FORIDA NAUTICAL SURVEYORS.
Marine Surveyors & Consultants
2727 NE 32nd Street
Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33306
email:FNSurveys@aol.com www.FloridaNauticalSurveyors.com
Hull ID Number issues
The undersigned surveyor attended the above captioned vessel while it was afloat, in water, at the Marine
facility in Fort Lauderdale on August 10, 2011.
Those in attendance are as follows:
Malcolm Elliott Florida Nautical Surveyors
Kerry Nikula Florida Nautical Surveyors
Prior to this inspection you, Mr. Jon Doe, supplied me with numerous reports and paper work that included
the following:
Marine Services Inc. Hull Survey January 8, 2003
Custom 60’
USCG Page C-33 Application February 3, 2003
Builders Letter HIN September 29, 2003
Dodge Marine Assoc. Hull Survey March 26, 2008
MEOM Engine Survey March 26, 2008
Oil Sample(s)
Marine Services Inc. Hull Survey January 8, 2003
Custom 60’
In Marine Services survey report dated January 3, 2003, Mr. E***** H****** reports that the Hull Identification
Number (HIN) was ABC60001A303 but he also notes that this number was “Not affixed to the hull”.
In that same report dated January 3, 2003 Mr. H****** also reports that the engines were 12v Electronically
controlled Detroit / MTU diesels:
Port Main Engine Model #: 1227K12
Port Main Engine Serial #: 535 200 1846
Starboard Engine Model #: 1227K13
Starboard Engine Serial #: 535 200 1932
Mr. H****** also reports in his January 3, 2003 report that the Transmissions are:
Twin Disc Model #: MG 6449 00A
Ratio: 1.73:1
Port serial #: 2530017
Starboard serial #: 2530028
USCG Page C-33 Application February 3, 2003
In the “Application for Initial Issue, Exchange or replacement of certification of Documentation or Re-
documentation date stamped 3 FEB ’03 one can clearly see that the HIN is typed into the form as being
ABC60001A303 and the number 1**7719 is hand written onto the same form. If one was to look up this
number (1**7719) on the Coast Guard Documentation web site you will find that a CUSTOM 60 was issued
with this documentation number on March 27, 2003 and that the HIN was the same ABC60001A303.
Builders Letter HIN September 29, 2003
In a letter dated September 23, 2003 Mr. J** P*******, General Manager of the Boatbuilders wrote to the US
Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center informing them that a 2003 CUSTOM 60 purchased by
J******* Corporation and named “COE” had been issued the incorrect hull identification number of
ABC60001A303 and this corresponded with the US Coast Guard documentation number of 1**7719.
In that same letter Mr. P******* stated that the correct HIN should be ABC60003D303 and requested that the
numbers be corrected.
Dodge Marine Assoc. Hull Survey March 26, 2008
Mr. John Dodge of Dodge Marine Associates completed a marine survey on March 26, 2008 and on page # 1
of that report (note that this is # 1 after the front cover sheet and noted to be page # 1 in the bottom right hand
corner of the page) Mr. Dodge noted that the Hull No. to be ABC60003D303 and on page # 1 of his “Findings
and Recommendations” – “Hull and main decks” he notes that “vessels hull identification number is not
permanently affixed to the starboard aft transom or the starboard aft bulkhead”
Dodge Marine Assoc. Hull Survey March 26, 2008
Mr. Dodge also reports on page # 1 of his main report that the “Reg No.” is 1**8420 and the vessels name at
that time to be “VAN B” and this vessel was a 60’ Custom
On page # 7 of Mr. Dodge’s report dated March 26, 2008 he noted the following:
Port Generator Model #: 8EOZ44
Port Generator Serial #: 07235
Starboard Gen Model #: 23 EOZ
Starboard Gen Serial #: 0723575
Mr. Dodge reports in his report on page # 10 that an “engine survey was conducted by MEOM.
MEOM Engine Survey March 26, 2008
Oil Sample(s)
In a MEOM invoice dated 3/20/08 under the “Complaint” paragraph it states “Survey/Trans/Gen Sets/Sea
Trial” and in the left hand lower corner it states the following
Serial No. 535 200 1846
Model No. R1227K13
Miles or Hours 1583
Make of Equip 60’ Custom
Assembly No. ABC60001A303.
I have not seen the detailed engine survey report however the oil sample results dated as being taken on
03/26/08 were forwarded and I note the following:
Main engines are MTU 2000 12V
Port Main Engine Serial #: 535 200 1846
Starboard Engine Serial #: 535 200 1932
Transmissions are Twin Disc MG 6449A
Port Transmission Serial #: 2530017
Stbd Transmission Serial #: 2530028
Port Generator Model #: 8EOZ
Stbd Generator Serial #: 23EOZ
Florida Nautical Surveyors Hull Surveyors August 10, 2011
During the inspection that I and my associate, Mr. Nikula completed today, I noted the following;
Main Engines are MTU 12V 2000
Port Main Engine Model #: R1227K13
Port Main Engine Serial #: 535 200 1846
Starboard Engine Model #: R1227K12
Starboard Engine Serial #: 535 200 1932
Transmissions:
Twin Disc Model #: MG 6449 00A
Ratio: 1.73:1
Port serial #: 2530017
Starboard serial #: 2530028
Generators are Kohler:
Port Generator Model #: 8EOZ
Port Generator Serial #: 0723544
Starboard Gen Model #: 23 EOZ
Starboard Gen Serial #: 0723575
As one can see there are slight differences in the numbers and discrepancies were noted in both Mr. H******
and Mr. Dodges reports. These included Mr. H****** reporting that the engine horse power was “4800 HP
each” on page # 1 of his report, they are rated at 1480 HP which he correctly notes on page # 6 of his report.
