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I have been doing a bit of research regarding registering my latest hull and am trying to gather as much information as I can to make this process easier for all of us, as well as educate the builders on what they can provide to make things easier. I am learning as I go so bear with me if I make incorrect statements and feel free to correct me. In an effort to keep this first post as accurate and up to date, I will be editing the context as I go so don't freak out if things change.
Long story short, aftermarket hulls do not come with a HIN.
Why not?
Well, a HIN can only be issued by a manufacturer that builds a complete, certifiable, water ready boat.
Since our hulls, as delivered, are far from water ready, we assume the responsibility of making it compliant and thus become the manufacturer. We then must register our completed boats as "homebuilt" with the local state authority.
This is the point where things get tricky and everybody's experience has been different. Every state is a bit different and even different offices within a state can differ greatly.
Some of the most common requirements seem to be;
- Bill of sale
- Sales agreement or receipt of payment
- completed application for State Issued HIN
- Payment of applicable taxes and fees
Additional things that can and have been requested;
- List of material
- Receipts for listed material
- Letter of intent
- pictures or actual presence of hull for inspection
- HIN or C/O issued by hull builder (not required and covered in further detail later)
What this boils down to is that you will have to contact your local authority and simply ask what documentation they require to process a request for a state issued "homebuilt" HIN.
*** The only reason I am going thru all this is because the particular authority I am dealing with, is insisting that the hull builder must issue the HIN. I have stated numerous times that they are exempt because it is not a complete boat but they are demanding I provide the documentation backing my statement. What you will see below is the regulations and documentation I have gathered in order to satisfy their request. I certainly hope that no one else has to go thru this but hopefully, if I do my homework, I can make it easier if they ever do.
I finally found the smoking gun on HIN's. If you run into any issues, print the following document and show it to your state authority.
As per page 3 of USCG Boating Safety Circular 85 published in March of 2007
http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/pdf/recalls/BSC85_1.pdf
A HIN or C/O is required to register a boat within a state and obtain a title or registration. The USCG has absolutely no involvement in this process.
Here are some of my sources;
http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/boat_builders_handbook_and_regulations.aspx
http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/hin.html
You can download the boat handbook and read thru all the regulations here;
http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/boatbuilder_s_handbook/downloads.aspx
You can search thru all the current listed Companies and there MIR's here;
http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic1.aspx
Links to other threads on the same topic but with some specific state requirements
California: http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/131533...rick&highlight=list+of+all+hull+manufacturers
Long story short, aftermarket hulls do not come with a HIN.
Why not?
Well, a HIN can only be issued by a manufacturer that builds a complete, certifiable, water ready boat.
Since our hulls, as delivered, are far from water ready, we assume the responsibility of making it compliant and thus become the manufacturer. We then must register our completed boats as "homebuilt" with the local state authority.
This is the point where things get tricky and everybody's experience has been different. Every state is a bit different and even different offices within a state can differ greatly.
Some of the most common requirements seem to be;
- Bill of sale
- Sales agreement or receipt of payment
- completed application for State Issued HIN
- Payment of applicable taxes and fees
Additional things that can and have been requested;
- List of material
- Receipts for listed material
- Letter of intent
- pictures or actual presence of hull for inspection
- HIN or C/O issued by hull builder (not required and covered in further detail later)
What this boils down to is that you will have to contact your local authority and simply ask what documentation they require to process a request for a state issued "homebuilt" HIN.
*** The only reason I am going thru all this is because the particular authority I am dealing with, is insisting that the hull builder must issue the HIN. I have stated numerous times that they are exempt because it is not a complete boat but they are demanding I provide the documentation backing my statement. What you will see below is the regulations and documentation I have gathered in order to satisfy their request. I certainly hope that no one else has to go thru this but hopefully, if I do my homework, I can make it easier if they ever do.
I finally found the smoking gun on HIN's. If you run into any issues, print the following document and show it to your state authority.
As per page 3 of USCG Boating Safety Circular 85 published in March of 2007
http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/pdf/recalls/BSC85_1.pdf
The USCG regulates the standards to which a boat must be constructed. They issue a MIR (Manufacturers ID Code) to recognized boat builders who use that to assign HIN (Hull identification numbers) or C/O's (Certificate of Origin) to each boat before it can leave the factory.BOATS VS. BARE HULLS
A bare hull is not a boat:
- A bare hull manufacturer has no way of knowing the eventual weight of the finished boat (necessary for determining safe loading information and any required volume of flotation material).
- A bare hull manufacturer has no way of knowing whether the finished boat will be powered by an outboard or an inboard and whether the fuel used will be gasoline or diesel.
- The bare hull manufacturer does not install navigation lights.
- If the finished boat is later recalled for failure to comply with an applicable Coast Guard safety standard or for a defect which creates a substantial risk of personal injury to the public, the bare hull manufacturer should not be legally responsible for defect notification and correction (unless, of course, such a defect involved complete hull failure).
Bare hull manufacturers are not boat manufacturers.
There are no Coast Guard safety standards or regulations which apply to a bare hull. Therefore, a bare hull manufacturer should not:
(1) affix a HIN, because the Manufacturer Identification Code in an HIN affixed to a boat identifies the entity that is legally responsible for construction of the entire boat -- not just the hull;
(2) affix a certification label;
(3) affix a U.S. Coast Guard Maximum Capacities label; or
(4) install flotation.
The Flotation Standard is predicated on the assumption that a manufacturer has performed certain tests in accordance with the Safe Loading Standard. Since these tests are not performed on bare hulls, then logically, there is no regulation requiring a bare hull manufacturer to install flotation material.
Instead, the individual or company that buys a bare hull is subject to the regulations. The individual who buys a bare hull to complete for his or her own use would obtain a Hull Identification Number from the State where he or she resides.
A company engaged in the business of assembling a bare hull and an engine package would be the one that should apply for a MIC, assign the Hull Identification Number and, if necessary, build the boat to comply with applicable Coast Guard safety standards and regulations.
The Recreational Boating Product Assurance Division recognizes that there are boat manufacturers with Manufacturer Identification Codes who manufacture both finished boats and bare hulls. The finished boats must be built to comply with the regulations; however, the bare hulls they sell for completion by individuals or other companies should be free of HINs or other compliance labels.
A HIN or C/O is required to register a boat within a state and obtain a title or registration. The USCG has absolutely no involvement in this process.
Here are some of my sources;
http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/boat_builders_handbook_and_regulations.aspx
http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/hin.html
You can download the boat handbook and read thru all the regulations here;
http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/boatbuilder_s_handbook/downloads.aspx
You can search thru all the current listed Companies and there MIR's here;
http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic1.aspx
Links to other threads on the same topic but with some specific state requirements
California: http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/131533...rick&highlight=list+of+all+hull+manufacturers
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