Hull Numbers

Hull Numbers. What do we know about them?

Hull numbers as we know them today, started on Nov1, 1972, with some changes over the years.

XXX XXXXX XXXX

3 letters, followed by 5 numbers, or 4 numbers and 1 letter, followed by 4 letters and numbers

Confusing? Yes and no. Anyone saying flat out no, has not followed along closely enough. lol

First 3 letters are the boat manufacturer designation, as set by the Coast Guard. Clipper Marine is always CLM. Stop right there! Two other boat manufacturers have also used this code, after the original Clipper Marine company folded in 1977. So the confusion starts. Does not end there.

Next set of numbers is the boat ID number made by the manufacturer. On some sailboats, the length of the boat is part of this set of digits.

Here is where it gets odd, real fast.

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This is the hull number of a CM26

Rod P?????

?

CLM008340674

Millerton Lake, Fresno CA

Is it the 834 26 to be made? Is it the 83rd one, code 4, whatever that means?

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This is a CM30, is it the 3,201 made? No way that is possible.

Geraldine C??????

Quiet

CLM03201M76J

CA

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The last digit in the five is an M, meaning Mexico manufacture, so Mexico made over 3207 CM32's? No way.

Bev ?????

Beverly's Breeze

CLM3207MM75K

Newton, Tx. Berthed in Port Arthur

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Here is mine

CLM 05008

So is mine the 5th one, the 8th one, or the 5008th one, or do these numbers mean nothing as to numbers of boats made? I cannot believe there were 13,000 CM32's made between the south of the border ones, plus the made in America versions.

Lets move on to the dates declared in the number, the last 4 digits.

All Clipper Marine sailboats use the 1972 and newer standard, which says the date month code is

Aug A

Sep B

Oct C and so on

The year is clearly spelled out

So my boat, which is titled 1975, was made on August 1976? That is puzzling.

Lots of puzzles in all of this.

Please post your thoughts about the complicated mess that is CM hull numbers.

As a post script, a member on another board, spent years collecting hull numbers, telling everyone as he collected them, he would publish them, as soon as a venue opened up to do so. We are still waiting on that disinformation to correct itself.

Second (or third) invitation, Greg, what about all those hull numbers? Willing and waiting to publish them for you, on two Clipper Marine web sites.

www.clipper-sailor.net

www.clippermarine.org

(I would not publish the names of the owners, people have a right to a level of privacy. )

CLM03205M76K

Jim Carr's ship. Probably built in 1976 in Mexico It is believed to be a CM 30. I didn't measure it. It originally had a tiller and there seems to be a lot of space in the stern. She doesn't had an aft cabin or a second mast. Is there any chance they made a 32' sloop?

Triticum wrote:

Is there any chance they made a 32' sloop?

Yes, Gary and I each have one. Sloop rigged aft cockpit.

Would be interesting if that's what Jim's turned out to be. Any pics?

Gary,

Here is my hull number: CLM009940274 This is a Flush Deck 21. It was titled in Washington State as a 1975, but the number indicates 1974. It was probably titled the year it was bought. It also has a decal on it that says MK21, Santa Ana.

Russ

retired1 wrote:

Gary,

Here is my hull number: CLM009940274 This is a Flush Deck 21. It was titled in Washington State as a 1975, but the number indicates 1974. It was probably titled the year it was bought. It also has a decal on it that says MK21, Santa Ana.

Russ

A photo of that sticker would sure be sweet in the gallery! (and this thread)

I have a CM 21 cannot find hull #, help

I read somewhere that some of the earliest ones didn't have one,.. I don't know if that is a fact or not, just what I read. I will look for mine this week, and if I find it,.. I'll report where to look.

The hull number on my 21 is on the outside of the stern under the motor well area. It is embossed into the fiberglass.
I also understand that the early ones did not have a number. It was only a piece of paper stuck on the inside of the stern area, and usually impossible to get to.
Mine is a 1974.
Russ

I checked mine this afternoon, we have the paper,... it is the same # as the sail,.. so I guess thats good! I think It was 415 if I remember right,.. but mine is suppose to be a 1971, and it is hard to believe they made that many by then.... might need to do a little research!

Mine is also supposed to be a 1971 and it is number 596. I got it a couple months ago, rebuild the entire interior (all of the original wood was completely rotten) and splashed it for the first time last weekend. Great boat!

Mine sails great,.. I also have a J-24, and a Newport 28, but there is something special about this little sailboat!

clm1068mm761

CLM- clipper marine 
1- the model number for that year ( different for the 21 the 30 and so on)
068 production number 
mm- made in mexico
1- month made.

This makes sense to me that 68 21s could have been produced in mexico in jan of 76