Have I made a mistake?

rdstanley · #1 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006

I purchased a 1974 Ericson 26 from what I thought was a reputable broker/marina. Now that I have done some research I'm not sure what I have. The HIN on the registration denotes the boat as a "homemade" boat. Why would someone register the boat this way? How concerned should I be about this and should I confront the marina? This just doesn't seem right to me. What do you think?

Thanks

jhnblngr · #2 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006

follow the paper trail. i saw one boat for sale that had belonged to an elderly owner who had given it to the seller but without a title, saying it was lost years before. he apparently died some time later. someone else suggested to the presnt seller that he might be able to register it as a homemade and therefore, presumably it would not have to be registered with a vin since it was homemade. don't know if any of this tale is true but i guess if you say you built it, then no previous ownership need be etablished. the reason the person selling this boat was selling it was because he didn't register it this way, did not have a valid sticker on the boat and had gotten a ticket his last time out.

sjdjohnson · #3 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006

with so many boats out there it's easy for things to become "questionable". I purchased a 25' sailboat that was advertised as a 1961 ENGLISH SLOOP, the broker who sold it to me threw in for free a nice story about the boat being built in jolly old England by a designer/builder known for building fishing boats. After a brief once over I discovered the builders plate, complete with hull no., date, and manufacture etc. My boat was built in Costa Mesa Ca., not England. And my boat has served me faithfully from that day to this. If you are happy with your boat but not it's past, new paper work is easy to file. careful about rippling the waters at your marina, especially if it's your home port. On the other hand if the boat is in anything less than the listed condition you should act accordingly and protect your vested interests.

fair winds and following seas

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006

Is there a HIN plate or manufacturer's name plate on the boat anywhere? IIRC HIN's were not required until 1977, but many boat builders had similar plates with the serial number and such on boats prior to 1977. Someone on one of the Ericson user groups might be able to tell you how to decode the HIN. The HIN will tell you where the boat was made, and by whom.

SJDj has a good point. If the boat is in good shape, and you like it and it sails well, it may not be worth the hassles of tracking this mystery down.

mike dryver · #5 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006

there is also the possibility that the age of the boat is such that a previous state issued new nos. as home made. i have a 1964 maritime 17' tri hull that Ma. would no longer accept the orig. vin nos. that was in 1995, they issued new nos. as homemade.
mike

PatrickMcGovern · #6 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006

I believe the last year boats were legally built in the US without a BIN was 1972. Boats built in 72 could still be sold as 1973's without one. I wonder if Ericson's sold a hull only kit for completion by the buyer?

FrankLanger · #7 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006

You will be able to get good information on the Ericson owners website, which includes lots of knowledgeable owners including at least one who worked at the Ericson factory and has lots of knowledge about how they were built and what to look for in the different models. I'm sure they could help you determine if it is a "factory" Ericson, or something less than that.
In general, Ericsons are very well built boats, and as others have said, if you are happy with the boat, don't see any major problems with it and she sails well, then that's probably all that counts.

Good luck!
Frank.

pigslo · #8 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006

The first 3 letters of the hin indicate builder, next 2 length of boat, next 3 are hull #, next 4 are month and year the keel was laid. For example an hin of pbw440341275 would be a the 34th 44 foot boat built in the pigslo boat works that was begun in December of 1975. This boat would probably be sold as a 1976 model.

rdstanley · #9 (**permalink**) 11-25-2006

Thanks for your opinions. You've reminded me of why we bought this boat. It sails nice and seems to be relatively easy to learn on.

See you on the water

DirtManly · #10 (**permalink**) 11-25-2006

A lot of manufacturers in the late sixties and all through the seventies and some into the early eights sold boats in various stages of completion. I know that Seafarer, Morgan, Irwin, Luger, Glander, Trump, did and I beleive that Ericson was among that crowd. While most state would have titled the according to thier orignal mfg's some states, like South Carolina (where every boat is considered stolen until otherwise proven), issue there own serial number and call them home made.
This could indeed be why you have a home made title. I whole heartedly agree with others here if you like the boat and it sails well. Enjoy it!

Very Best of Luck
Dirt