Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19980709144929.007be3e0@mail.itis.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Jul 1998 14:49:29 -0500
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
From: Dan Miller <5lakes@itis.com>
Subject: Re: [baidarka] Hull ID numbers for US Coast Guard
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SV4.3.91.980709144755.13028S-100000@baidarka>
>I haven't given this issue much thought (and no research), but I do
>have one question that I'd like to ask of everyone, and it is this:
>Has anyone had a kayak impounded by USCG for not having a hull number?
>(..I know of someone who knows of someone's cousin who had it happen to
>them... doesn't count)
>
>Karl Schlenker
Nope, but I did call the Coast Guard today to try to find something out.
The basic upshot of the conversation was that if you are selling the boat
to the public, then you need to assign the HIN. Basically this involves
filling out paperwork and mailing a fee, and the USCG assigns a three letter
prefix, which allows them to trace the manufacturer in the future.
I asked "what if it is for personal use - not for sale?" She replied that
one would then register with the state. So I asked what about a state that
doesn't require canoe/kayak registration, like Wisconsin. At this point she
got flustered, said she was only the Office Manager, and would I like to speak
to a Boat Engineer. I said maybe another time, figuring I'd wait for the
forms to arrive and see what they say.
Let's not confuse HIN (aka serial number) with registration numbers (the 3"
alphanumerics you see on the sides of powerboats et al.).
The number is 202-267-0984, should anyone want to pursue it further.
Cheers,
Dan
--- Daniel Miller - 5lakes@itis.com Five Lakes Wooden Boat Center http://www.paddlin.com/fivelakes/canoe.htm "So many boats, so little time..."