To elaborate, the HIN BWC C7893 M 79K is decoded as follows:
BWC = the manufacturer identification code (MIC) for Boston Whaler; this may be lost on the metal tag but it is clearly inferred from the boat appearance, decals, and prior registration;
C7893 = the hull serial or production number; see more below about the significance of this number;
M = identifies the HIN as a model year format numbering of the hull;
79K = identifies the year and date of production as 1979 June.
The hull production sequence number C7893 is part of the sequence allocated to 17-foot hulls in the MONTAUK series. Refer to an additional document at
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/refere ... uence2.jpgand note the A5 through N9 prefix is reserved for 17-foot MONTAUK type hulls. (See right hand column and upper third of listing). You can also refer to a third document at
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/hin-sequence.pdfwhich will again show that a 17-foot hull production number will be in a sequence starting C5000 through C7999. Clearly your hull's production number C7893 is exactly within this range of production numbers.
The HIN as decoded shows the following information clearly and unambiguously:
--the hull was made by Boston Whaler in June of 1979
--the hull is a 17-foot hull of the MONTAUK style and its hull serial number was C7893, appropriate for the pre-allocated sequences according to Boston Whaler's own literature on that topic demonstrated in two different listings of the sequences.
The registration from New Jersey seems to include the word "HULL" in the HIN, which is completely outside of any scheme of federal HIN numbering and clearly represents some sort of clerical error in the process of registration with that state.
Any Massachusetts bureaucrat that can't accept this information as clear and unambiguous evidence of the original HIN of your boat is just being an obstinate civil servant with a bit of attitude. Gently and politely point out to the bureaucrat that the boat was MADE IN MASSACHUSETTS, is perhaps the most popular 17-foot hull in the history of boating, and is a legendary boat associated with the state and the city of Boston. If that doesn't work, consider moving to New Hampshire (state motto, "Live free or die").