C-Lark 14 Hull number

[Dirk62]

Hello All,
I am rebuilding a C-lark 14, and wondered about the numeral "6" embossed on the right side of the centerboard-trunk. I wondered if it was a serial- or build-number, but other threads on C-larks have said the S/N is located on the transom and never mentioned any such embossed number. It also seemed just as possible that it might have identified the mold and not necessarily the specific boat. Can anyone shed light on this?

 

[dlochner]

Any boat manufactured in 1972 (or thereabouts, can recall the exact year) must have a Hull Identification Number, which designates the builder, the model, the model year, and the month and year the boat was built. This number is embossed into the upper right hand corner of the transom. There are several HIN decoding websites.

My HIN is HWS36113E393, Decoded:

Manufacturer: Sabre Sailboats
Model: 36
Hull No: 113
Manufactured: May 1993
Model: 1993

 

[Davidasailor26]

Maybe the boat was held in a fleet or some kind of sailing program, and they embossed that number for tracking? Seems like a long shot but it’s my best guess.

 

[shemandr]

According to Sailboatdata.com the C-Lark began its production in 1964 and the last built was 1979. So there wouldn't have been a requirement to have the HIN number on the transom for the first 10 years of production. And then for only 5 years after 1974.
Also, Sailboatdata.com shows a drawing of the boat with the mainsail which I note has the class insignia (CL) but not a number which are used in fleet racing to track the boats.
So, based on the above I will guess that the # 6 embossed on your hull could be a fleet number and maybe a build number.
Maybe it's a number assigned to it by a local fleet?
And you could be right about the number referring to a particular builder not the boat. There were 1400 built. Clarke boatbuilders built a number of molds for boats which are famous by other names - like San Juan.
I Rx reading the short bio of the company on SBD.com. Click on the builder near the bottom of the page under Sailboat Links. Of course the ending is familiar. The company was sold and the buyer went out of business.

 

[Dirk62]

Thanks for all the replies! While surfing pics of other C-Lark trunks, I noticed all the centerboard-trunks are rectangular-sectioned and much thicker than mine (2-1/2 or 3"?) while mine is barely an inch thick, with a half-round top edge.
I also found the original bill-of-sale from 1970, which I had missed earlier. In the Serial Number line, they typed in "NUMBER SIX (6)".
If there are any early C-Lark owners who can corroborate this configuration and/or numbering convention, I'd love to hear from the .
Another difference in my boat (compared to the one I owned years ago) is the lack of shroud-spreaders. The mast is well-aged and presumably original, but there are no provisions or indications that it ever had spreaders. This one also lacks that hiking straps that my other C-Lark had.

 

[dlochner]

Thanks for all the replies! While surfing pics of other C-Lark trunks, I noticed all the centerboard-trunks are rectangular-sectioned and much thicker than mine (2-1/2 or 3"?) while mine is barely an inch thick, with a half-round top edge.
I also found the original bill-of-sale from 1970, which I had missed earlier. In the Serial Number line, they typed in "NUMBER SIX (6)".
If there are any early C-Lark owners who can corroborate this configuration and/or numbering convention, I'd love to hear from the .
Another difference in my boat (compared to the one I owned years ago) is the lack of shroud-spreaders. The mast is well-aged and presumably original, but there are no provisions or indications that it ever had spreaders. This one also lacks that hiking straps that my other C-Lark had.

It is not unusual for designs to change over time. As more boats are built sailed, the shortcomings of the design are discovered and the design is modified. A strong class association will limit the modifications to keep true to the One Design philosophy, but improvements happen, sometimes not according to class rules.