What determines the year of a boat?

[Wave34]

... is it the date of manufacture, or the date it is sold?
If a boat is made in 2004 and sold in 2005, what year is that boat?

I'm asking because I'm looking at a 2005 Monterey 245CR. But, the 245CR was manufactured up to 2004 and in 2005 the 25CR started. The seller tells me it is a 2005.

How that works?

BTW, if someone knows what differences are between the 245CR vs the 25CR I would like to know. I guess it is 6'' longer, but what else? On pictures they look the same.
Thanks.

 

[Scott Danforth]

as for year of boat, depends on when the factory registered it. my 2002 searay was a 2001 model built in 2001 and registered from the factory as a 2002. as for the two different models, would have to look at the specs. could be same identical boat with a differnt marketing name. could be two different hulls.

 

[NYBo]

The last two digits of the HIN. Just like cars, a boat may be manufactured the year prior to the designated model year. Regarding the difference between the two models you noted, it may simply be that they decided to count the bow puplit in the length and therefore model number. Or, they could be different hulls, as Scott noted.

 

[shrew]

The HIN is what is the last word:

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.htm

Date of Certification/Manufacture: This is when the boat was made.
Model Year: Model Year.

This is how you can have a 2018 model that rolled off the line in November of 2017. Or a 2017 model that was released from the mold in January of 2018.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,...... +1,..^^^^.... The Hin determines the year of the hull,....

 

[KAR37922]

My HIN says my boat was a 2010 model but built in 2009 . . . then I guess Four Winns decided not to make the Vista338 in 2010, instead they call the 2010's a Vista355 - but its marked as a Vista338 2010 model . . . I just call it a 2009 when looking for parts. Maybe I should change out the side plate to say Vista 355

 

[Wave34]

Thanks everyone.
I'll keep an eye on the HIN.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

On the upper starboard side of my transom says the boat is a 94', the registration says 95'.