[Title 33 CFR C]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2005 Edition]
[Title 33 - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS]
[Chapter I - COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)]
[Subchapter S - BOATING SAFETY]
[Part 181 - MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS]
[Subpart C - Identification of Boats]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
33NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS22005-07-012005-07-01falseIdentification of BoatsCSubpart CNAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERSCOAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)BOATING SAFETYMANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS
Subpart C_Identification of Boats
Source: CGD 79-013, 48 FR 40718, Sept. 9, 1983, unless otherwise
noted.
[[Page 861]]
Sec. 181.21 Purpose, applicability and effective dates.
This subpart prescribes the requirements for identification of boats
to which section 46 U.S.C. 4301 applies.
[CGD 79-013, 48 FR 40718, Sept. 9, 1983, as amended by USCG-1998-3799,
63 FR 35534, June 30, 1998; USCG-1999-5832, 64 FR 34716, June 29, 1999]
Sec. 181.23 Hull identification numbers required.
(a) A manufacturer (or importer), as defined in Sec. 181.3 of this
part, must identify each boat produced or imported with two hull
identification numbers that meet the requirements of this subpart:
(1) A primary hull identification number affixed in accordance with
Sec. Sec. 181.29(a) and (c) of this subpart; and
(2) A duplicate hull identification number affixed in accordance
with Sec. Sec. 181.29(b) and (c) of this subpart.
(b) A person who builds or imports a boat for his or her own use and
not for the purposes of sale, must identify that boat with two hull
identification numbers that meet the requirements of this subpart.
(c) No person may assign the same hull identification number to more
than one boat.
Sec. 181.25 Hull identification number format.
Each of the hull identification numbers required by Sec. 181.23
must consist of twelve characters, uninterrupted by slashes, hyphens, or
spaces, as follows:
(a) The first three characters must be a manufacturer identification
code assigned under Sec. 181.31(a) or the importer designation assigned
under Sec. 181.31(b).
(b) Characters four through eight must be a serial number assigned
by the manufacturer in letters of the English alphabet, or Arabic
numerals, or both, except the letters I, O, and Q.
(c) Characters nine and ten must indicate the month and year of
certification when a date of certification is required. In all other
cases characters nine and ten must indicate the date of manufacture. The
date indicated can be no earlier than the date construction or assembly
began and no later than the date the boat leaves the place of
manufacture or assembly or is imported into the United States for the
purposes of sale. Character nine must be indicated using letters of the
English alphabet. The first month of the year, January, must be
designated by the letter ``A'', the second month, February, by the
letter ``B'', and so on until the last month of the year, December.
Character ten must be the last digit of the year of manufacture or
certification and must be an Arabic numeral.
(d) Characters eleven and twelve must indicate the model year using
Arabic numerals for the last two numbers of the model year such as
``82'' for 1982 and ``83'' for 1983.
Sec. 181.27 Information displayed near hull identification number.
With the exception of the characters ``US-'', which constitute the
country of origin code for the United States, if information is
displayed on the boat within 2 inches of the 12-character hull
identification number (HIN), that information must be separated from the
HIN by means of borders or must be on a separate label, so that it will
not be interpreted as part of the hull identification number.
[USCG-2003-14272, 69 FR 33860, June 17, 2004]
Sec. 181.29 Hull identification number display.
Two identical hull identification numbers are required to be
displayed on each boat hull.
(a) The primary hull identification number must be affixed--
(1) On boats with transoms, to the starboard outboard side of the
transom within two inches of the top of the transom, gunwale, or hull/
deck joint, whichever is lowest.
(2) On boats without transoms or on boats on which it would be
impractical to use the transom, to the starboard outboard side of the
hull, aft, within one foot of the stern and within two inches of the top
of the hull side, gunwale or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest.
(3) On catamarans and pontoon boats which have readily replaceable
hulls, to the aft crossbeam within one foot of the starboard hull
attachment.
(4) If the hull identification number would not be visible, because
of rails,
[[Page 862]]
fittings, or other accessories, the number must be affixed as near as
possible to the location specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
(b) The duplicate hull identification number must be affixed in an
unexposed location on the interior of the boat or beneath a fitting or
item of hardware.
(c) Each hull identification number must be carved, burned, stamped,
embossed, molded, bonded, or otherwise permanently affixed to the boat
so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious. If the
number is on a separate plate, the plate must be fastened in such a
manner that its removal would normally cause some scarring of or damage
to the surrounding hull area. A hull identification number must not be
attached to parts of the boat that are removable.
(d) The characters of each hull identification number must be no
less than one-fourth of an inch high.
[CGD 79-013, 48 FR 40718, Sept. 19, 1983; 48 FR 53558, Nov. 28, 1983]
Sec. 181.31 Manufacturer identification code assignment.
(a) Each person required by Sec. 181.23 to affix hull
identifications numbers must request a manufacturer identification code
in writing from the Recreational Boating Product Assurance Division,
2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. The request must
indicate the manufacturer's name and U.S. address along with the general
types and lengths of boats that will be manufactured.
(b) For boats manufactured outside of the jurisdiction of the United
States, a U.S. importer must obtain a manufacturer identification code
as required by paragraph (a) of this section. The request of an
importer, as defined in Sec. 181.3 of this subpart, must indicate the
importer's name and U.S. address along with a list of the manufacturers,
their addresses, and the general types and sizes of boats that will be
imported. If a nation has a hull identification number system which has
been accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard for the purpose of importing
boats, it may be used by the importer instead of the one specified
within this subpart. To request a list of those nations having such a
numbering system, write to the Recreational Boating Product Assurance
Division, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001.
(c) Persons who are required to identify boats under Sec. 181.23(b)
must obtain the required hull identification number from the State
Boating Law Administrator of the State where the boat will be
principally used, or, if the State Boating Law Administrator does not
assign these numbers, from the Coast Guard District office in the area
of principal use.
[CGD 79-013, 48 FR 40718, Sept. 9, 1983, as amended by CGD 88-052, 53 FR
25122, July 1, 1988; CGD 96-026, 61 FR 33669, June 28, 1996]
Sec. 181.33 Conditions for use of manufacturer identification codes.
(a) No manufacturer or importer may sell or transfer a manufacturer
identification code or use a manufacturer identification code that has
been assigned to another.
(b) A manufacturer or importer who changes the business name or
address must advise the Recreational Boating Product Assurance Division,
2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001 of the change in
writing.
[CGD 79-013, 48 FR 40718, Sept. 9, 1983, as amended by CGD 88-052, 53 FR
25122, July 1, 1988; CGD 96-026, 61 FR 33669, June 28, 1996]
Sec. 181.35 Removal of numbers.
No person may remove or alter a number required by this subpart
unless authorized by the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard.
Subparts D-F [Reserved]