Many boat owners come to us asking, “is the hull ID the same as the serial number?” The answer is no, but you might need more information than that. Here are a few quick pointers.
Is the Hull ID the Same as the Serial Number?
A lot of new boat owners see Transport Canada’s guidelines for displaying the hull number on the hull of the vessel and wonder what number this is. Is the hull ID the same as the serial number? Not really, these two are very different components of your boat ownership. Here, we can take a quick look at what each of these numbers is, what they’re good for, and how you can get them.
Your Boat’s Serial Number
When referring to the serial number of a given boat, this will always mean the factory production number that was assigned to the vessel as part of the manufacturing process. Like most products, boats receive serial numbers when manufactured that stay with them going forward and will go on to make a part of the vessel’s specifications when they’re being in use by the eventual buyer. This number will never change and will come into use if manufacturing issues ever come to relevance. For example, a certain model might have been unknowingly manufactured with an important flaw, then the manufacturer will use the serial numbers to make sure that the flawed boats are recalled and fixed accordingly, so always keep this number in mind.
Your Boat’s Hull ID Number
Now, is the hull ID the same as the serial number? Not at all. Your hull ID number is the one that you will receive along with your boat documentation. When documenting your vessel with Transport Canada, you will receive the boat’s papers under the identification number, which you will have to go through the proper steps to display on the hull of the boat. This way, Transport Canada will be able to keep track of all the documentation associated with the given boat and easily identify the vessel upon sight while it’s out sailing Canadian waters. If you need help learning more about how to display your hull number or how you can use it to consult the registry, you can browse through the different guides we have shared in our blog.
Transport Canada Identification Numbers
Documenting your vessel will always be an important component of your boat ownership here in Canada, which is why we don’t want you to have to go through this process alone. At the National Vessel Registry Center, we have everything that you might need in order to take care of these processes. Whether you are getting your boat registration or your pleasure craft licence with Transport Canada, you will find all the tools that you might need right here on our website. And, should you need any more information or assistance with the application process or by filling out the forms, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help. You will get your documentation processed in no time.
