Where is the HIN on a Beneteau 323? - RESOLVED

[HanBan]

Hey guys,

I've been restoring a 323 which was storm damaged in Texas. I had the hull completely restored and repainted, and I can't for the life of me find the HIN.

Other forums had mentioned that it could be on the aft starboard side of the hull, in the main electrical panel, and possibly stamped into the hull under the battery in the engine compartment. The HIN is nowhere to be found.

Any ideas where the HIN could be?

Thanks

 

[SG]

I've been restoring a 323 which was storm damaged in Texas. I had the hull completely restored and repainted,

The normal location would be on after stern, starboard side. Usually near the toe rail.
Is it possible the restorer patched over the HIN (though they shouldn't have, for a variety of reasons).

Below are

• An excerpt from the general Beneteau "manual"; and,
• A general location diagram requirement which is (inter) national. (This one from Washington State).

 

[HanBan]

Oh no. He must have painted over it. This isn't good.

The only plate on the boat is this one.

 

[BigEasy]

Perhaps try the following:

1. If the boat was US Coast Guard documented, check the documentation number online and cross reference to the
hull ID. The previous owner's name and address will also be listed; worse case, you can attempt to contact a
previous owner for the hull ID.

2. Get the engine model & serial number and contact Benetau US in Marion, SC. They should be able to cross reference
the engine to the hull in which it was installed. Ward should be able to help you with this.

3. The insurance company that previously or currently insured the boat should have a record of the hull ID.

Good Luck!

 

[jssailem]

Did you get a title or paperwork or registration with the boat? Even Texas wants their piece of your boat.

TPWD is required by law to collect tax for vessels/boats (65 feet or less in length*) and outboard motors purchased in Texas or first used in Texas on or after January 1, 2000. The tax rate is 6.25% of the sales price.
​

If the boat was documented, then you maybe able to look the number up by searching for the boat name.
https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/coast-guard-vessel-search/index
Right side of the page...
Vessel Documentation Search By Name

 

[SG]

In addition the comments above:

Your painter had to Fill the engraved HIN numbers in. Then he had to sand over them; and, then he would have been ready to start painting the transom. Ask him about that! (Was the transom damaged ir hiked in this area?)

Through what process did you acquire the boat, from whom? (e.g. The insurance company of the previous owner? Some salvagor? Etc )

Do you have photos of the “before” conditions?

 

[Ron20324]

On my 2006 the number is additionally under the battery in front of the engine. Or was it the floorboard there. Battery , IIRC. If it's not still on the hull, I'd be suspicious- if this was not your boat before the storm.

 

[FastOlson]

Around here, most profession boat refinishers have a "reverse printout" Dymo label maker so they can apply the correct HIN to the transom before doing the final painting and fairing. The second "hidden" HIN, will be inside your vessel on a part of an frp molding where it is not normally visible. (Ours is at the aft end of the gel coated aft cabin berth top, and other boats have it on a bed log.)

 

[HanBan]

Perhaps try the following:

1. If the boat was US Coast Guard documented, check the documentation number online and cross reference to the
hull ID. The previous owner's name and address will also be listed; worse case, you can attempt to contact a
previous owner for the hull ID.

2. Get the engine model & serial number and contact Benetau US in Marion, SC. They should be able to cross reference
the engine to the hull in which it was installed. Ward should be able to help you with this.

3. The insurance company that previously or currently insured the boat should have a record of the hull ID.

Good Luck!

Oh I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. I know the boat's HIN, but I don't know where on the boat I can find it (now that it seems to have been covered up by the painter). Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[HanBan]

In addition the comments above:

Your painter had to Fill the engraved HIN numbers in. Then he had to sand over them; and, then he would have been ready to start painting the transom. Ask him about that! (Was the transom damaged ir hiked in this area?)

Through what process did you acquire the boat, from whom? (e.g. The insurance company of the previous owner? Some salvagor? Etc )

Do you have photos of the “before” conditions?

After posting on here, I spoke with the yard that did all of the work for me, and they said that they essentially redid the entire hull and the HIN was likely covered up when they fixed the transom. In fairness, the transom had a bunch of cracks and holes in it.

The boat yard offered to make a decal with the HIN on it, but I think I'd rather have it embossed the way it was before.

 

[HanBan]

On my 2006 the number is additionally under the battery in front of the engine. Or was it the floorboard there. Battery , IIRC. If it's not still on the hull, I'd be suspicious- if this was not your boat before the storm.

I'd read about some boats having it under the battery in the engine bay, and with that in mind, I removed the battery and the box it sits in this morning to see if the HIN was there - it's not. So now I'm wondering where on earth this secret HIN is.

