Vagabond, Hobie/Holder
Hull Identification Number Interpreted


Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) first became a federal requirement on Nov. 1, 1972.

From Nov. 1, 1972 to Aug 1, 1984 two formats were used to show the date of production,
STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR.


STRAIGHT YEAR example
Typical for the Vagabond HIN

 
V A G B 9 9 9 9 0 4 7 9


 VAG  B9999  04  79
 Manufacturer
Identification
Code		  Hull
Serial
Number		  Month
of
Production		  Year
of
Production
       



MODEL YEAR example
Found on the Holder-14

 
C C M J 9 9 9 9 M 8 4 G


 CCM  J9999  M  84  G
 Manufacturer
Identification
Code		  Hull
Serial
Number		  M=Model
Year
format		  Model
Year		  Month
of
Production
(see table below)
 A=Aug  B=Sept  C=Oct  D=Nov  E=Dec  F=Jan
 G=Feb  H=Mar  I=Apr  J=May  K-Jun  L-Jul




In 1984 an updated format known as the "NEW FORMAT" replaced STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR formats.
From January 1, 1984 until August 1, 1984 STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR were optional.
On August 1, 1984 the New Format became mandatory.


NEW FORMAT example
Found on the Holder, Holder MkII, and Hobie One

 
C C M F 9 9 9 9 B 7 8 7


 CCM  F9999  B  7  87
 Manufacturer
Identification
Code		  Hull
Serial
Number		  Month
of
Production
(see table below)		  Year
of
Production		  Model
Year
         
 A = Jan  B = Feb  C = Mar  D = Apr  E = May  F = Jun
 G = Jul  H = Aug  I = Sep  J = Oct  K = Nov  L = Dec

According to USCG Boating Safety Circular # 70

"The ninth and tenth characters in each Hull Identification Number indicate the month and year of the date of certification. In all other cases characters nine and ten must indicate the date of manufacture, which can be no earlier than the date construction or assembly began and no later than the date the boat leaves the place of manufacture or assembly or is imported into the United States for the purposes of sale . . .

A boat is considered certified to comply with safety standards in effect on the first day of the month shown in the ninth character of the HIN. Character ten is the last digit of the year of certification (or manufacture).

Characters 11 and 12 are the model year of the boat and must be indicated using Arabic numerals for the last two numbers of the model year. Selection of the model year of a boat is up to the boat manufacturer."



Notes:

In the August 1, 1984 update the USCG required manufacturers to put the HIN in two locations. One on the starboard side of the transom and one somewhere permanent inside the boat.

The alpha character that begins the hull number sequence may represent model changes -or- it may have changed when the four digit number rolled over -or- both.

VAG = VAGABOND Sailboats, INC., 33012 Calle Perfecto, San Juan Capi., CA
CCM = Coast Catamaran AKA HobieCat CO 4925 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, CA
   HobieCat purchased Vagabond Sailbots, Inc. in 1983

Hobie appears to follow the convention of changing model years in August.



Information source:

US Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Recreational Boating Product Assurance Division
Boating Safety Circular # 70
BACK TO THE BASICS - HIN 101

Click Here for the full text


Code of Federal Regulations Title 33, Volume 2,
Sec. 181.25 Hull identification number format
Revised as of July 1, 2002


USCG Manufacturers Identification Code (MIC) Database
Click Here for website