HIN number verification?

[TruckDrivingFool]

With all the talk here of state paperwork and HIN numbers I thought I'd share this with the class.

I received a letter a few weeks ago from the IADNR (our local boat registration officials) stating that the HIN number on my '79 SC 18SS has an incorrect format that doesn't meet the USCG Fed. Regulations 33 CFR 181, Subpart C.

An online bit from IADNR I found to be sure it wasn't some sort of elaborate scam.

The boat is 90 miles away at the lake and when Mom went down to check on everything down there she took the required pic of the HIN tag for me so I have yet to be able to look at the papers to see if it is listed correctly. I'm fairly certain it is as that is something they require on the BOS that needs turned in when you transfer a boat in Iowa.

Did something change in the regs covering HINs or is Iowa actually doing something to try and get paperwork to actually what is on watercraft?

Also in the letter there is an affidavit that makes a statement that I agree to affix the state provided HIN when I receive it from them. I find it odd that I'm receiving this for the '79 that has one and not on the '68 Jet that doesn't.

 

[jbcurt00]

The press release reads like Iowa is attempting to improve accuracy of their records, rather then find owners that have done something wrong in the process of owning or buying the boats.

13000 owners got letters, out of how large of a total I wonder?

Maybe your letter was supposed to be for the Jet?

A phone call on Monday sounds like a good idea.

 

[thumpar]

That is odd. Why is it only Iowa doing this?

 

[jbcurt00]

Iowa state decides what Iowa boat requirements are, thats why.

The reason they decided to do it is an interesting question though

 

[GA_Boater]

A different state, GA, but they issued a HIN for the Nassau. As the DNR ranger said it was that or wait forever to validate the original serial number. I choose the new HIN.

The link to Iowa DNR is written so it appears that boats like mine that could be registered with a non-compliant number are being updated to a state issued HIN. It sure sounds like the Jet is the one needing the HIN. The pic your Mom took of the HIN should clear up which tinny needs a number. Or you haven't received the second letter.

 

[jbcurt00]

I forgot, the 79 has a non-compliant number for the current format for HINs, so although it has a HIN, its the old format.

 

[thumpar]

Iowa state decides what Iowa boat requirements are, thats why.

The reason they decided to do it is an interesting question though

But they blame it on USCG. That is federal not state.

 

[GA_Boater]

Both are compliant per the CG. The pre-1983 and post-1983, HINs are both valid. That's like saying any owner of a pre-VIN car has to get a new state issued VIN.
Run your HIN through one of the online HIN decoders and see if it works. It probably will.

http://hindecoder.com/

 

[ken51k]

So IADNR is saying that as "part of the verification process includes boat owners signing an affidavit included in the mailing that confirms they will permanently attach the new HIN to the boat" This is saying the boat owners have to alter/afix new HIN numbers to their boats. Good luck with this! I wound never buy a boat with
an altered hull number. This looks like a disaster in the making. Leave it to the government to screw things up real good.

 

[GA_Boater]

So IADNR is saying that as "part of the verification process includes boat owners signing an affidavit included in the mailing that confirms they will permanently attach the new HIN to the boat" This is saying the boat owners have to alter/afix new HIN numbers to their boats. Good luck with this! I wound never buy a boat with
an altered hull number. This looks like a disaster in the making. Leave it to the government to screw things up real good.

You get an official sticker from the state and a letter from the state saying the HIN is state issued. You can also make your own HIN plate with the numbers. It is not an altered HIN.

No disaster, it's exactly how a homemade boat is put into the system.

 

[thumpar]

If you are close to another state you could register there. I have the option to register in ID even though I don't live there.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

I may not have said it as clearly as I thought I did but I do believe Iowa is surprisingly enough trying to get the books in order so to speak. I'm fairly certain there's no problem since I just transferred it into my name last Feb w/o issue.

Maybe your letter was supposed to be for the Jet?

At first I thought it was for the Jet but it lists the registration #s for the 18

Run your HIN through one of the online HIN decoders and see if it works

Just did and think I may have found what flagged the HIN - When I entered it in entirety from the plate it came up that it was invalid. When I drop the the -F9 the plate shows at the end it comes up valid and gives me all kinds of neat info. (Says SC is owned by Smokercraft thought it was the other way around) Since the papers are with the boat and I can't check to see what they have listed I'm hoping this is the issue.

I've dealt with the folks in the registration office many times and they are always very helpful so now that I have the pic I'm going to try and get down there tomorrow. I'll keep ya posted on what I find out.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

15 minutes to visit the office, fill out the affidavit, email the pic to the wonderful gal helping me, and it's all handled.

It was the -F9 at the end, they had -F on record, which neither is required and is why it kicked it out of the system. The Jet will stay with no HIN as they are only concerned with anything that originally was required to have a HIN.

The why now? Seems the CG is leaning on states (or at least Iowa) to get their records corrected. She said that if you got a letter there would be no renewing the registration until it was handled and almost made it sound as if they were going to wipe the system of the information unless the affidavit was taken care of. That could make it interesting for folks looking to either trace previous owners or purchasing a "project" boat.

 

[GA_Boater]

So the end result is you keep the original HIN? With or without the F9?

I think F9 is SC's model ID but I'm not 100% sure and as you said, not really part of the HIN.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Yep original HIN stays, all she did was change it in the computer records to drop the -F they had to make it fall into the correct number digits.

 

[GA_Boater]

Well now you're as legal as you can be.

Good to know there weren't any real problems to get fixed

 

[shrew]

If you are close to another state you could register there. I have the option to register in ID even though I don't live there.

No, you can't. Note that there are 50 states. There are 48 other states other than Id and the one you live in. It matters not what is legal or required in the 49 other states. It only matters what is required in the state where the boat is being registered and used.

In the case of Iowa, as with most states, if you boat more than 60 consecutive days in the state of Iowa, it must be registered in Iowa. You're proposing circumventing the registration laws of the state.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Boating/Boating-Registration

Please be aware of the local laws before advising people on them.

 

[thumpar]

No, you can't. Note that there are 50 states. There are 48 other states other than Id and the one you live in. It matters not what is legal or required in the 49 other states. It only matters what is required in the state where the boat is being registered and used.

In the case of Iowa, as with most states, if you boat more than 60 consecutive days in the state of Iowa, it must be registered in Iowa. You're proposing circumventing the registration laws of the state.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Boating/Boating-Registration

Please be aware of the local laws before advising people on them.

Most people that live near another state boat in another state. I am only 30 minutes from ID and boat there often. Couer d' Alene has a boat in only campground we stay at. I am not talking about breaking any rules.