deepening HIN numbers in gelcoat

[colinJ]

The HIN numbers on my boat are very shallow and hard to see. The boat is painted but the .5 x 4 inch strip on the transom where the actual numbers are is not painted. I would like to deepen the numbers and paint over that section and have them show through.

Full disclosure, it actually was painted over and when I realized it was impossible to read I stripped that little section of it.

Any ideas on how to do that without making it look suspicious. The boat isn't worth much.

Also I may need to get it inspected in the future.

[XstreamVking]

Leave the numbers as is! Just have a sign shop make a plastic ID plate and glue and screw it to the transom. Permanent install required. If you do anything to the original numbers it would be tampering. I have also made my own plate with a thin pc of stainless and stamped the numbers on it and glued and screwed it on the trans. Make several and place them under the deck and even in the bilge. jm 2cts

[colinJ]

Leave the numbers as is! Just have a sign shop make a plastic ID plate and glue and screw it to the transom. Permanent install required. If you do anything to the original numbers it would be tampering. I have also made my own plate with a thin pc of stainless and stamped the numbers on it and glued and screwed it on the trans. Make several and place them under the deck and even in the bilge. jm 2cts

Serious question though, wouldn't that also be tampering, not that it isn't a valid approach. I mean if the plate is installed over the stock number. If it isn't installed over the stock number what do I do where the stock number is to not have a yellow stripe on the back of the boat?

I think its pretty common to replace old placards. I don't believe that constitutes tampering. I don't see how this would really be different. Even on cars that are restored vin placards for example.

[XstreamVking]

Not over the old vin. Next to it...

[colinJ]

My boat is painted, to have the original one visible I would need to have an ugly yellow strip of gelcoat showing through the paint.

I freely admit that I am not a professional but from a few web searches it seems like replacing the placards and even repairing the hull id on the transom is not all that uncommon.

I mean what if you had to re skin the transom of a boat that had been in a collision.

One other detail I haven't mentioned. The hull ID on the title is wrong. Some previous owner or DMV nitwit added an extra digit making it 13 characters long (HIN's are 12 characters). I need to get it inspected if I want to correct the problem. The title is for the correct year, make length etc.

Not over the old vin. Next to it...

[colinJ]

So I got it inspected this morning and the DMV inspector suggested I get the number "re engraved" and get a replacement placcard.

I asked if that constituted tampering and he clarified that it wasn't an official recommendation

[outasite]

Here in Michigan it's a BIG deal if you tamper in any way with the HIN.

[powerabout]

why dont they put rfid chips in the layup?

[colinJ]

I couldn't find anything specific to boats in California I think the vehicle code section 10750 would apply and it has a specific exemption for restoration of the original number by the registered owner.

https://www.wklaw.com/practice-areas...803-and-10750/

It is illegal here in California at least to operate a registered boat without a hull number displayed.

If you weren't also as the registered owner allowed to restore the hull number then are you supposed to throw the boat away if it gets
damaged?

Here in Michigan it's a BIG deal if you tamper in any way with the HIN.

[outasite]

No,here you take it to a county sheriff for inspection,and get a letter of authoration to manufacture a new plate.Witch must meet there standard.Here if you replace the cab on a pickup truck,you are not allowed to remove or alter the original VIN tag.A new one will be issued by the State,and is affixed to the door jamb.Dont have clue how your state handles vin changes,or replacement.

[XstreamVking]

Who would stop you on the water and inspect out there? That's who you ask.....

[RobF]

i engrave them all the time with a dremel engraving tool
some manufactures actually engrave by hand and dont "stamp" it into the hull, and some obviously use a screw or rivet on tag
those plates get lost , fall off, all the time and corrode to the point you cant read them.
Most laws are directed at defacing or changing the numbers, not replacing due to repair.


There should still be a 2nd number on your boat somewhere, educate yourself where it might be or engrave a 2nd number somewhere else

if you get pulled over and you are a douchebag to the officer chances are he is going to crawl up your butt and look for anything he can to break your balls. Be courteous, dont be a penis and you will be fine