseless without factory info. Yes I was thinking hull I.D. Build date would be cool too if known. Actually people brighter than me have probably thought of this before...should have guessed there was a logical reason it hasn't happened.
All boats manufactured or imported on or after November 1, 1972 must bear a HIN. The HIN is a 12 character serial number that uniquely identifies your boat. The HIN has an important safety purpose. It enables manufacturers to clearly identify for boat owners the boats that are involved in a defect notification and recall campaign. A HIN is not the same as a State registration number, which may be required to be displayed on the bow of your boat. The HIN is a Federal requirement; your boat’s registration number is a State requirement similar to the license plate on your car. The HIN, however, is required to be shown on the State certificate of registration.
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
B
C
D
E
F
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
H
I
J
K
L
*Key to Month of Model Year
Figure 1 - HIN Formats Before August 1, 1984
The boat manufacturer must display two identical hull identification numbers, no less than one-fourth of an inch high, on each boat hull. 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. 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 starboard outboard side of the hull aft is the preferred HIN location for many manufacturers. On catamarans and pontoon boats the HIN must be affixed on the aft crossbeam within one foot of the starboard hull attachment.
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
B
C
D
E
F
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
H
I
J
K
L
Figure 2 - HIN Format After August 1, 1984
Boats 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 purpose is to help authorities identify your boat if a thief or vandals remove or damage the primary HIN on the transom. 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. Coast Guard.
The regulations prescribe the format of the HIN. 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. Prior to August 1, 1984, the manufacturer had the option of expressing this in the form of a model year designation.
The Coast Guard maintains a searchable database of MICs if you want to check yours out - click here.
1995 38' Convertible
6v92 DDEC'c 565hp
All of the Blackfin Yachts built boats use the HID in this basic format (my HID example is for a 1996 33, hull number 205, built in Nov 1995): KMA33205K696 - which is the 3 digit manufacturer's code "KMA" (Blackfin began as Karanda Marine, Inc. and retained that 3-digit "KMA" code as it followed through both Cary and Blackfin) followed by the two digit size code "33" (obviously it could be 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 36, 38 or 40), followed by the sequential production hull number for that size "205" (which starts with 001 for Blackfin), then the two digit month & year of "build" "K95" (which is usually when it is finished, but its primary purpose is to establish a build date for compliance with federal regulations (manufacturers are entitled to +/- 30 days on that, which creates a 90 day window as to when the boat was actaully completed)) and lastly the two digit model year "96" which is short for 1996.
Other than knowing where you boat falls in the production run compared to others, it doesn't really say anything.
1992 32' Combi - 3116 CAT's
SeaSon Ticket, What would the years be for figures 1, 2, & 3? Are they always delimited with spaces, like the ones in your post, or are the characters all run together like the one posted by LIsl32?
Jim Bova
Owner, NerdyiT LLC
They are usually all together like the VIN # on your car
1972
1973
& 1993
Admin, here is mine...
KMA38051k495
KMA Karanda Marine
38 length 38
051 hull number 51
K4 Build date K=November 4=1994
95 Model Year 1995
1995 38' Convertible
6v92 DDEC'c 565hp
Ah, I meant the months. In figure 2, what do the E and M stand for surrounding the year?
It seems as if the letter to month translation after Aug 1, 1984 are as follows:
a=jan
b=feb
c=mar
d=apr
e=may
f=jun
g=jul
h=aug
i=sep
j=oct
k=nov
l=dec
Is it correct that prior to Aug 1984, the date translation are as follows:
a=aug
b=sep
c=oct
d=nov
e=dec
f=jan
g=feb
h=mar
i=apr
j=may
k=jun
l=jul
If so, what does the "m" stand for in figure 2 prior to the year?
Jim Bova
Owner, NerdyiT LLC
If i understand this correctly....: "Prior to August 1, 1984, the manufacturer had the option of expressing this in the form of a model year designation." ... It would be for the Model year designation.
Boats built prior to 1976 have a slightly different system, specifically the last four digits. The "M" is not used, nor is a letter for the month.(MORE LIKE A SPACER LETTER) Rather, the month and year are designated with normal calendar numbers M73E December of 1973
1995 38' Convertible
6v92 DDEC'c 565hp
I don't understand why we would have this, only 20 votes on the Blackfin size poll.. What will we have 4 registers

..38 under construction.....Getting better
http://www.blackfinforums.net/content/re-doing-my-salon-lay-out-38
http://www.blackfinforums.net/content/38-blackfin-re-power
http://www.blackfinforums.net/content/38-blackfin-refurb-thread
It might get guys more fired up about posting in the polls....you know something like Blackfin 29 ..hull number blah blah umpty squat.
Can also be valuable for tracking issues.....was just a thought. You know kinda like the Porsche car guys....Kinda fun to compare when your boat was built and who has a boat close in numbers to yours and where its at...What do you expect from an old retired machinist. Season and Isle32 allready shared a ton of how to figure the dates out which is pretty cool.
No doubt it might be real nice for people to track there boats history??? I think some might be thinking we are asking for to much personal info though, I as well as allot of others and also you believe that this our family?? I will try to figure something out, I will pow wow with LI32 and Season about it, you will have to wait for season to get out of his tree stand though????!!!!
..38 under construction.....Getting better
http://www.blackfinforums.net/content/re-doing-my-salon-lay-out-38
http://www.blackfinforums.net/content/38-blackfin-re-power
http://www.blackfinforums.net/content/38-blackfin-refurb-thread
Most of this info is already available to the general public, at least on documented boats:
http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html
1995 38' Convertible
6v92 DDEC'c 565hp
Joe,
I was just looking at this thread again and noticed that you have hull 38051 and I have 38052. I wonder if the Combis were designated the same way or if there was something to distinguish them?
John
The answer is no - whether Combi or Flybridge, the hull numbers were sequential, so 33076 could be a 33 FB and 33077 could be a 33 Combi.
1992 32' Combi - 3116 CAT's
Thanks, I was wondering about that.
John
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