From the O'Day Mariner Web site (
Hull ID Help - Mariner Class Association).
"All boats manufactured or imported on or after November 1, 1972 must bear a Hull Identification Number (HIN)."
It was standard practice before '72 for many manufacturers to have a HIN, but there were variations in its form. If you know when your boat was built, it will be easier to decipher your HIN,
"Example #1: XDYF26040373
In this example XDY is the designation given to the O'Day company and F means it's a Mariner. 2604 is the sail number, the 0373 means the boat was built in March 1973."
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Example #2:
"Here is an actual molded in serial from a 1978 boat.
Code XDY (O'Day), F (Mariner), 3627 (Sail Number), M (Spacer), 78 (Year) D (Nov. built)"
'M' = space. ¿Porque?
Key to Month of Model Year - Pre 1984.
AUG | A | | FEB | G |
SEP | B | | MAR | H |
OCT | C | | APR | I |
NOV | D | | MAY | J |
DEC | E | | JUN | K |
JAN | F | | JUL | L |
This chart seems illogical to me. Why randomize the order?
"Starting August 1, 1984 the letter designation for the month built next to the year built starts with A=Jan, B=Feb. etc."
"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."
Not to throw a monkey wrench into the issue, but it's possible your boat is a '68 built in September at a factory with the designation 6. O'Day had, at one time, several factories. I remember reading about the particular factory designation having made it into the HIN, but I can't find confirmation of that memory. The example above, of the ...M78D HIN is an unusual example where the month of manufacture is printed after the year. Or, the '8' in your number really is an '8' and 8686 means factory designation 8 in 1968 in June.
Here's my own HIN: Hull#: XDYF26320473. She is definately, by cabin style, a 1973.
Do you know the year your boat was built?
-Will (Dragonfly)