Home-made Boats

In Ohio, all boats need to be registered and that includes any boat you make. The major requirement for getting a boat registered is that it has to have a Hull ID Number.

The Hull ID Number (HIN) functions like the VIN on a car. Each of the characters in the HIN gives some information about the boat -- about its make/model and when it was manufactured. The manufacturer is responsible for assigning the HIN, which is stamped or etched into the hull of the boat or onto a small metal plate that is permanently attached to the boat.

Since home-made boats don't have this manufacturing information, a HIN needs to be created for the boat before it can be registered.

Getting a HIN

To get a HIN for your home-made boat, your boat must be officially inspected and measured by an Ohio Watercraft Officer. The process is referred to as an "inspection," but it is not an inspection for safety equipment, nor is it an inspection to test whether your boat is seaworthy. The boat's length, hull type, and propulsion are officially recorded during this inspection, and then a HIN is assigned. The HIN is stamped into a metal plate (provided to you after the inspection) that you attach to the boat.

To schedule a HIN inspection, call the Watercraft Office near you. The construction of your boat should be totally complete before you have it inspected.