Affix HIN Number?

[javelin38]

Illinois wants me to ... WHAT???? "Carve, burn, stamp, emboss, or otherwise permanantlt affix" the HIN number they assigned. OK, so the boat is my age, she was made in another era when boat thieves must have had better things to do that steal sailboats, and builders only worried about club rules. So does anyone in the SailNet community have advice on how I should deface my transom and still make it look like a professional job? Thanks !!
P.S - The first mate just walked out in the garage to see if she could get the chainsaw to start - Help! (soon!)

[tager]

I would get a tiny stainless plate, engrave it, and glue it to the inside of the transom with some non-permanent sealant.

That way it is "permanent" and "on the transom."

If they don't expressly say which side of the transom it has to be on, put it on the inside. Don't deface your boat.

[sailingdog]

The HIN is supposed to be on the starboard side of the transom. There should be a second one mounted somewhere inside the boat, hidden.

I would get small bronze plates made up, rather than stainless stel, especially if this boat is old enough to not have one already, since it has to be older than 1972, when they were mandatory. Then I would recommend epoxying it to the hull, and using bronze screws to hold it in place while the epoxy sets.

[tager]

The other option is just to smile and nod. They can't control everybody.

[scottyt]

if you want it to look factory, get a plate engraved. trace it on the transom. use a dremel to remove a little gelcoat to about the thickness of the plate, then glue it in with epoxy so its flush

[Gene T]

I would probably just use an engraving tool with a stencil. Then dab some gelcoat or paint if I went through the gelcoat. A soldering iron is an interesting idea but would be difficult to control.