Serial Number

[Paul]

Just out of curiosity, I was wondering if the serial number of each of our boats was coded.  I think the last two digits are the year made, but what about the rest?

For instance, mine is ABV0266OK889 16.  What do ya think?

[mgoller]

Paul,
There's the consecutive number after the ABV, (so yours is the 2660 compac 16 made), then K which is the month, then 8-89 which is the day and year of make, then 16 which is the model length.

[Craig Weis]

On 19-March-2002 skip wrote the following...

My boat Comfort and Joy serial number can be interpreted by...

Hutchins Boat Building Company hull 588 sept, o6, 1996


H U T C 0 0 5 8 8 B 6 9 6?  ? is...

ABV=MFG=HUTC=HUTCHINS BOAT MFG [Early # and 16's usually don't display HUTC, but rather ABV]

00588=HULL # 588 [a C-P 19 XL, XL= a fiberglass inside cabin surround, not wood].

B696=Sept, 06, 1996=Date of MFG

A=Aug, B=Sept, C=Oct, D=Nov, E=Dec, F=Jan= G=Feb, H=March, I=April ,J=May, K=June, L=July

so, ABV02660K889 16= HUTC-Hull #2660, June, 08, 1989, a C-P 16 footer. I think.

That's it. skip

[Paul]

Thanks for the replies.  Makes sense.  I double checked the "O" before the "K" which looks like the letter, not the number.  So, she must be hull number 266.  Maybe the "O" describes the fit out.  She has carpet and teak vanear inside.

Shucks, I missed her birthday:)

[Craig Weis]

Could it be that 2660 Com-Pac 16 hulls were built?
I don't hink so but I really don't know. skip

[mgoller]

Yes, it is hull No. 2660.  Over three thousand CP16's were built.  That's why I'm interested in a Com-Pac registry.  I am curious how many are still being enjoyed.

[Paul]

Reasonable statements indeed.  I agree a registry would be a good thing.  I have heard over 3000 were built.  However,  they may not necessarily be listed in numerical number if the ABV or other codes were used.  It certainly stands to reason that more than 266 were made 1975 and 1989.  At the same time, it seems more than 400 more would have been made since 1989.  So, who know, but the Hutchins Folks themselves?

Yeah, how many are on the local lakes, rivers, and seas vs landlocked in someone's yard or driveway?  Or worse (hate to think).  I recently read the worse thing you can do to a boat is not use it for it's intended purpose.  What a shame.  Likewise, boats are happiest when used and cared for.

Having said that, I must confess s/v Little Wing has mixed emotions.  She's under the carport for at least another month going through some physical therapy/spa treatments.  She uses the summer (July and August) to relax and have downtime for such experiences.  At the same time, she's looking forward to September, when she can wet her keel again.

[hazelscamp]

Now that I have found someone willing to decode.......
I have an Eclipse with a # ABV 18 004 C404 
I get ABV as manufacturer..........C404 as Oct 4, 2004 but what is in between?
My boat should'nt have been a high hull number so I expect the 004 is the hull number and the 18 is for    an 18 foot lwl?   Com-Pac model number?

Do I have to call Com-Pac or is there an easy answer?

[Craig Weis]

Concerning this Eclipse, I would think that a best guess is

One 18 foot Eclipse,
hull number 4
built by Hutchins
04-October-2004

As the Com-Pac Eclipse 18 foot replaced the Com-Pac 19 in the company's line-up this about as close to accurate as it gets. Note that both boats are actually a wee bit longer then the model/footage stated. skip.

[yknot]

I haven't seen anyone yet in this thread that has a serial number that ends in a letter. 

My S.N. on my 1980 CP 16 is (I registered it earlier on the other thread):

ABV01247M80K

Can't figure out what the code is, any help would appreciated.

Rob

[Paul]

Rob, that's a good question.  I haven't noticed any #'s ending in a letter.  Maybe, check the registry section of the forum and check out the #'s in the list.

Paul

[yknot]

From another posting elsewhere in this forum, I was given great info (text is below).  It shows the origin of the Hull ID, as well as some additional explanation.  With my own hull id: ABV 01247 M80K, I came to the conclusion that the last letter (K) must be the production month seeing that M is not one of the months.

Thanks for your input!

Rob

Original thread (location:  http://com-pacowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=866.15 ):
---------------------------------------------------
I found some interesting information on Hull Identification Numbers it seems to explain the disparatity between some of the boats numbers. It can be found at :

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.html

In part, it says there are two sets of ID requirements for manufacturers, one assigned between 1972 and 1984; and another that became the norm after Aug 1984.
---------------------------------------------------

[bimmerhead]

So I have a question, my '77 CP-16 has only 11 charectors in the HIN, I've heard of some instances where some states would not issue title and registration due to the error, so they were parted out... Seems like the Huchins' boys were lacking some QC in '77..

