Help identifying my boat? Trying to register it

Ok, so here's my story...I bought this nice little 14' V bottom boat from this nice little old man a little less than a month ago, he gave me his registration and a bill of sale, it has tags through end of this month, I verified it had an HIN, so everything should be fine right??

Well, so I go to our wonderful, gubment operated DFA yesterday to licence it, and no issues assessing it...then I go see the DFA lady...I had my silly rubbing of the HIN, and she says its one digit short...its 11 digits (keep in mind I had the old registration in hand where the old man registered it with this HIN, but anyway)...so she calls the next gubment organization, agfc and they said nope, cant register it, I will have to get another HIN, so she gives me that number.

SO I call the agfc, and talk to a guy that asks what make and model, I said it has none, the registration has none, and the boat has no markings....he says my bill of sale is invalid, and I have to get the make and model....I asked how I do that?? He said, take it to somebody who knows about boats??!!....I then asked him what exactly he did then lol...that went over well.....so NOW I need to identify the dang boat, which has no manufacturer markings ANYWHERE, I went over every inch of it....so any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

I guess I take it to my blind uncle ted, have him say "yep, its a sea nymph 14r"...then call em back and tell em I talked to someone that knows about boats geez

I think you answered your own question. Pick a manufacturer and a model number and give then what they want. Now I know it's not right, and that would bug the crap out of me. But they're not going to try and prove you wrong. You might post some pictures on here and somebody might recognize what it is and help you some.

funny thing is I left them a message yesterday, about 4:15, they just called back, I told em what make and model blind uncle Ted said :-), and they are sending me a form to fill out, attach pictures too and they will generate me an HIN...wow...these new rules are so stupid, you couldn't make this stuff up....so basically if you want to be law abiding, the nuts running the asylum just put you on the merry go round and here we go!! No wonder most folks dont fool with registering jon boats lol

Post several pictures of the boat.....side, front, transom shot, etc. This would be a fun thread and help you, too. Lots of people out here with a lot of knowledge!

My friend had kinda the same problem about a year ago. They said his HIN was a digit short. He went back with another rubbing of the HIN and this time another digit had appeared. He said the more he rubbed on it, the longer it got. :) Gotta play the game sometimes because most of it is BS anyway. Good luck.

Attachment 310370Attachment 310371Attachment 310372here's pics

Kind of looks like an Arkansas Traveler.

Looks like either a old Starcraft or maybe a Mirrorcraft

I was thinking Starcraft, also....50's era. jmo. Good looking old boat.

that looks like a MirroCraft !!!! I had one that look just like it but was not painted !!!

I think it's 1957 MirroCraft SeaNymph. There you have, a make and model. LOL

It’s a MirroStarSeaNymphCraft. [emoji23][emoji23]


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They man I bought it from said it was a 1980, was Starcraft and mirrocraft in business then?

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Originally Posted by ruckmanite

They man I bought it from said it was a 1980, was Starcraft and mirrocraft in business then?

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Yes....been in business since 1903 and still in business now. Our Company | Starcraft Marine

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Pretty sure the HIN number starts out with the manufacturer as the first three letters. Might not be the case many years ago.

I had this same issue with the 14ft flat bottom my son and I just re-built, even did a few Youtube videos on the whole process. The issue seems to be that the DMV was using the "AR number" in the absents of the HIN. So you come in without one they just made your HIN the AR number and sent you on your way which according to the United States Coast Guard is a no go. We purchased the boat off the FaceBook Market, I went down to reg it and they had it in their system as 1999 Waco, well after doing the same thing you did and sending pictures to the game and fish, turns out its a 1969 Eldocraft. Which is no big deal and kinda cool cause that is the year I was born and the boat is in way better shape than me at this point:biggrin.

If you are interested in seeing my vids let me know and I will post the link, they go into more details about the process, I will say it's not the worst experience that I have ever had at the DMV.

That boat looks like it's way better shape than the one we picked up.

It's a 72 mirrocraft. I had one just like it. Plus male sure to say it was 72 cause they didn't start putting ID# on until 72 and not all manufactures did then. Want mandatory until (I think 82). You can check under the front seat and the lip of the rear seat for the #also. If no luck on that approach tell them it a homemade boat. You will have to have it inspected by a game warden or COE officer (who does it in MS). They fill out form and you send it in.

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Well to revisit this, I took pictures, sent them in with the form the lady from AGFC sent me, so I'll let you guys know if I have any further issues.

Thanks for all the help!

Jeff

I'm going to go with blind Uncle Ted on this one.

hey guys, I want to revisit this....I got my letter back from AGFC, and now I have to permanently afix the HIN to the boat so i need i guess to go buy a metal stamp and a pop rivet tool to use....for one time EVER lol....then I have to move the old invalid HIN underneath the seat so it isn't visible...what a mess lol

Jeff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ruckmanite

hey guys, I want to revisit this....I got my letter back from AGFC, and now I have to permanently afix the HIN to the boat so i need i guess to go buy a metal stamp and a pop rivet tool to use....for one time EVER lol....then I have to move the old invalid HIN underneath the seat so it isn't visible...what a mess lol

Jeff

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Jeff, call your local lock smiths. Usually they have a set of those stamps to make metal key tags. You could cut a piece of aluminum and stamp it then trim to fit.

I got mine at a office supply place, to plates for like $5.00. I had to put one on the right rear and hide the other, mine come with double sided tape which helped hold it in place while pop riveted it. Had to send AGAF pictures after to get my final paperwork to reg.

oh cool! good info, was it like office depot or something??

Yeah, a little mom and pop place in North Little Rock called Settle Office Products 758-1050.

good deal, was it made out of brass, or steel or what? office depot shows brass plates but nothing more substantial.

Jeff

Aluminum but the rivets pulled it so tight against the boat I don't think it will be a problem. You might try a trophy shop as well that's basically what it is, the little plate off the front of a trophy.

Just get you an engraver from harbor freight and engrave it under the seat. It ain't got to look pretty. That's what I did. All them boats did start out with the suffix of TW if I remember right with 6 digits behind it.

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I just went to the hardware store and they stamped out the number on a brass plate kinda like a long dog tag. Was about $2.00 I think.

I had a friend in AR that had a rich line boat - looked very similar to yours - his wasn’t painted. Found some info on his model on Pinterest that may provide help for you.
Attachment 311675
Attachment 311676

Well, to update this, I went to Harbor Freight in Jax, got me an engraver for $7, a pop riveter for $4 and went home, etched it on a piece of aluminum and stuck it on the boat and mailed my form with pictures back, and Lord willing will get the form back to get it licensed...go blind Uncle Ted, lol

thanks for all y'alls help!

Now I hope to take her out to Overcup this weekend and do some fishing!

Jeff

Go to Crown Tropies in Breckenridge Village with a copy of your HIN number.. They will make a plaque with it for 5 dollars. They will know what you are talking about. Worked for me as you could not read the HIN on my boat. hope this helps.

Well I have achieved victory! Lol, went to revenue office yesterday and got it licensed so I’m all legal now. Thanks for all the help!!
Jeff