On the San Juan 23 the HIN is\\(Hull Identification Number) is found on a plaque on the right starboard side of the transom. I have received different information about whether sails on some SJ 23's were issued without numbers, but the number can be ascertained from the HIN. This same number is on the Registration Certificate or Title issued in most states.
 
Here is the breakdown of a hull identification for boats built after August 1, 1984:
 
MMMhhhhhddyy
 
MMM    =    Manufacturer's ID code
 
hhhhh    =    hull serial number
 
dd         =    date of certification. For example "A4". The "A" stands for January. "B" would stand for February, etc.
                    The "4" standfs for the last digit of the year of manufacture.
 
yy         =    model year
 
This information came out of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Boating Skills and Seamanship text, 11th Edition, pages 2-2 and 2-3.
 
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A typical Clark Boat Company HIN cited to me as an example by someone seems to be a modification of this and reads:
 
CLKJO299M79A   
 
CLK would stands for Clark Boat Company, the manufacturer.
 
JO299 would identify the hull series as JO and the sail number as 299
 
From here on I have to speculate. I assume the M79A in Clark's case means  it was model year 1979 which was certified in January. If my supposition is incorrect on this I would appreciate a correction from any San Juan owners who know.
 
So if you had this HIN on your boat, I would list your sail/hull number as 299.
 
The following are HIN given me upon registration as San Juan 23 Skippers. The year may be an assumption either the skipper or I made based on our understanding of the  above.
                                                                                                Assumed Year and Sail/Hull #
William Best:        1977     HIN:    CLKJO223M78E                        223                1978
Rick Linstad:                     HIN     CLKRO506M80H                       509                1980
Paul McLemoore:  1984      HIN:    CLKJO656M84G                       656                1984
Martin Murphy       1977      HIN:    CLK10009M77F                        009                1977
Ted Siegel             1977      HIN:    CLKJ0044M77H                        044                1977
Frank Toms           1978      HIN:    CLKJ0193M788                        193                 1978 (last digit of # seems questionable-                                                    should be a letter, not a number, if my logic is correct)                   
 
The only thing we are concerned about in this exercise is determining the Sail/Hull number of the boat and it seems rather certain it is the three digits I have indicated.
 
I will appreciate any clarification on this members can furnish.
 
Chuck Vande Wetering
PO Box 2205
Friday Harbor, Wa 98250
wwp62@interisland.net
http://www.oocities.org/Yosemite/Rapids/5493
 
".All I ask is...the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking..."

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