I love my boat, but don't want to get caught up in any gooffiness when I want to sell her or trade up...

Thanks

[Subsailor637]

Heres the whole (confusing) skinny on HIN (serial) numbers:  To read your boat's birth certificate, you have to be able to decipher the format of those 12 characters on the stern. There have been several formats for the HIN over the years, and it's probable that new formats will emerge in the future. From its inception on November 1, 1972, the HIN was designated by one of two formats. The manufacturer had a choice of using either the model-year format or the straight-year format, both of which identified the month and year of production.

• Characters 1, 2, and 3 of the HIN are the Manufacturer's Identification Code, and are assigned by the federal government.

• Characters 4 through 8 are the alpha-numeric serial number, which is assigned at the discretion of the manufacturer (I, O, or Q cannot be used in this serial number).

• In the model-year format, the 9th character will always be M, indicating the manufacturer is using the model year format. Then characters 10 and 11 indicate the year, and character 12 is a letter indicating a month, starting with August. Thus, if characters 9 through 12 of the HIN were "M80B," the boat was built in September of 1980. Why the lettering of the months in the model year system began with August is incomprehensible. Optional, as of January 1, 1984, was a new-format version, simply called new format. This format became mandatory August 1, 1984, replacing the two previous formats.

• In the new format, characters 1, 2, and 3 of the HIN are still the Manufacturer's Identification Code. Sometimes the letters of this manufacturer's code easily identify the manufacturer. In other cases they bear no relationship to the manufacturer's name.

• Characters 4 through 8 are still the alpha-numeric serial number assigned at the discretion of the manufacturer. Some of these manufacturer-assigned characters are laid out very logically, and some defy logic. On a 37-footer, which is hull #51, the number might be 37051; but it also might be a set of characters that only makes sense to the builder.

• Character 9 indicates the month of manufacture or certification. A designates January, B February, and so on through December (a big improvement over the original lettering system that started in August).

• Character 10 is a numeral that indicates the last digit of the year of manufacture or certification.

• Characters 11 and 12 indicate the model year. Thus, 82 would indicate the boat's model year was 1982.

• Some manufacturers also add additional information after the HIN, such as -27, which might indicate that this is their 27-foot model.

After August 1, l984, boat manufacturers were required to display two identical Hull Identification Numbers, one on the outside starboard side of the transom, within two inches of the top of the transom, gunwale, or hull-to-deck joint, whichever is lowest. On boats where this is impossible, such as double-enders, the HIN must be on the starboard side of the hull, within one foot of the stern and within two inches from the top of the hull, gunwale, or deck joint.

The second HIN must be inside the hull in an unexposed location or beneath a fitting or item of hardware.

The HIN characters, both inside and outside the hull, must be no smaller than ¼-inch high, but many manufacturers make them much larger. It is illegal for anyone to alter or remove one of these numbers without written permission of the Commandant of the Coast Guard.



• In the numerical straight-year format, characters 9 through 12 are simply the month and year of production. Thus, 0879 would indicate August 1979.

Optional, as of January 1, 1984, was a new-format version, simply called new format. This format became mandatory August 1, 1984, replacing the two previous formats.

• In the new format, characters 1, 2, and 3 of the HIN are still the Manufacturer's Identification Code. Sometimes the letters of this manufacturer's code easily identify the manufacturer. In other cases they bear no relationship to the manufacturer's name.

• Characters 4 through 8 are still the alpha-numeric serial number assigned at the discretion of the manufacturer. Some of these manufacturer-assigned characters are laid out very logically, and some defy logic. On a 37-footer, which is hull #51, the number might be 37051; but it also might be a set of characters that only makes sense to the builder.

• Character 9 indicates the month of manufacture or certification. A designates January, B February, and so on through December (a big improvement over the original lettering system that started in August).

• Character 10 is a numeral that indicates the last digit of the year of manufacture or certification.

• Characters 11 and 12 indicate the model year. Thus, 82 would indicate the boat's model year was 1982.

• Some manufacturers also add additional information after the HIN, such as -27, which might indicate that this is their 27-foot model.

After August 1, l984, boat manufacturers were required to display two identical Hull Identification Numbers, one on the outside starboard side of the transom, within two inches of the top of the transom, gunwale, or hull-to-deck joint, whichever is lowest. On boats where this is impossible, such as double-enders, the HIN must be on the starboard side of the hull, within one foot of the stern and within two inches from the top of the hull, gunwale, or deck joint.

The second HIN must be inside the hull in an unexposed location or beneath a fitting or item of hardware.

The HIN characters, both inside and outside the hull, must be no smaller than ¼-inch high, but many manufacturers make them much larger. It is illegal for anyone to alter or remove one of these numbers without written permission of the Commandant of the Coast Guard.