I've done some analysis on the hull numbers (HIN) in the registry and come up with some interesting facts. The first 8 numbers of the HIN include info on where a boat was manufactured, what model, and the actual number of the hull. Note that in 1984/1985 the hull number format changed slightly but the first 8 numbers still have the same info. Below are some interesting facts I've found (please note that this is based on about 50 HINs that I have, and there might be some errors in the HINs).
- A question that is asked a lot is what does the hull number in the HIN represent - i.e. hulls for that model built for the year, or from the start of production, etc. From the HINs I have, I see that the hull numbers for a particular model, from the years 1982-1985, are always higher than the previous year. From 1985 on, they are are not. I interpret this as before 1985, the hull number in the HIN is the actual number of hulls for that model built since the model was introduced. After 1985, it is the number of hull built from the beginning of the year.
- Another question that gets asked is, how many Stingers were bult. If you accept my interpretation of #1 above, at least the following number of hulls were built by model:
202 - 197
222 - 179
230 - 144
260 - 1236
311 - 146
312 - 899
313 - 112
314 - 108
334 - 1
375 - 119
390 - 363
415 - 236
This would make a total of at least 3,514 Stingers - it seems like a lot, I know.
- The 260 was the most built hull, then the 312 and 390.
- By model, the hulls were built in the following location:
202 - Goshen, IN
222 - Bradenton, FL
230 - Bradenton, FL
260 - Bradenton, FL and Goshen, IN
311 - Bradenton, FL
312 - Bradenton, FL
313 - Bradenton, FL
314 - Bradenton, FL
334 - Holland, MI
375 - Bellingham, WA
390 - Bradenton, FL and Gallipolis, OH
415 - Bradenton, FL and Bellingham, WA
- From the documentation I can find, the Stingers weren't put into production until 1982. However, from people I've talked to, the Stingers may have been built before 1982 as Excaliburs. I've found an Chris Craft Excalibur (
http://www.chriscraftstingers.com/muchos%20caballos.html) from 1980 that has the model code of a Stinger 312. And in looking at the hull numbers for other models such as the 260s, I can tell that it looks like the hulls were being built before 1982.
That's it for the info - if you have any ideas or info regarding the hull numbers, please let me know.
