Hull Identification Numbers

Bishop · Post by **Bishop** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:50 pm

Is anyone aware of a way in which I can find out more information on a Bertram 33' if I have the hull identification number?

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:57 pm

Bishop... Welcome to our sandbox! I know others will offer you welcomes as well.. but as the first it is my privelege to welcome you to the best online source of Bertram 33 and 35 info on the web. Here you will find answers to probably any question you can ask about our boats. Specifically to answer the question you ask.. I suggest that you click on the "search" function at the top of this page.. and type in "hull numbers".. after a few seconds (the times seem to vary, so do not lose patience, but lately I have noticed it takes so long my computer seems to lock up) a bunch of links to past strings of posts will appear, all having something containing the search terms you entered.. but since I had the same question as you ask when I first bought my boat I did some searching on the subject.. the following info comes from one of my posts in which I reported what I learned after calling Bertram in FL... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My hull number is.. . BER H 0683 M 81 K . 83 (I inserted spaces here for purposes of this discussion, except for an existing space before the "83".. The BER term is naturally for Bertram.. The H stands for the length.. ie: 33'.. (Bertram 31's have the letter G) The 0683 is Bertram's assignment of a number specific to the individual boat.. Next is supposed to be a letter between A and L.. which identifies the month the boat was completed.. using A = 1 (Jan) through L = 12 (Dec).. My boat has the letter M, which does not exist in their system! (Apparently this indicates the boat took more than 12 months to complete!). Next after the letter above is supposed to be a single number, which is the last digit of the year the boat was completed. My boat has the two digits 81, which might indicate my boat is a 1988, or an 1981.. but that is obviously not the case. Two digit numbers do not belong in this system. The letter K in my case could represent the month of November, but their system does not use a letter in this location, and the last two digits, 83, don't make any sense to him either. (I later learned that in fact my boat's shipping paperwork was prepared in November, but of 1982, and it was defined by Bertram and sold as a 1983 model!) He says they have records of every boat they have built, and is going to pull them from their files, using just my 0682 ID number, and see what he finds.. BTW: Bertram's records are not kept on a calendar year basis, rather it seems they are on a fiscal year basis.. so simply knowing the month and year of manufacture does not assure you of the specific model you have. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What I later learned is that my boat's hull was started in 1981, but the boat was not moved out of the factory until late in 1982 or early 1983, therefore it shows some confusing numbers. It seems that Bertram used several different numbering systems, (or at least modified their system occasionally) and there is a lot of confusion about some of the details of specific boats. You can call Bertram (I am sure one of my posts states who I called) and get a copy of the small yellow "Manufacturer's Statement Of Origin To A Boat Or Motor" form, which is usually accepted as the final word on when your boat left the Bertram factory, who was the original buyer, what model year it is, and what engines were in it. Tell us more about your boat, where you are, and anything else you want to share with us.. and take some time to do some searches and see what is available here for you. I am sure you will be overwhelmed! Again.. Welcome! Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC

Bishop · Post by **Bishop** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:04 am

Frank, I was taken back by such a warm reception to the proverbial "sandbox." I was also greatly appreciative of such an insightful and quick response to my inquiry. Suffice it to say, ever since I caught "Betram fever" I have frequented this site quite often. I again thank you for your assistance and look forward to posting many more questions. William

Post by **Admin** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:00 am

William, here is the link to the topic with the most info: HIN Info

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:35 am

Bishop... Thanks for the comments but you will find everyone here to be as helpful as they can be. We all are proud of our boats, and with them being so old it seems the same questions come up again and again, so there is a lot of good info that is available to share. I am sure in time you will have info to offer to someone else. So don't be reluctant to ask anything.. What goes around comes around. Everyone here will be asking about your boat.. so you might as well introduce yourself with a new string and tell us about it.. especially your experience with it, how long you have had it, what kind of engines you have.. etc, etc. Inquiring minds will want to know! Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC