No HIN on my recently purchased Starcraft

[bigtime_mcalpine]

Hi, I purchased an open cockpit fishing boat that I’m guessing is from early 1970’s. It has no identification on it except for the boat reg #. I think it’s a starcraft based on the very distinctive details of the hull and the very recognizable gunnel ledge and stern corner brackets that show up on many Starcraft pics. I’m not sure of the model. This is of course making it difficult to get a license for my boat here in Ontario. I thought I might get somewhere by providing the provincial authorities the registration # on the side of the vessel in the hope they could work backwards on identifying the HIN…no dice. Instead they suggested I contact Starcraft directly. They suggested that each manufacturer marks the HIN in a hidden location (his words not mine). Is this guy sending me on a wild goose chase?

 

[lprizman]

Right side of the Stern...search under the gunnels....

Post some pics here.......

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

View attachment 352599View attachment 352599View attachment 352600

 

[lprizman]

Did you look underneath the gunnels?

Boat registration has to have it......

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

Did you look underneath the gunnels?

Boat registration has to have it......

yeah I did...I didn't walk all the way around but I did check under the gunnel 3 ft forward from stern on port and starboard sides.

I know, right? If someone previously registered it, then it had to have been there at some point. transom looks pretty old so I don't think it was removed from inside. Outside was painted so could be that it was removed when boat hull was last updated...looks to be over a decade ago at least.

 

[Scott Danforth]

HIN is on outside of hull

However if the boat is older than 1972, there is no HIN, only a serial number

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

HIN is on outside of hull

However if the boat is older than 1972, there is no HIN, only a serial number

I would happily settle for a serial number….I can’t find ANY markings at all.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would happily settle for a serial number….I can’t find ANY markings at all.

What is on your paperwork?

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

What is on your paperwork?

Nothing. Mod Edited.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Nothing. Mod Edited.

Proper paperwork (title/registration/bill of sale) is usually all you need

Boat appears earlier than 72

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

Proper paperwork (title/registration/bill of sale) is usually all you need

Boat appears earlier than 72

Alright, good progress made. I called the Ministry of Transportation directly and they were able to work backwards (as I had hoped) to give me the serial #. S16435990SK100. Now...just need to figure out what info I can gleen from this # as I really would like to know model, year and max HP for my own reference.

 

[jbcurt00]

What length?
Is it a HIN or a Serial #?
If it's a HIN, Plug it in here
Www.hindecoder.com

Unless there's a typo in your HIN, it's not a conforming HIN and likely issued by state/territory when someone tried to renew registration or sell the boat.

Or it's actually a Ser# from the factory which isn't the same as a HIN and there is no where online, via phone/email or text to decode Ser#s.

Even if you had a factory issued HIN it wouldn't decode w much info. It'd get you a year, and a suggestion of a model or 2 but not definitively. Boat HINs aren't anything like vintage car VINs.

Looks like a bow rider, not a remuddled closed bow. Imo, likely an Super Sport (SS). SS came as 16, 18, 20+ lengths.

So, again, what length is yours?

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

What length?
Is it a HIN or a Serial #?
If it's a HIN, Plug it in here
Www.hindecoder.com

Unless there's a typo in your HIN, it's not a conforming HIN and likely issued by state/territory when someone tried to renew registration or sell the boat.

Or it's actually a Ser# from the factory which isn't the same as a HIN and there is no where online, via phone/email or text to decode Ser#s.

Even if you had a factory issued HIN it wouldn't decode w much info. It'd get you a year, and a suggestion of a model or 2 but not definitively. Boat HINs aren't anything like vintage car VINs.

Looks like a bow rider, not a remuddled closed bow. Imo, likely an Super Sport (SS). SS came as 16, 18, 20+ lengths.

So, again, what length is yours?

Thank you for the reply, jbcurt00. Mine is 15' tip to tip. I too thought it might be a super sport variant but mine has no trace of there ever having been gunnel rails installed near the bow. I'm thinking this is a pre-1972 boat. I've reached out to Chris at Starcraft to see if he can assist in interpreting the serial #. I've got what I need to register it anyway so at this point it would just be nice to know year, HP limit and capacity but not absolutely necessary. I've got a 25 on there now and I'm thinking a 35-40 limit was probably the case. Unfortunately a previous owner decided to modify the transom to accept a short-shaft. With current set-up, I would not be comfortable increasing HP - besides, I just installed a power-trim and have limited appetite for re-jigging that anyhow.

Just came across this video online. This looks identical to mine. Unfortunately, no year or model # quoted in that ad either...does have a 35hp on there though.

 

[Scott Danforth]

transom looks like most.

reference this build. https://forums.iboats.com/threads/1970-jet-star-repower-and-transom-replacement.636956/

may want to do some digging here. http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=Starcraft

 

[DLNorth]

I don't think it's a SS version, I suspect it's one of the smaller fishing models. Measure the width and check the catalogs, that should get you close.

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

I don't think it's a SS version, I suspect it's one of the smaller fishing models. Measure the width and check the catalogs, that should get you close.

Thanks, this helped. Based on measurements and catalogue listings, I'm now thinking its a 1969-1971 Star Treck 15' with a capacity of 1100lbs and a max of 45hp. Now to get a label made (just for piece of mind...).

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

Thanks, this helped. Based on measurements and catalogue listings, I'm now thinking its a 1969-1971 Star Treck 15' with a capacity of 1100lbs and a max of 45hp. Now to get a label made (just for piece of mind...).

Actually, I'm now revising that. What I've got here is a 14' Mariner-V with a 40hp limit and 850lbs of capacity.

 

[Watermann]

Nothing worse than sawzall savants who own a boat, looks like your transom got hacked, it's a common target for those savages.

 

[bigtime_mcalpine]

Have to agree. Even worse, whoever did this decided that it was ok to cut way more on one side vs the other. Thanks Unknown hacksaw’er.