Hull number is required to be permanently marked?

[62Scout]

When I went to register my "new to me" '64, I was informed by Arizona Fish & Game that the hull registration number is required to be permanently marked on the outside of the hull on the transom, with the usual stickers not being accepted for this purpose. It was suggested by the lady at the counter that apparently it's common for people to use something like a Dremel to engrave the number directly on the hull on the back of the boat. Obviously she wasn't familiar with fiberglass hulls and gelcoats, lol. Apparently the last owner never did this, and presumably, no one else ever did either. I suspect that it's not something that is enforced by law enforcement, and likely only going to be an issue if the boat is ever stolen...which I'm really not worried about.

Still though, I'm curious if anyone else has ran into this/what they did. I can't imagine any way to permanently mark a fiberglass hull without compromising the hull in some way.

 

[Lightwin 3]

I'm in AZ also. Never had that issue.

My aluminum boat has a plate riveted to the transom

My prior plastic boats had the HID embossed into the transom. My last Whaler needed to be inspected since it came from California. No issues.

What office did you go to? I always go to the one in East Mesa.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the HIN coming out in 1972 is required to be there. your 64 would have a serial number riveted to the inside somewhere

get a tag made up with the serial number and screw it on.

 

[62Scout]

The one up on Carefree Highway, a few miles east of Lake Pleasant. I was specifically told that it has to be permanent, and non removable, which rules out the number stickers because they can be easily scraped off. She implied that screwing an engraved plate on would be acceptable, but given the old adage that any hole in the hull is not a matter of IF it leaks, but rather WHEN it leaks, I wasn't wild about that. I suppose I could likely epoxy a plate on...

 

[Scott Danforth]

if its up by the rub rail with 5200 under it, it wont leak and will be considered "permanent"

 

[62Scout]

5200?

 

[Lightwin 3]

3M 5200 Marine Sealant/Adhesive. Oh, it will then be permanent!

You can get a small tube of 5200 on Amazon for about 9 bucks.

 

[roscoe]

3M 5200 marine sealant

 

[Lightwin 3]

The one up on Carefree Highway, a few miles east of Lake Pleasant. I was specifically told that it has to be permanent, and non removable, which rules out the number stickers because they can be easily scraped off. She implied that screwing an engraved plate on would be acceptable, but given the old adage that any hole in the hull is not a matter of IF it leaks, but rather WHEN it leaks, I wasn't wild about that. I suppose I could likely epoxy a plate on...

I know where that one is, never stopped in there.

As Scott suggested, mount the plate up high and use 5200 sealer. It WON'T leak.

 

[GA_Boater]

If you have a title and bill of sale with a HIN, you can probably just do a transfer.

Before getting carried away, check with the state about getting a state assigned HIN. It's possible that AZ requires a HIN, even on boats built before 1972. I'm not reading all 126 pages of the AZ code below to find out. :smile:

Get a small tube of 5200 at Home Depot. You can get it today and no shipping. Stop at a trophy shop and have an aluminum strip engraved with the HIN. Page 86 has the AZ requirements - AZ code 12-04-505. https://www.azgfd.com/PortalImages/files/Agency/12-04commissionrules.pdf

 

[62Scout]

If you have a title and bill of sale with a HIN, you can probably just do a transfer.

Before getting carried away, check with the state about getting a state assigned HIN. It's possible that AZ requires a HIN, even on boats built before 1972. I'm not reading all 126 pages of the AZ code below to find out.

Already have all that, transferred, etc etc. I've had the boat for a year, and it was one of those things that crossed my mind as I'm going over everything in preparation for dropping it in the water this year...spent a lot of time at the stern of the boat last weekend going over the OB, and realized that I too, had forgotten to handle that HIN issue, lol. I figured it wasn't a huge issue if the boat has made it this long without the number being affixed, but it's still something I'd like to get checked off my to-do list.

 

[tpenfield]

Are we talking about the "Hull ID Number " (HIN) or the state registration numbers? Maybe that is the confusion. :noidea:

The HIN would be marked permanently on the hull. This only became a requirement in 1972, so a 1964 boat would not have been given a HIN at birth.

As stated, usually the state assigns an HIN that the boat can wear with pride for ever and ever.

The registration numbers usually go on the bow section of the boat.

Same idea as a car having a VIN and a set of license plates (tags). If the vehicle (car or boat) ownership moves to another state the license plates are changed, whereas the VIN stays with the vehicle

HIN is like a VIN

Boat registration is like license plates.

If you have a HIN (and title) already, what is the HIN, if you don't mind sharing for clarity purposes? Feel free to X-out the last few digits for privacy.

 

[MTboatguy]

Your DMV had somebody that is new and does not know what they are talking about, just go by the trophy shop, have them stamp the HIN on an aluminum strip, grab some 5200 and then put two pop rivets on the end and glue it to the hull on the right rear next to the splash well.

But let her/him know, there was no HIN required before 1972

 

[JoLin]

Okay, I read a bit of the doc in the link that GA_Boater provided. If the boat doesn't have a HIN (like if it was manufactured before 1972) the department assigns one. So, that's your first step- get one assigned. Then you have to affix it permanently to the boat.

My .02

 

[62Scout]

Yes, it is the HID. The registration number is separate, and covered by the usual stickers up front along with the year tab sticker. I have the state assigned HID on the paperwork they gave me, and that's the number that needs to be permanently affixed.

 

[tpenfield]

So the state leaves it up to the owner to affix or engrave the assigned HIN themselves?

Interesting . . . I guess you can pretty much do what works best for you, as to the method.

When I got a state assigned HIN for my home built boat, the state inspector affixed the HIN labels in 2 designated places on the boat.

 

[62Scout]

That's basically what I was told. Something along the lines of marking the hull, then I think I was supposed to either return the boat to them for inspection, or send them a picture of it. But given that the boat is now over 50 years old, and has yet to have it done, I'm guessing the state doesn't really consider it something that's absolutely needed, lol. I would imagine that if they really cared about it being done, I wouldn't have been able to register it in the first place.