Boat History via HIN No.

[holmek]

Hi all. Can anyone comment on the value of paying for a boat history via the site that uses the boat HIN number? I'm wondering how they would accumulate a usage/damage/repair history unless successive owners volunteered this information.

[leftbrainstuff]

Not sure there would be any point for a recreational yacht. How would they get that information?

Even the USCG register was sparse and only includes ownership details.

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[GordMay]

They probably search for insurance claims.

[valhalla360]

Unless there was an accident or major insurance claim, I doubt much would show up.

Even if the engines, rigging and other major replacements happened...there is no central database tracking these works. Go down to minor fixes, repairs and upgrades and it's even worse.

[Cheechako]

I would think the only value you MIGHT see is if the boat was a total loss at some point, then salvaged. That might show up. Or some states may tie insurance claims to the title somehow on boats, but I'm thinking it's pretty sketchy.

[YachtBroker]

There is no good "car fax" source for boats. Only whatever would be voluntarily registered by an insurance company or an owner. Never seen one in my 32 years of selling boats that was factual.

[Scrimshaw4]

While the history would be interesting if it was available, IMHO nothing beats a rigorus buyers survey of boat, rig and engine by top notch surveyors in each of theses fields.

[Cheechako]

Even a Car Fax on a car can be dubious. For instance. Someone gets a car from the original owner with no collision history, so thus no record of mileage over the years. You replace the speedometer module in the dash with a low mileage one. You then sell the car with this low mileage stated. Everything on record shows only the low mileage statement. But it may have over 100,000 miles on it. Don't ask how I know!