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Author Topic:   Which hull do I have?

Conrad posted 10-12-2001 01:22 PM ET (US)
My hull # is BWCH7903M84K. I am guessing it was born as a bare commercial hull (am I right?). It has been turned into a center console and has a swingback seat. It has a 1998 Johnson 90 SPL. I bought this Whaler in 1997 for $5500 (boat, motor and trailer). I replaced the original engine (another Johnson 90 SPL) two years ago. Are there any diffenences (besides to console, pilot seat and front rail) between my hull and a Montauk hull of the same year?
Thanks,
Conrad
Bigshot posted 10-12-2001 01:39 PM ET (US)
Hull is the same 1984 right. Not sure if they offered a bare hull then but I think they did.
Conrad posted 10-12-2001 03:01 PM ET (US)
Does the 'CH' in the serial number stand for 'Commercial Hull'? Did the commercial hulls in 1984, have thicker fiberglass or extra floatation or is it the exact same hull?
Thanks,
Conrad
jimh posted 10-12-2001 03:13 PM ET (US)
There are two identifiers: the hull mold number and the official HIN.
For example, on my boat there is a painted, stenciled, number, like "5A00321" which I interpret as the 321st hull molded in the "5A" mold.
Then there is the HIN#, which is like the number you cite, BWnnnnnnnnnnnn76,
which I interpret as being a boat made by Whaler in 1976.
A hull could be molded, then become any of several models, depending on what was installed in the hull. Thus the two numbering sytems were used.
If you need more info, you can try to contact Whaler Customer Service. In the past they have been excellent about keeping records and looking things up. I should say they have been EXTRAORDINARILY excellent about doing this, as I cannot imagine getting this from any other company. You cannot praise Whaler enough in this regard.
Tom W Clark posted 10-12-2001 03:14 PM ET (US)
Conrad,
I'm not sure what your hull number means but an email to Chuck Bennet at Whaler will likely yield a nice history of your hull's production. Many others here have done this and I'm sure one of them will provide you with the correct email address for Chuck.
Whaler's Commercial Products Division started in 1983, I believe, but they had always (or nearly always) offered a "commercial grade" option for the hulls which essentially amounted to an extra 50% of resin and matting in the lay up which resulted in a slightly heavier hull, perhaps an extra 150 lbs in your case. The outward appearance of the hull itself and its buoyancy would be the same.
Bigshot posted 10-12-2001 04:47 PM ET (US)
I am almost positive that my vin is BWCH as well so not sure what the CH stands for. I will double check my vin when I get home being I have to pull my carbs tonight.
jimh posted 10-12-2001 06:21 PM ET (US)
Here is a pointer to some information on HIN number formats and decoding them:
http://www.shipshapetv.org/HullIDFormats.htm
--jimh
jimh posted 10-12-2001 06:27 PM ET (US)
Also: http://www.sailingbreezes.com/Sailing_Breezes_Current/Articles/Feb00/hull_identification.htm
jimh posted 10-12-2001 06:32 PM ET (US)
According to the database at the Coast Guard ( http://www.uscgboating.org/mf/mf_resultMIC.asp ), the Boston Whaler Commercial Boats have an MIC on their HIN that begins with " WCG ".
--jimh
Tom W Clark posted 10-12-2001 09:17 PM ET (US)
jimh,
Fascinating links. With the information contained in them let me make a guess as to Conrad's hull:
BWC means it is a product of Boston Whaler Inc. (not Boston Whaler Commercial and Government Products)
H7903 is the serial number assigned by Whaler (meaning?)
M indicates the HIN is of the "model year" format, not "straight year" format nor "new" format which was optional as of January 1984 but required as of August 1984
84 indicates 1984 as the model year
K means it was manufactured in June of that year.
Conrad, I suspect you have a regular Whaler which may have been originally sold as a bare hull. Not at all unusual for Whalers to start life like this. My first Montauk was a bare hull built up by the dealer so as to avoid the screw holes of the bow rail, which I did not want.
Conrad posted 10-15-2001 10:19 AM ET (US)
Thanks for all of the information it has been a big help.