Mr. Dodge’s notes a “Reg. No.” whereas the actual number he notes in his report on page # 1 is the official US
Coast Guard “Documentation Number”.
Mr. Dodges notes on page # 7 of his report that the port generator model # is 8EOZ44 and the serial number
was 07235 whereas the model # is 8EOZ and the serial # is 0723544.
Mr. Dodges notes the HIN to be ABC60003D303 on March 26, 2008 whereas MEOM notes an “Assembly No.”
as A1C60001A303 on the same date, March 26, 2008.
Hull Identification Number (HIN)
All boats manufactured or imported on or after November 1, 1972 must bear a HIN. The HIN is a 12 character
serial number that uniquely identifies the boat and is a Federal requirement
The boat manufacturer must display two identical hull identification numbers, the primary HIN must be
permanently affixed (so that it can be seen from outside the boat) to the starboard side of the transom.
There is no HIN affixed to this vessel on the exterior and after exhaustive inspection of the interior the second
HIN could not be found either.
The following is a table showing what has been reported and when by the following:
FNS Florida Nautical Surveyors August 10, 2011
Dodge Assoc. Dodge Marine Assoc. March 26, 2008
MEOM Main Engine Original Man. March 26, 2008
H****** Marine H****** Marine Services Jan. 3, 2003
Aug 10, 2011 Mar. 26, 2008 Mar. 26, 2008 Jan. 8, 2003
FNS Dodge Assoc. MEOM H****** Marine
Engines MTU 12V 2000
Port Engine Model #: R1227K13 ****** R1227K13 1227K12
Port Engine Serial #: 5352001846 ****** 5352001846 5352001846
Stbd Engine Model #: R1227K12 ****** ****** 1227K13
Stbd Engine Serial #: 5352001932 ****** 5352001932 5352001932
Transmissions:
Twin Disc Model #: MG 6449 00A ****** MG 6449A MG 6449 00A
Ratio: 1.73:1 ****** 1.73:1 1.73:1
Port serial #: 2530017 ****** 2530017 2530017
Stbd serial #: 2530028 ****** 2530028 2530028
Generators are Kohler:
Port Gen Model #: 8EOZ 8EOZ44 8EOZ ******
Port Gen Serial #: 0723544 07235 ****** ******
Stbd Gen Model #: 23 EOZ 23EOZ 23EOZ ******
Stbd Gen Serial #: 0723575 0723575 ****** ******
Conclusion:
From the above table one can see that in January 3, 2003, March 26, 2008 and August 10, 2011 the main
engine serial numbers and the transmission serial numbers all matched so it is my opinion that the 60’ Custom
that originally came with the HIN: ABC60001A303 and the vessel that I inspected today with the reported
HIN: ABC60003D303 is one and the same vessel.
There is no evidence of the engines, transmissions or either generator being changed out in this vessel as the
overhead and aft bulkheads all appeared to be original.
The above represents the opinion of the undersigned based on the facts presented and the discoveries made
while surveying subject vessel, with no warranty either specific or implied being made.
Respectfully submitted,
Malcolm J. Elliott. CMS
Attending surveyor
Overview:
It would appear that the builder went to the bank when the vessel was nearing completion and borrowed over
$1,100,000 and provided the bank with documentation showing the vessel was documented with the USCG.
The Bank sent a surveyor along to check the boat out and he noted that the hull number was not fixed to the
vessel. The Bank placed a lien on that Documentation.
The builder then went back to the USCG and told them that a wrong hull number had been issued for the boat
and gave the Coast Guard a new HIN and then the Coast Guard issued a new Documentation number but did
not transfer the lien from one document to the other and there lies the major issue.
There was and as far as I know still no safe guards in place to ensure that if a new USCG Documentation
number issued the old documentation is not checked for any Liens.
The owner was advised of the supposedly mistaken HIN and told to apply for the USCG documentation in his
name which he did.
The builder paid about 6 months of payments to the Bank for his loan but then stopped the payments and
then about a year later he died.
It took the bank over 7 years to find the boat and to seize it, by that time it had sold a couple of times and
unfortunately the last owner had paid cash for the boat ($1,050,000)
We went to a Federal Court and the judge found that the legal owner is indeed the bank and the last owner
lost everything.
He is now suing his title company that he used when purchasing the vessel and also suing the builders estate.
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