I recently purchased a '78 Widgeon. The middle of the hull number was rubbed out over the years, probably from a rudder clip. Does anyone know how I can retrieve the missing number/s or letter/s in the middle? Also, how many characters (numbers and letters) should be in a complete hull number for this model?
Damaged Hull Number
- Thread starter beachkoma
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I'm assuming that you need these numbers for Massachusetts Division of Motor craft registration purposes? I don't think that you can retrieve these numbers whereas the company has been out of business for a number of years, but you can have the State Registry assign your boat with new hull numbers. I have an O'Day number format sheet that Rudy of D&R Marine gave me a while back. It explains what the numbers mean. What numbers are visible on your boat? For example; you will have a prefix that indicates manufacturer such as XDY which stand for O'Day. Then after that the letter A which stand for Widgeon. After that comes the serial of four digits. After that, it might have the 78 which stands for the year, and a letter at the end which stands for the month that it was produced. O'Day had an old format and a new format for their numbering. This is about all I can tell you about it. Rudy may have some info on it. I don't know. He's located in Assonet Ma. http://www.drmarine.com/
Joe
Joe,
Thanks for the info: I am missing the 2 middle digits of the hull number. Everything else checks out.
Beachkoma
Thanks for the info: I am missing the 2 middle digits of the hull number. Everything else checks out.
Beachkoma
yea might try taking a digital photo and then play with the editing (zoom, contrast, color) to see if something shows up. i did that once with a metal plate on a trailer, matey.
I'm not sure but those are part of the digits that stand for the number of hulls that were built in that particular year. Usually, the Registry will ask you to get a rubbing of the embossed letters and numbers on the transom of a boat with a pencil and paper, similar to the way they get a rubbing from an old grave stone. If your boat doesn't have legible numbers, I think that they assign some new numbers to the hull. Rudy Nickerson in Assonet was having the O'Day Widgeons built for him by a guy in Bristol a few years ago, as he owns the molds for them, but he also has any parts that you may need. Have fun with this boat.
Joe
Beachkoma, the HIN should have 12 digits total.
XDYAxxxxM78m (Joe, the "new" format began in 1984)
I assume you are missing a couple of those "X's"?
m = the letter code for the month during the 1978 model year that your boat was built.
Rudy at D&R may be able to tell you where O'DAY marked the 2nd (hidden) location of the HIN. I believe that manufacturers were required to mark the HIN in 2 places, 1) on the outside of the transom and 2) somewhere hidden from easy view (like under a deck fitting or inside a compartment...... Widgeons don't really have any deck fittings large enough to hide a HIN, so maybe under the forward deck?) In 13 years of ownership I haven't found the hidden HIN on my DS II..... so maybe I'm wrong about that requirement? Gosh...... now I've got another excuse to go over my boat with the proverbial fine-tooth-comb!
What part of Wareham? I sail my 1979 DS II "SUNBIRD" out of Mark's Cove on the Wareham River side of Cromesett Point. Prior to buying my DS II in 1996 I owned a 1969 Widgeon and had SO much fun!! I sold her to a family over in Dartmouth, not sure if they still own her.
Anyway, if you ever need any questions answered about your Widgeon, feel free to ask me (Rudy is the best source...... but he and I have learned much from each other!)
PS: If you saw SUNBIRD you would understand the "SUN" part of her name...... she is bright yellow and the sail is white with a yellow stripe and an orange stripe!
Pictures below of BLUE BIRD and SUNBIRD.
XDYAxxxxM78m (Joe, the "new" format began in 1984)
I assume you are missing a couple of those "X's"?
m = the letter code for the month during the 1978 model year that your boat was built.
Rudy at D&R may be able to tell you where O'DAY marked the 2nd (hidden) location of the HIN. I believe that manufacturers were required to mark the HIN in 2 places, 1) on the outside of the transom and 2) somewhere hidden from easy view (like under a deck fitting or inside a compartment...... Widgeons don't really have any deck fittings large enough to hide a HIN, so maybe under the forward deck?) In 13 years of ownership I haven't found the hidden HIN on my DS II..... so maybe I'm wrong about that requirement? Gosh...... now I've got another excuse to go over my boat with the proverbial fine-tooth-comb!
What part of Wareham? I sail my 1979 DS II "SUNBIRD" out of Mark's Cove on the Wareham River side of Cromesett Point. Prior to buying my DS II in 1996 I owned a 1969 Widgeon and had SO much fun!! I sold her to a family over in Dartmouth, not sure if they still own her.
Anyway, if you ever need any questions answered about your Widgeon, feel free to ask me (Rudy is the best source...... but he and I have learned much from each other!)
PS: If you saw SUNBIRD you would understand the "SUN" part of her name...... she is bright yellow and the sail is white with a yellow stripe and an orange stripe!
Pictures below of BLUE BIRD and SUNBIRD.
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I didn't know about that second hidden Hin number. I'll have to ask Rudy where they hid it on my boat so I can find mine. I've been wondering when the new format started, but now that I look at the format sheet, they have 84 in the example. So, if he can find that hidden number, he'll be all set.
Joe
Joe
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