Thanks,
Conrad

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Author	Topic: Which hull do I have?
Conrad	posted 10-12-2001 01:22 PM ET (US) My hull # is BWCH7903M84K. I am guessing it was born as a bare commercial hull (am I right?). It has been turned into a center console and has a swingback seat. It has a 1998 Johnson 90 SPL. I bought this Whaler in 1997 for $5500 (boat, motor and trailer). I replaced the original engine (another Johnson 90 SPL) two years ago. Are there any diffenences (besides to console, pilot seat and front rail) between my hull and a Montauk hull of the same year? Thanks, Conrad
Bigshot	posted 10-12-2001 01:39 PM ET (US) Hull is the same 1984 right. Not sure if they offered a bare hull then but I think they did.
Conrad	posted 10-12-2001 03:01 PM ET (US) Does the 'CH' in the serial number stand for 'Commercial Hull'? Did the commercial hulls in 1984, have thicker fiberglass or extra floatation or is it the exact same hull? Thanks, Conrad
jimh	posted 10-12-2001 03:13 PM ET (US) There are two identifiers: the hull mold number and the official HIN. For example, on my boat there is a painted, stenciled, number, like "5A00321" which I interpret as the 321st hull molded in the "5A" mold. Then there is the HIN#, which is like the number you cite, BWnnnnnnnnnnnn76, which I interpret as being a boat made by Whaler in 1976. A hull could be molded, then become any of several models, depending on what was installed in the hull. Thus the two numbering sytems were used. If you need more info, you can try to contact Whaler Customer Service. In the past they have been excellent about keeping records and looking things up. I should say they have been EXTRAORDINARILY excellent about doing this, as I cannot imagine getting this from any other company. You cannot praise Whaler enough in this regard.
Tom W Clark	posted 10-12-2001 03:14 PM ET (US) Conrad, I'm not sure what your hull number means but an email to Chuck Bennet at Whaler will likely yield a nice history of your hull's production. Many others here have done this and I'm sure one of them will provide you with the correct email address for Chuck. Whaler's Commercial Products Division started in 1983, I believe, but they had always (or nearly always) offered a "commercial grade" option for the hulls which essentially amounted to an extra 50% of resin and matting in the lay up which resulted in a slightly heavier hull, perhaps an extra 150 lbs in your case. The outward appearance of the hull itself and its buoyancy would be the same.
Bigshot	posted 10-12-2001 04:47 PM ET (US) I am almost positive that my vin is BWCH as well so not sure what the CH stands for. I will double check my vin when I get home being I have to pull my carbs tonight.
jimh	posted 10-12-2001 06:21 PM ET (US) Here is a pointer to some information on HIN number formats and decoding them: http://www.shipshapetv.org/HullIDFormats.htm --jimh
jimh	posted 10-12-2001 06:27 PM ET (US) Also: http://www.sailingbreezes.com/Sailing_Breezes_Current/Articles/Feb00/hull_identification.htm
jimh	posted 10-12-2001 06:32 PM ET (US) According to the database at the Coast Guard ( http://www.uscgboating.org/mf/mf_resultMIC.asp ), the Boston Whaler Commercial Boats have an MIC on their HIN that begins with " WCG ". --jimh
Tom W Clark	posted 10-12-2001 09:17 PM ET (US) jimh, Fascinating links. With the information contained in them let me make a guess as to Conrad's hull: BWC means it is a product of Boston Whaler Inc. (not Boston Whaler Commercial and Government Products) H7903 is the serial number assigned by Whaler (meaning?) M indicates the HIN is of the "model year" format, not "straight year" format nor "new" format which was optional as of January 1984 but required as of August 1984 84 indicates 1984 as the model year K means it was manufactured in June of that year. Conrad, I suspect you have a regular Whaler which may have been originally sold as a bare hull. Not at all unusual for Whalers to start life like this. My first Montauk was a bare hull built up by the dealer so as to avoid the screw holes of the bow rail, which I did not want.
Conrad	posted 10-15-2001 10:19 AM ET (US) Thanks for all of the information it has been a big help. Thanks, Conrad