Year CD 25 built?

[WINDDRAGON]

Anyone know how to track when CD 25 hull #25 was built?? Also, still looking for a used upper companionway sliding hatch cover...thanks for any help!

[Sea Hunt Video]

Several years ago Good Old Boat had an excellent article on hull identification numbers (HINs).

The surest way to find the year your CD 25 was built is to locate the lengthy "hull identification number". It should be on your stern, starboard side. It should also be in the bill of sale and/or state registration documents.

As GOB explains it, the characters (numbers or letters) in the "model-year format" which existed prior to 01 January 1984 are decoded as follows:

Character positions 1, 2 & 3 of the HIN are the manufacturer's identification code and assigned by the US Government;

Character positions 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 of the HIN are an alpha-numeric serial number established by the manufacturer;

Character position 9 of the HIN could be the letter "M" if the sailboat was built before 01 January 1984. The letter "M" signifies the manufacturer is using the "model-year format" not the "numerical straight-year format";

Character positions 10 & 11 are the year of manufacture; and

Character position 12 is a letter indicating the month of manufacture in the "model-year format". Interestingly, this lettering starts with the letter "A" signifying August; "B" is September; "C" is October, etc.

Before 01 January 1984, if a manufacturer wanted to, he (or she) could alternatively use the "numerical straight year format" instead of the "model-year format". Then characters are decoded as follows:

1-8 are the same as above for the "model-year format";

9, 10, 11 & 12 would be the month and year of manufacture. Instead of an "M" at character 9 signifying "model-year format" there would be a number as part of the month (2 digits), followed by year (2 digits).

Post 01 January 1984 you could use another third format which is called the "new format" (catchy phrase). In the "new format", the characters are decoded as follows:

1-8 are the same as above for the "model-year format";

9 is the month of manufacture - "A" is January, "B" is February, etc.

10 is a number digit signifying the last digit of the year of manufacture or certification

11 and 12 are the model year.

For example, CPDJ0008M77A suggests the following:

“CPD” stands for Cape Dory

“J0008" is an alphanumeric number unique to Cape Dory and relates to the hull number built

"M" signifies the manufacturer is using the "model-year format" not the "numerical straight-year format"

“77” is 1977, that is, year of manufacture

“A” is August.

Hope this helps a little.

[Cathy Monaghan]

The HIN (Hull Identification Number) appears on the transom in the upper right corner on all boats built after November 1972. Click on the following link for info on deciphering the HIN which includes the model year.

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.html

This is one of our own pages and includes the dates of manufacture for all Cape Dory boats, power and sail:

http://www.capedory.org/cdmfd.html


Hope this helps,
Cathy
Webmaster - CDSOA, Inc.
CD32 Realization, #3
Raritan Bay