Is telling all really important?

[Kermit]

Seems like most folks here post their hull number when describing their boat. I have no idea what hull number I have and don’t particularly see the importance of knowing other hull numbers. But obviously it’s important to most. Is it important to post hull numbers?

P.S. This is NOT a dig on those who post their hull number. It’s an honest question.

 

[dlochner]

The Hull number is part of the identity of the boat. Unlike the boat's name, the hull number remains the same. It is also helpful when sharing ideas about different boats of the same model line. Often small changes are made through the course of a boat's build. Higher number hull numbers may have features or modifications that lower number hulls don't have. For example, on Sabre 362s lower hull numbers, like mine, have an impossible to access area beneath the propane locker, later models have a hatch that allows access.

The hull number is based on the HIN. My HIN is HWS36113E393. The HWS is the builder, Sabre, the 36 is the model, 113 is the hull number. Meaning it was the 113th 36 foot hull built by Sabre. At hull 107 Sabre made significant changes to the hull and interior and renamed the model to 362, however, because it was still 36' hull, they continued the hull numbers.

Another example, a few years ago I found the first boat I owned, a Tanzer 22 #2245 in my marina. It was on its 3rd or 4th owner and the name had changed several times. Because I knew the hull number, I new it was my old boat. Sort of like a family reunion.

 

[PotomacDaysailer]

I also don't know the hull number on my current boat. My last one had a prominent plaque with the number so I did know it and I thought it was kind of cool, it just sort of "personalized" the boat to me if you will - a pride of ownership thing I guess. Not important to anyone but me of course.

 

[Roadking Larry]

Maybe kind of depends on the boat. With production boats that number in the thousands it can come to things like "after hull # XXX the factory changed to a new hardware" kind of thing. Lots of info in the HIN as mentioned above.
With low production numbers it can be sort of interesting. My Allied Seawind II had a production run of 130 boats. Mine is #65.

 

[dlochner]

I also don't know the hull number on my current boat. My last one had a prominent plaque with the number so I did know it and I thought it was kind of cool, it just sort of "personalized" the boat to me if you will - a pride of ownership thing I guess. Not important to anyone but me of course.

Look at the upper starboard corner of the transom. The Hull Identification Number should be there. To decode the number look here: http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.htm To identify the manufacturer's look here: http://www.uscgboating.org/content/manufacturers-identification.php

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Except for boats built before 1972, when the HIN was begun. My 1961 Meridian had a nice plate on the main sheet track support- hull # 10, until it was stolen.

Looked like this, from a later boat

 

[Kermit]

I understand how hull numbers work. Mine is in bold numbers on the sail. I just don’t see the significance in displaying it unless I were racing. And I don’t. Another sailor in our club has the hull number proudly displayed on a bulkhead in the cabin for all to see. As far as being personalized, well, I display the name proudly on both sides.

Oh, another club member has Flying Scot hull #2. I guess that is kinda cool. His last name is Weaver. His boat name is Dream Weaver 2.

Thanks for the replies, y’all.

 

[Kermit]

I found a picture of us under sail. We have hull #774. Cool beans!

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Hull number are important in trouble shooting some problems. Manufacturers make changes all the time in response to their supply chain. Like changing from M25 to M25XP to M25XPB on Catalina 36 Mk1. So knowing the product line you can give better advice.

Les

 

[Kermit]

Except for boats built before 1972, when the HIN was begun. My 1961 Meridian had a nice plate on the main sheet track support- hull # 10, until it was stolen.

Looked like this, from a later boat

View attachment 150187

Silly me. I would have stolen the whole boat. Not just the cool plate.

 

[capta]

I know our document # by heart as I have to write it on the entry and exit paperwork a dozen or so times a month, during the season. Never gave the hull # a second thought, especially considering Pearson is defunct.
Our sail # is the last three numbers of our document #and I'm guessing this has something to do with whatever racing organization the former owner raced under.
One boat I owned was the first of her kind built and we had the number one on the sail, under the logo. I thought that was kinda cool.

 

[Rick486]

Seems like most folks here post their hull number when describing their boat. I have no idea what hull number I have and don’t particularly see the importance of knowing other hull numbers. But obviously it’s important to most. Is it important to post hull numbers?

P.S. This is NOT a dig on those who post their hull number. It’s an honest question.

Like asking a woman her age.......it just isn't done by gentlemen...

 

[dlochner]

Our sail # is the last three numbers of our document #and I'm guessing this has something to do with whatever racing organization the former owner raced under.

Mine too. I'm pretty sure that my boat was documented from the day it left the factory and has not had a state registration number. My state registration is the same as my USCG #. Perhaps when a boat leaves the factory with a documentation number, the last 3 digits are the hull number.

 

[TomY]

Alden never expected the large numbers of their designs built. Each design was designated with a number. Instead of giving numbers to the ordered number of boats built to the design, they used the letters of the alphabet, skipping the letter I because of confusion with the letter L.

So the first Alden Challenger, the 949th design by Alden, would get a bronze plate with the designation of: 949-A, the second built, 949-B, and so on.

Because they didn't expect numbers above 25 (alphabet minus I), when it happened, they went around again. So the 26th Alden Challenger built, was 949-AA.

There were 52 Challengers built so the last few have 3 letters. There is a 949-AAA

This doesn't explain why my boat, which is 949-Y, has a builders plate that reads 917-Y. The Boston office (before it closed down for good), had no explanation.

 

[Joe]

Well, I can see the sense of Kermit's comment..... in most cases, including your hull number when introducing yourself doesn't make a lot of sense... unless you're at the class association meeting or enquiring about parts and service with the manufacturer.

 

[Will Gilmore]

For my participation with the Mariner Class Association forum, I include my sail/hull number in my signature because it seemed to be the way it was done there. I don't include it here because no one cares which iteration of the Mariner I have. I did record it in my profile. Mostly because I filled the form out before I fully understood what the standards were on SBO. There is also a certain amount of pride, even status, to demonstrating you own a boat closer to the first hull. Vanity is a great driver and since I often run on autopilot, I find it taking over all too often.
Oh, and I really like numbers and often manufacture significance out of them that don't really exist. For instance, my boat's number is 2632. This number has the year I was born in the middle of it and is flanked by the month, so that's cool.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Love and Luck]

Profile pic, yo.

 

[jssailem]

Could it be that the use of a number in introducing your boat is kind of like introduction at an addiction center.... Hi I’m John with boat 46 of 120 and I have a problem. Then there is the crowds acknowledgement... Hi John....

I say that only because I am a sailor. I talk to my boat. We have been through a lot. Some of it painful. But we get through it together.

Oh by the way... I am pretty sure I am ok... You not so much... But that is all right causes, I love you man.....
Tears......

 

[Will Gilmore]

I say that only because I am a sailor. I talk to my boat. We have been through a lot. Some of it painful. But we get through it together.

When I was in a marina in Vilamoura Portugal, my wife and I watched a sailor arrive aboard a brand new looking sailboat with Rio de Janeiro, Brazil painted on her stern, as a home port. The sailor pulled into a slip, bow to, tied off and hollard excitedly. He hopped off the boat and started running down the dock, but he quickly put the skids on and whipped around to run back to the boat. He stopped at the bow and gave it a big kiss before turning back to race off to wherever he was running to, yelling exuberantly in Portuguese the whole time.

I'll bet those two had great conversations the whole trip across from Brazil.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[agprice22]

Kermit, your sail number does not have to be your hull number. People buy new sails, buy used sails, etc., and the numbers may not follow the hull number. I believe most boats start with sail numbers matching the hull number, though.