hull # 40

I just picked up a 1973 34' marine trader sedan hull # 40. Not sure how they numbered there hulls. Did they do it by year, model, size or did they just start with # 1 and add numbers with out regard to model, year of size.?

Does this hull have a set of numbers molded into the fiberglass hull on the Transom? On STBD side near the top edge? If so the last 4 are the year. The next 5 are the hull numbers. And the first three letters are the manufacturer. Your hull age would be right around the time these molded in numbers started.

How's that?

cappy208 said:

Does this hull have a set of numbers molded into the fiberglass hull on the Transom? On STBD side near the top edge? If so the last two are the year. The next 4 are the hull numbers. And the first three letters are the manufacturer. Your hull age would be right around the time these molded in numbers started.

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Close but no coconut

Check out Whats a HIN ?

I'll have to check mine. I'm almost positive mine has only two in last group (79). Probably done on a Monday or Friday!

Last four are two digit month and two digit year of manufacture.

There are no numbers on the transom port or star. The serial # is on a plaque on the lower helm. 34-7310SS Wondering if hull # 40 means that it was the 40th hull built for 34' sedan or the 40th hull built for any model/size in 1973.

I have a Marine Trader also. I'll have to look at my number. Don't know it off the top of my head, maybe I should.

Your number looks like it describes your boat. 34 for how big, 73 for year and 10 for possibly the month of October?

Donna said:

I have a Marine Trader also. I'll have to look at my number. Don't know it off the top of my head, maybe I should.

Your number looks like it describes your boat. 34 for how big, 73 for year and 10 for possibly the month of October?

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As previously posted .... Whats a HIN ? explains how to read the code.

boatpoker said:

As previously posted .... Whats a HIN ? explains how to read the code.

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That's not the whole story. Even though HINs were instituted in early 70's the government didn't strictly enforce the application of Hull Nos until later (IIRC 76 or so). There was a couple year gray area where 'Some Manufacturers' didn't read the memo. This particular boat may have fallen under the grey area. I recall having gone to a couple boats with an electric engraver and carving into the gel coat the HIN retroactively.

Or it is possible the hull was re painted and someone got a little overzealous with the sanding and ground the HIN off.

boatpoker said:

As previously posted .... Whats a HIN ? explains how to read the code.

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Thanks but I'll pass on reading a book right now.

cappy208 said:

That's not the whole story. Even though HINs were instituted in early 70's the government didn't strictly enforce the application of Hull Nos until later (IIRC 76 or so). There was a couple year gray area where 'Some Manufacturers' didn't read the memo. This particular boat may have fallen under the grey area. I recall having gone to a couple boats with an electric engraver and carving into the gel coat the HIN retroactively.

Or it is possible the hull was re painted and someone got a little overzealous with the sanding and ground the HIN off.

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Yeah, some mfg's were sloppy but not much anyone can do about that or the practice of some dealers changing numbers. I saw one boat at the Toronto boat show three years in a row where they had changed the code to make the boat current in each year. Of course Honda was once fined for doing the same thing on a much larger scale.

Donna said:

Thanks but I'll pass on reading a book right now.

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Your choice, inform yourself or continue to guess

boatpoker said:

Your choice, inform yourself or continue to guess

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I guess at nothing of true importance. IE: Systems, engine, etc. My post was just an observation of the sequence.