2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

RotaryRacer

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I am looking at a boat to purchase and I have pretty much decided not to buy it based on one "simple" little thing. The HIN tag has been removed.

The owner has the title and it is registered in his name. However, at some point someone stole the outboard off the boat and also, for who knows what reason, took the HIN tag off. There are still a few lttle remnants of that tag but only the first letter of the HIN is there.

The manufacturer of this boat used a riveted/glued on plastic tag. It is a fiberglass boat.

My reasons for not buying it are pretty straight forward. I don't want to ever get into a legal battle in which I would have to prove that I legally own the boat. Without a HIN on the boat that matches the title I can see a strong possibility that I would lose out on that.

Can anyone think of some other options I might have?

I have considered contacting the manufacturer to see if they can replace the HIN tag. However, I think that would be pretty unlikely.

Ideas?

If not for this issue there was a very strong possibility that I would have bought this boat.
 

smokeonthewater

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

well if you trust that the seller isn't trying to sell you a stolen boat that doesn't match the title then get a new tag made at a trophy shop and rivet it on
 

RotaryRacer

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

Something very strange going on with this. Coast guard regs require a non-removable HIN and every manufacture I can think of casts it into the fiber glass. (Assuming a FG hull)

When I first noticed boats with these tags it surprised me also. I actually first noticed them on some Sea Doos my family owned a few years back. I think it is actually pretty common now.

I know of many boats that have tags that are riveted/glued onto a fiberglass hull.

This is the tag on my Larson:

P1050536-Copy.jpg


This is the tag on a model year 2000 boat that is the same make and model as the subject of this post:

P1050286-Copy.jpg


I somewhat intentionally didn't mention the manufacturer of the boat. However, here is a picture of the missing tag. You'll note that the first letter is a "G". The maker was one of many that were purchased by Genmar in 2001. Prior to that their HID was FWN....

boat002-Copy.jpg


So with that all being said, I guess the definition of "non-removeable" is open to interpretation.

You did not say who the manufacture is but if you contact them and ask they will tell you where the "secret" location is for the second HID tag. All boats manufactured after 1984 are required to have the HID in a second location.

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.

I was not aware of this and I am very thankful that you posted it. I may just contact the manufacturer to find out where the "secret" HIN is located on this model. If it matches up with the title that the owner has my mind were be at least partially at ease.
 

smokeonthewater

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

it is very possible that they won't tell you but you may be able to get the police to look at it
 

Frank Acampora

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

personally, I agree with you. The scrape marks look suspicious. There are so many boats for sale why bother with a possible problem? The next one down the road will have everything in proper condition. Run, don't walk away.
 

Fun Times

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

It's a long shot, But does that boat have a mercruiser engine in it?

If it does send me the serial number of the engine, I might be able to look it up.
 

RotaryRacer

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

Yeah, I have pretty much decided that it isn't worth the possible risk/hassle.

Too bad, I have a motor that would have fit the boat perfectly. I have been looking for a boat of this brand/model for a long time. It was really just a coincidence that I have a motor already for it and this one is being sold without a motor. When I first saw the ad on craigslist I thought it was some sort of luck. The exact boat I was looking for popped up for a really good price without a motor, I already have a motor the same year, shaft length and size that this boat needs. It really seemed to be a perfect match.

If the boat was in pristine condition otherwise, I would still be interested. As it is, the boat has been neglected and without the HIN tag it just doesn't sit right with me.

Has anyone else ever bought a boat with a missing HIN?
 

RotaryRacer

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

It's a long shot, But does that boat have a mercruiser engine in it?

If it does send me the serial number of the engine, I might be able to look it up.

No, it is/was powered by an outboard. The motor was stolen off the boat and the thiefs apparantly also tore off the HIN tag.
 

jay_merrill

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

I passed on a boat a couple of months ago for this very reason. There was a HIN in the transom, but it didn't look right. The letters/numbers were irregular and it had five letters at the beginning, instead of the usual, three letters. The boat was also a "knockoff" of a Boston Whaler Outrage, yet the claimed manufacturer never made such a boat.

The interesting part of the whole situation, is that I don't think the seller was aware of the fact, that the boat wasn't what the paperwork said it was. I think he bought it innocently, never questioning its origin.



???
 

Greebo

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Dec 6, 2009
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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

I wouldn't touch it either. There are many others to look at so why take the risk. Here in South Australia we also use HIN's (even if the boat is a US import with a HIN cast into the hull). We also have a hidden HIN plate to ID the boat if one is missing. But walk away - it's the safer option.
 

ezwitter

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Dec 5, 2009
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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

there is no way i would get involved with that boat. like everyone else says there to many boats for sale with good #'s and titles. (that could get ugly) walk away. just my 2 cents
 

H20Rat

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

If you could find the hidden one, I'd still go for it. On my boat I happened to find it by accident, inside the console there was a small area of finished fiberglass. Got the flashlight out, and there it was, stamped into that just like the one stamped into the back of the hull.

(To get to it, you had to remove the windshield, and then the screws holding the console in, as well as disconnect some gauges to lift the console out.)
 

RotaryRacer

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Re: 2001 Boat HIN tag removed??

I have put an email in to Four Winns essentially explaining the situation and asked if there was any other HIN number to help confirm that the title/owner are legit. I don't expect a response, but I have been surprised by Four Winns in the past on a random question I asked via e-mail.

I told the guy I didn't feel comfortable with the situation and I don't feel any obligation to continue to consider the boat. However, if he comes back with a lower price and I can verify the title with a second HIN...I will be tempted.

We shall see. Thanks for the replys.
 
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