HIN number request
- Thread starter SIBERNUT
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
SeaLion
Senior Member
I’d ignore these “buyers”. I’ve heard of a scam where they get you to pay for a useless report then disappear.
I don't think there's a HIN lookup service for boats, like an automobile VIN lookup. So I would tend to wonder why they'd ask, too. Unless they know something I don't, I'd assume they're trying to run some kind of automobile buyer scam, figuring it might work the same way for boats, too.
But, hey, might as well ask them why. If nothing else, you'll know if they're offshore based on the grammar in the reply.
But, hey, might as well ask them why. If nothing else, you'll know if they're offshore based on the grammar in the reply.
tiltrider1
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2017
- Messages
- 4,510
- Location
- Pacific North West
- Vessel Name
- AZZURRA
- Vessel Make
- Ocean Alexander 54
Why would you care about a HIN history? What they need is the CG abstract. Unless this boat doesn’t have a documentation number.
Intrepid
Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2024
- Messages
- 6
- Vessel Name
- Nomad
- Vessel Make
- Cape Horn 55
They could be trying to register another boat with that number. I’m currently in the process of registering boat, sending photo of HIN is part it.
paulga
Guru
- Joined
- May 28, 2018
- Messages
- 1,151
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- DD
- Vessel Make
- Marine Trader Sundeck 40'
I bought a similar hin search service last year. Their report is lengthy about the boats history, but I could not get anything useful out of it
SteveK
Guru
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2019
- Messages
- 5,386
- Location
- Gulf Islands, BC Canada
- Vessel Name
- Sea Sanctuary
- Vessel Make
- Bayliner 4588
Here is a hull ID identifier, free to use. It identified my boat correctly.
Snug Harbor
Veteran Member
Some inexperienced buyers expect something like a carfax and are fairly shocked when we tell them we don't have the same thing. boathistoryreport.com will give you some info and can be worthwhile.
Blue Goose
Member
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2014
- Messages
- 11
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Blue Goose
- Vessel Make
- Mainship Pilot 30 Sedan
Got 3 requests for histories with in 30 minutes of posting an ad. None would place a call to me. If don’t care enough to call, just ignore. Same for folks who offer to buy without coming to look. All scams. Talk to your bank about certified checks or echecks. Allow two weeks to “clear” .
Fleming
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2023
- Messages
- 87
You wouldn't know it from the boat history report. Salvage boats don't show up on there. The insurance companies are the only ones who know and they don't share the info. I learned this when I was looking to buy a hurricane damaged boat, but the salvage auctions were selling them for ridiculously (IMO) overpriced values. One of the reasons was that the flippers knew they would have a clean title to resell after slapping some bondo over the holes and pressure washing the interiors.
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2014
- Messages
- 4,235
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- N/A
- Vessel Make
- 1999 Mainship 350 Trawler
IMHO, what they are asking for is part of the BUYERS due diligence, not the seller. If the buyer wants a history report, they are welcome to do their research. Much like the a title search, which is also the responsibility of the buyer, not the seller. The buyer should also be seeking out a survey, but again, not the sellers expense.