The boat went through hurricane Harvey, and it was always a dream of mine to buy an old boat and have her rebuilt. Now, I'm not so excited about that idea. It has been expensive and time consuming, but I have learned a great deal.

 

[HanBan]

Around here, most profession boat refinishers have a "reverse printout" Dymo label maker so they can apply the correct HIN to the transom before doing the final painting and fairing. The second "hidden" HIN, will be inside your vessel on a part of an frp molding where it is not normally visible. (Ours is at the aft end of the gel coated aft cabin berth top, and other boats have it on a bed log.)

Oh thank you for this, I hadn't thought to look there (in the aft berth). Next time I'm at the boat, I'll hunt around to see where it could be. I'm not sure what a 'bed log' is.

 

[jssailem]

I think I'd rather have it embossed the way it was before.

Good idea. You may find the number somewhere in the boat as SG indicated in the Beneteau manual.

If your boat is to be Coast Guard documented (not sure is possible if it has a salvage title) then you have to fix the document number to the hull in a permanent fashion. You can have that done in a variety of way, most often used is a carved/embossed number on a board, that is glued/glassed onto the hull interior somewhere it can be viewed for inspection (often in a lazarett or engine space).

If you stick with just a state title then the HIN is used for records identification and state registration numbers are often on the boats bow with stickon letter/numbers and the yearly permit.

 

[HanBan]

Good idea. You may find the number somewhere in the boat as SG indicated in the Beneteau manual.

If your boat is to be Coast Guard documented (not sure is possible if it has a salvage title) then you have to fix the document number to the hull in a permanent fashion. You can have that done in a variety of way, most often used is a carved/embossed number on a board, that is glued/glassed onto the hull interior somewhere it can be viewed for inspection (often in a lazarett or engine space).

If you stick with just a state title then the HIN is used for records identification and state registration numbers are often on the boats bow with stickon letter/numbers and the yearly permit.

Thank you, I'll have the yard put it back on properly, and not use a sticker.

One of the nice things about this boat is that she doesn't have a salvage title, she has a clear title. I'd been looking for a 323 for a couple of years, and when I came across her and realized that her title was clean, I had to buy her.

I appreciate all the advice. This is my first boat and I have no idea what I'm doing, which is why I have professionals do all the work. I'm just the silly lady who asks so many stupid questions around the boat yard.

 

[Ron20324]

I removed the battery and the box it sits in this morning to see if the HIN was there - it's not. .

Did you looked under the battery in FRONT of the engine, under the steps??? My memory may be off and it could be under the floorboard right there, on a stronger molding. I am a few hundred yards from my boat, and I'll verify this on Monday.

 

[HanBan]

Did you looked under the battery in FRONT of the engine, under the steps??? My memory may be off and it could be under the floorboard right there, on a stronger molding. I am a few hundred yards from my boat, and I'll verify this on Monday.

Ron
I had to go back to the boat to check on some other stuff, and I moved the steps, took the battery out of the engine compartment (which was behind the steps), and I removed the plastic battery holder thingy. There doesn't seem to be anything there. I didn't check under the floorboard though, but I will tomorrow.

Coincidentally, there's another Beneteau right next to me in the marina; a 38 footer. His HIN is clearly stamped on the rear starboard side. My boat is not marked the same way.

I'm sure that the HIN was on the starboard rear of the transom - as I remember mentioning "I wonder why someone would put funny numbers here". It seems that the chap who restored the hull, patched, repaired, and sanded everywhere. The hull looks fantastic, but he removed the HIN which is certainly an issue.

 

[Gunni]

My second HIN imprint is on a grid stringer just forward of the engine bilge in the saloon area. Keep looking you will find it. Beneteau does NOT place the HIN on the removable rating placard.

 

[jssailem]

Beneteau does NOT place the HIN on the removable rating placard.

Very true @Gunni . None of the manufacturers do. The HIN is like a VIN for your car. It is supposed to be a permanent boat tattoo, so that the boat can be identified and so the owner can be found.

 

[HanBan]

My second HIN imprint is on a grid stringer just forward of the engine bilge in the saloon area. Keep looking you will find it. Beneteau does NOT place the HIN on the removable rating placard.

Gunni, what is a grid stringer? I'm sorry, I really have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm trying to learn.

 

[HanBan]

Very true @Gunni . None of the manufacturers do. The HIN is like a VIN for your car. It is supposed to be a permanent boat tattoo, so that the boat can be identified and so the owner can be found.

Oh this makes sense. Thanks.