Hull Number & Model Year

[Roger Dunn, Lion 168, NS30C, Belmont Harbor]

Last year I took ownership of a 30C that's been in our family since 1990.  The USCG Certificate of Documentation issued back then indcates "Year Built 1982."  However, I noticed the broker's sales document indicated the Model and Manufacturing Year was 1983.  I want to confirm the correct year / age.

The Hull Number on the COD is: ZHYN3168M83A.  The "83" I believe indicates that Lion is a 1983 boat (and 1982 on COD is wrong) but I would like to verify the hull number.  Unfortunately, the hull number stamp on the transom has been obscured by years of paint.

Is the hull stamped anywhere else other than the transom?

I know it seems trivial but I'd like to set data straight.

Roger Dunn

N30C Lion 168

Belmont Harbor, Chicago

[Rob Cohen "Soave" NS33 Westport, CT]

Hi Roger,

The hull number in your note matches the one in the Nonsuch directory for sail # 168.  According to the hull#, your hull looks to be one of three 30C boats started in in August '83.

The directory is in the members tab on the INA website.

Rob

s/v SOAVE

NS33 #009

Cedar Point YC

Westport, CT

[Ken Dakin]

Hello Roger

Helen Dakin (membership) here, responding to your question.

You have indeed the correct hull identification number for your boat.

There is an excellent one page summary of the hull number system on the member side of the INA site. 

Look for it 

It’s under “information “ then “miscellaneous boat data” and is titled:

Nonsuch Hull Numbering System

  

Yours is a 1983 boat.

Helen D

Sailing “sashay” N33 #7

Kingston Ontario 

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 20, 2025, at 9:01 PM, 'Roger Dunn, Lion 168, NS30C, Belmont Harbor' via INA Nonsuch Discussion Group <INA-Nonsuch-Di...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Last year I took ownership of a 30C that's been in our family since 1990.  The USCG Certificate of Documentation issued back then indcates "Year Built 1982."  However, I noticed the broker's sales document indicated the Model and Manufacturing Year was 1983.  I want to confirm the correct year / age.

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[Don Crossley]

Hi, my NS30U HIN says its a Jan 1987 model, although I think it's safe to say its a 1986 boat completed just before Christmas of that year. Yours could be a similar discrepancy, or simply a typo error.

I found a second HIN embossed in the fibgreglass in the head floor under the wood grate below the sink. Just got home from my boat, otherwise I'd send you a picture. Look there too

Cheers

Don

[Joe Valinoti]

Roger:  In addition, if there ever was a survey done for the insurance co. and you have the paperwork, some surveyors take a picture of the HIN.

 

Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA

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[Rob Cohen "Soave" NS33 Westport, CT]

Roger, 

As an aside..... in talking with other owners of boats built in small production runs, It is not unusual to see minor differences between HIN and "Registered As".  Sometime records imply interesting things about a boats history.  It seems likely you boat was part of a trio of hulls that were started ( or assigned HINS saying they were started) in August of '83.  

It is unusual for a new boat to be registered as an older boat unless there was a difference in the sales tax calculation for new vs used boats.  It is also possible that the manufacture didn't follow the convention of dating the HIN with the date the hull was started, they may have projected a year it would finish.  Maybe your boat ( which appears to be the first in the HIN dated August '83 production run ) was actually started in '82 and delivered quickly. The registration authority may have forced the owner to register his new boat as the current year even though the HIN said it was built in a future year.

The explanation for discrepancies,   sometimes have to do with whether the boat was built to fill and order or built to create inventory to be sold ( hopefully soon ).  

Registration authorities generally allow "new" boats to be registered with the year they were purchased because owners are  sensitive about resale value of the boat ( for newer boats age matters ).  Retailers encourage this by listing boats with the year they were shipped from the factory rather than the year they were built.  Most if the time, if there is a difference  the HIN is year older than the registered as model year. 

You just don't know....  Also, some manufacturer's allow buyers to reserve a hull number in advance, so they skip reserved #s if they haven't received the down payment yet.   Looking at the directory,  Redemption sail #129 and HIN ZHYN3202M84A dated as '84 is sandwiched between ZHYN3199M83J and ZHYN3203M83K bother dated as '83

At some point ( just like for people ) a boat's age isn't as important as how it was cared for over the years.  Well loved boats are more valuable than neglected boats regardless of age.  

Love your boat and your people and they will fill your life with happiness.

Great to see a boat that has been cared for by the same family for so many years.

Sail on,

Rob

s/v SOAVE

NS33 #009

Cedar Point YC

Westport, CT

[Jean Morissette]

I agree Great to see a boat that has been cared for by the same family for so many years.
All the best
Jean
Third Base NS30C 224
CNBI YC
BERTHIERVILLE
Envoyé de mon iPhone

[Roger Dunn Lion NS30C #168 Chicago IL]

Thanks everyone for these great replies and resources.  I am now updating the COD so I am the sole owner.  Given the long history and multiple scenarios, I've decided to leave the COD 'As Registered' date unchanged.  So history is history and, as Rob noted, treatment over the years outweighs boat years.

Roger Dunn

N30C Lion 168 
Belmont Harbor, Chicago