Boat VIN & Title

[Larsand]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me how to find the date of manufacture of an Oday Javelin based on the VIN number? In this case it is: XDYB4396M79C. I see that the 10th and 11th digits are "79", so is it from 1979?
Also is there a quick way to find out if the boat was ever titled? It was sailed in New York and New Jersey previously.
Thanks,
Lars.

 

[JRacer]

See this: http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.htm

 

[Larsand]

Thanks for the quick response! Can you tell me what the "M" in the last four characters represents? The article doesn't mention that. (79 is the year, and C is the month, but the M?)

 

[JRacer]

Speculating here but I think that all the HIN's that used the "Optional Method" to indicate the Year and month of Certification carried the M in that position. See this for more info: https://www.uscgboating.org/library/boating-safety-circulars/BSC70.pdf

 

[Sunbird22358]

XDYB4396M79C
XDY = O'DAY
B = Javelin
4396 = Class # (you have the 4396th Javelin built)
M79 = 1979 Model Year
C = October build month

Model years were August through July, so for the 1979 Model year, that was August 1978 to July 1979, meaning that your 1979 Model Javelin was built in October 1978 (as a 1979 model). My 1979 DS II was built in December 1978, XDY10201M79E-D (O'Day had to kind of add to he HIN of the Day Sailers after they built class# 9999, that is why the "D" for Day Sailer is in the "wrong" place <GRIN!>)