My concern over the
hull number engraved on the stern and listed on my
Florida title, was correct. A rep from
Catalina researched the numbers and called today to inform me that the
hull numbers and date of production are false. Hull 4309 was not produced until the end of 1974 or early in 1975, indicating that the
boat, like my friends, was stolen, probably long ago. No 1972 cat 22 was ever produced with that hull number, that is how stolen boats get registered. As long as the number you give the tax/tag does not match any other
boat, you get a title. They do not do inspections.
While I am probably safe from a USCG
inspection discovering my numbers are false, I will never know when it was made. I bought it immediately because it was like new, inside and out, so who knows. My friend, knowing nothing of Federal law and HIN numbers until I informed him, would have had his boat impounded and he fined if stopped for any reason. The rivet heads were flared out and scratches show the id plate had been pried off, Big Red Flag. HIN numbers have been required to be on the upper stern or rear starboard side, on every boat since late 1972. The 1984 amendment required the
builder to place the number in a second, hidden place, so that if stolen it could be identified.
Most are not aware of how common this is. As a youngster, my friends father and uncle were pros. Every year they made a couple of trips to
Florida and returned to Oklahoma with a newer high dollar boat, got a new title and
sold the boat. An easy 15 to 20 k. They were never caught. The friend later on did the same with boat trailers in
San Diego. The down side for the buyer?...my brother bought a car in
New York, was stopped for speeding, cop ran the VIN, and he was arrested. The charges were later dropped, but the car was returned to the owner and he was out the
money he paid.
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