HIN clarification

[Saffa]

Hi All

I have been reading and gathering information from this forum for awhile now but this is my first question as we near casting off to go cruising.
We are in San Francisco at present and plan to head to Mexico in November/December.
Our yacht is Cayman Islands registered. I have been studying the required paper work etc to enter Mexico, one of which is the required HIN.
I don't have one! Is this only a requirement for USA registered vessels? Should I get one? If so, what is the process?
Thanks for your consideration.

[rgesner]

Production boats will have HIN (Hull Identification Number) but home builders or small boatyards not likely.
Are you a US citizen? If you document your boat with the USCG, they will assign a HIN.

[Saffa]

Thanks rgesner

Boat was built by Jomarco in California 1987-1998.
She is Cayman Islands registered and no, I am not a US citizen.
I reckon I'll explore the option of getting the HIN just to be safe.
Cheers

[MarinerJo]

Thought every boat had a Hull Identification Number. Should be on your boat's registry papers.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Saffa

Thanks rgesner

Boat was built by Jomarco in California 1987-1998.
She is Cayman Islands registered and no, I am not a US citizen.
I reckon I'll explore the option of getting the HIN just to be safe.
Cheers

Go to Latitude 38 - The West's Leading Sailing and Marine Magazine and use their search engine and look up Mexico. Since the fiasco there a couple of years ago, Latitude 38 has been ahead of the curve in explaining what's needed and how to get it. If you don't have a HIN, they discuss that, too.

[Charlie]

HIN numbers were not required prior to a certain year. I forget which one but I have two boats one is a North American boat 1985 (has an HIN) the other is a French boat (not imported to the US) 1981(does not have a HIN).