DaySailer.org Forum

I see a lot of people here talking about what hull number they have. How does one find that? Is it stamped on the boat somewhere that I am not seeing?

From your other posts I know that your are the proud owner of what you believe is a "late 60s" DaySailer.

Turns out, the standardized hull numbers (HIN) are a product of the early seventies.

Before that, manufacturers counted not the hulls for each model, but all their hulls. And they gave out a a "class number" which, because it is shown on the sail, is also called a sail number. These two numbers they punched into a metal plate that was screwed or riveted to some place on the boat.

The middle of the rear coaming, or the middle of the front flotation tank are two popular locations for the DS. These spots aren't really hidden, so if you can't find yours, then you are out of luck; your boat got separated from the manufacturers plate at some point.

Of the two numbers, the "sail number" is the more interesting one, because that's the one you might want to put on your sails. (Required if you ever want to race, or just so you can recognize your boat on a photo otherwise). Sometimes the state papers will contain a number, it's hit or miss whether that would be hull or sail number. Numerically, I'd expect a sail number for the late 60s to be above 2000 and up to perhaps double that. (See the history section for more details).

Sometimes, you may find an original sail (or one that has the original sail number still on it, if it was purchased new for your boat).

If you find a likely number you can contact the class association (DSA) at http://daysailer.org and ask the secretary to find out whether the number is claimed by any "known" boat. If not, it can be assigned to you. (At that point, you might decide to join the DSA; your membership would help finance the server bill for this forum, for instance.)

Great info, thanks.

So I looked at the title for my DS1 and also called the PO and he stated it was a 1975. No numbers on sails and no hull number found anywhere on the boat. Here is another interested thing....called Rudy at D&R to order a new mast head sheave and he asked what size I have so I told him and he said it doesn't make sense and wanted a photo of it. I sent him one and he said he had never seen that mast head assembly before in his life--single 2 1/2" single sheave (Rudy stated most DS1's have dual inline sheaves). He then asked me if I had support wires on the mast and I stated yes thinking they all had that and he continued to state that some masts were racing masts with support wires. So I guess I have a racing mast which mainly means just stronger with the supports which is a good thing I guess but would love to change the single sheave out. Guess I will look for a 2 1/2" x 1/2 diameter sheave somewhere at sometime.

I will look again with a magnifying glass and power beam to see if I can see any hull numbers maybe painted over with several coats of paint after many years years.

Sometimes states put a wrong manufacture date on the title. Usually happens if it is the first time the boat is registered in that state. They just put that date on the title.

If your boat was really a 1975, it would have an HIN in the stern, centered above the waterline. You might be able to find where the metal plate was attached on a pre-1972 boat. My DS I is a 1969 boat, the ID plate was centered on the forward flotation tank just below the bulkhead. My boat's class (sail) number is 3229.

John

In even earlier boats, the plaque was mounted on the rear coaming. Mine was missing, but the holes remained in the wood marking the location. If I had to speculate, someone took it off when refinishing the coamings.

I was finally able to date the boat using the spreadsheet in the "DS 1 Design Changes" and the fact that the state registration contained the correct sail number (and not the pre-HIN useless "hull number" which counted hulls per boat yard, and not per model).

Unless that PO personally bought the boat in 1975 from a dealer, I would not trust this to be a '75 when you can't locate an HIN. Doesn't matter really, the older boats are better anyway

Edited: if you are sure that you do own a DS1, then the curious fact is that apparently there weren't any DS1's built in 1975 (See this handy chart). The chart isn't 100% perfect; K.C. Walker on this forum sails a DS1 with sail number 7002, while the chart cuts production of DS1's at 7000, but his year, 1974, does fall into the range.

Perhaps you post or link some pictures, showing, for example, the transom, the floor space behind the CB (w/o floor gratings), the space between CB trunk and front flotation, and any small logos and design features (including any original hardware). That might help people narrow things down for you.

What does the state registration give as hull or sail number?

I have seen references that DS I boats sometimes have a hull number (not the sail or "class" number) etched into the bow under the bumper trim. I've also heard there might be a hull number etched under one of the chain plates. These numbers were suppose to match hull and deck during production from what I read somewhere.

John

You mean, that would have been for pre-HIN boats (that is, what 1971 or earlier)? Because after the reforms that introduced the standard HIN, there is no longer a difference between sail/class number and hull number: the full HIN contains the sail number.

Yes, that would be for pre-HIN boats only. I believe the date for the HIN requirement is October or November 1972, as I recall.

John

I'll take some pictures and post for the fun of it if anybody can take a stab at the date or whatever. I did go around the entire boat with a spot light and my reading glasses (haha) and didn't see anything etched anywhere event though I didn't check near the chain plates. I ordered a new jib and main sail from Intensity but obviously I will not be putting any numbers on the sail if I don't know what to put on them.

Unfortunately the hull ID numbers stamped on the hull/deck are not visible (if they are there) unless you take off the rub rail or the chain plate (DS I) assembly.

John

Windtherapy wrote:I'll take some pictures and post for the fun of it if anybody can take a stab at the date or whatever. I did go around the entire boat with a spot light and my reading glasses (haha) and didn't see anything etched anywhere event though I didn't check near the chain plates. I ordered a new jib and main sail from Intensity but obviously I will not be putting any numbers on the sail if I don't know what to put on them.

If you are a DSA member, you can contact the secretary and she will assign you a number. I had her "assign" me the number I found on the state paperwork - even though the year was definitely off, that number was in the right ballpark and likely the good one.

At least, if I ever end up sailing in a sanctioned event, I can do so with confidence. (I promptly screwed up and used 10" digits instead of 12", but as the sails are now slowly getting past usable, without me ever sailing in a sanctioned event of any kind, that turned out to be a non-issue.... ).

Anyway, you can address the issue "by fiat" if you want ti call it that. What number do your state papers give? Or does your state exclude DaySailers?

On the registration of my 1969 DS I, the state papers showed only the hull identification number. Fortunately, the boat came with the original sails and a new sail. Both mains had the sail number on them. Looking at the "unofficial" list of numbers on the forum, both hull ID and class number fit. The ID plate that is now back on the forward bulkhead confirms the numbers.

John