Hull Identification Number (HIN) a law enforcement representative will make an appointment to inscribe a HIN on your boat. A hull identification number is a unique serial number to each boat consisting of 12 characters in three parts. The HIN is affixed on the upper starboard side of the transom on the outside. It was designed for product recall by the US Coast Guard and is not designed for identifying a boat. However, law enforcement officers use it to confirm boat registrations and to aid in identifying recovered boats. When buying a boat make sure that the HIN on the boat matches the HIN printed on the title and registration certificate. The US Coast Guard issues each manufacturer a Manufacturer's Identification Code to be used on all boats made by that company. The manufacturer assigns a serial number and a month of certification. The serial number must be unique to each boat and the date of certification shows the month and year the boat was built. The Manufacturer's Identification Code, the serial number and the certification date make up the HIN. If your boat doesn't have a HIN, you must obtain one. Use form OPS 420, "Application for a Hull Identification Number." You can download it from the New York State Parks website at www.nysparks.com/recreation/boating/resources.aspx. This form is also available through the DMV. Follow the directions on the form and mail it to New York State Parks at the address listed. New York State Parks processes the form and sends it to a local law enforcement agency. After receiving the form, Review Questions: 1. Which boats need to be registered in NYS? ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Which agency registers boats in NYS? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. How are the registrations numbers displayed on the boat?______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Where are the validation stickers displayed? ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. What is the purpose of the Hull Identification Number?________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Answers on page 82 13http://www.nysparks.com/recreation/boating/documents/HINApplication.pdf http://www.nysparks.com/recreation/boating/resources.aspx