You can tell by the VIN. It's a bit confusing, (I've heard several conflicting descriptions) but as near as I can figure:
Here is a sample VIN number for you:
CTYXHHHHDYMM
CTY = Catalina
X = Design (I don't know the codes)
H = Hull Number
D = Date (month) of certification (it's a letter: Jan=A, Feb=B, etc.)
Y = Last digit of the year of production
MM = Model Year
As you can see, the month and year are at the end.
It's interesting that the number of Y tells when the boat was built. On my boat, for example the last digits are F304. It's a 2004 model - but built in June of 03
Well, that's all I got for you. Here are some of the sites I used:
Here's from the C34 website:
http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-hin.html
MMMhhhhhddyy
MMM = Manufacturer’s Identification Code
hhhhh = Hull Serial Number
dd = Date of Certification
For example "A4": The "A" stands for January, the "B" would stand for February, etc. The "4" stands for the last digit of the year of manufacture.
yy = Model Year
Reference: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Skills & Seamanship, 11th Edition, pages 2-2 and 2-3.
As you can see, the month and year are at the end.
Here's from Joe on Catalina Owners.com:
When you find the number... on a plate under the backstay or etched into the hull.. here is an excerpt from
http://www.catalina27.org/ that tells you how to decipher it. ------------------------------------------------------------ How to Read the Hull ID Number There appears to be four numbering schemes in use. Dates for the transition from one scheme to the next might be off plus or minus a year, but I believe it looks something like this: 1971 - 1973, No HIN, just a metal plate at the transom (inside cockpit) 1973 - 1975, No letters for month built (e.g. CTYL16231074) 1975 - 1984, a mysterious "M" is a part of all HIN's (e.g.CTYH9353M80C) 1984 - present, Year built represented with a number (e.g. CTYH5390F697) Model Year. For the boating industry, the new model year starts in August. Since 1975, the Month Built information has been represented with a letter. In 1984 the lettering scheme was changed to make "A" represent the month of January. Here's a look at the two schemes: 1975 - 1984 Jan = F Feb = G Mar = H Apr = I May = J Jun = K Jul = L Aug = A Sep = B Oct = C Nov = D Dec = E 1984 - present Jan = A Feb = B Mar = C Apr = D May = E Jun = F Jul = G Aug = H Sep = I Oct = J Nov = K Dec = L The Model Year scheme in use between 1975 and 1984 derived the Year Built information from the Model Year and from the Month Built. For example, a boat whose last three letters of the HIN were 82A would actually be a 1982 model year Catalina 27 built in August of 1981. Here's three HIN's decoded: CTYL06121172 A Catalina 27 built in 1972. Sail number 0612. CTY = Manufacturer’s Identification Code (Catalina Yachts) L = Model (Catalina 27) 0612 = Hull Serial Number 11 = Month Built? 72 = Year Built CTYL4327M79J A 1979 model year Catalina 27. Built in October 1979. Sail number 4327. CTY = Manufacturer’s Identification Code (Catalina Yachts) L = Model (Catalina 27) 4327 = Hull Serial Number M = ??? 79 = Model Year (1979). August is the start of a new model year. C = Month Built (October). A=August, B=September, and so on. CTYB0184H495 A 1995 model year Catalina 270. Built in August 1994. Sail number 0184. CTY = Manufacturer’s Identification Code (Catalina Yachts) B = Model (Catalina 270) 0184 = Hull Serial Number H = Month Built (August). A=January, B=February, and so on. 4 = Year Built (1994). Last digit of the year of manufacture. 95 = Model Year (1995). August is the start of a new model year.
