Boast history via HIN (Hull Indentification Number)

[dpetrzelka]

I recently purchased a Buzzards Bay 14, that was home made in Alaska in 1992. Washington State records only go back 8 years showing that the boat was brought into the state from Idaho. I have the prior owners name from Idaho, but no current contact info.

I know that prior to about 2004 in Alaska, all boat registration was through the US Coast Guard -

Is there a way to get builder information from the USCG using the HIN?

If anyone has an idea on where to look for further info on the builder I would greatly appreciate the help.

[Thad]

The first three letters are the builders id code. Whether or how that is accessible from the CG I don't know. I expect it is. May not still be there anyway.

[dpetrzelka]

Thad- I was thinking that since it was home made in Alaska there is not likely a company that would show up via the builders ID code - AKZ

Or is there more information hidden in that code than I recognize?

[Thad]

Not really. AK sounds like Alaska and the Z suggests to me that he was the 26th person from Alaska registering. Something like that. Or his name began with Z. No way to tell without getting the identity from the CG.

[Breakaway]

The MIC--Manufacturers Identfication Code-are the first three letters. More details here. (http://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/dealer/sop_boat/B110_assigned_hin.htm)

More info from the Coast Guard is here. (http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic1.aspx)

[TimH]

I scraped off my Wa numbers and revealed the original MC numbers beneath. I wish I could track those numbers since I almost bought an identical boat 20 years ago in MC. Coud it be the same boat?

[Breakaway]

AKZ is a general designation for all home-built boats in the state of Alaska, according to this Coast Guard Page. (http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic_detail.aspx?id=AKZ)

[dpetrzelka]

Should the coast guard have a file that would show the name and address of the original builder, even though it is home built?

Washington and Idaho Dept. of Licensing only keep records back 6 years - seems crazy.

Just need to figure out who to call with the HIN to track down more info.

thanks all

[AstoriaDave]

AKZ is a general designation for all home-built boats in the state of Alaska, according to this Coast Guard Page. (http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic_detail.aspx?id=AKZ)Likewise, ORZ is for homebuilts from Oregon: http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic_detail.aspx?id=ORZ

As to the other question: I doubt any state keeps records on homebuilts for many years. The process is pretty casual in Oregon and is primarily designed to prevent fraud. The concern is that someone will steal a boat and apply for a new HIN, masquerading the boat as newly built. The county mountie who came and looked mine over just asked some basic questions, looked at the boat (obviously homebuilt), submitted a form to the State and it went from there.

I'm sure my name and address are on file with the HIN right now, but the boat has only had a HIN for a little over two years. Several years down the road, I bet the info will get washed out.