2018 tabs, HIN, Hull Identification Nightmare

(If you have a boat on a Washington State title, (vs. USCG document), consider renewing the tabs early).

Just got back from Ballard Licensing.  I renewed the tabs for Dear Prudence and the dinghy.

The licensing agent entered the info into her computer. Then, she looked up at me and said, "This is your lucky day!"

"Excuse me?" [I didn't go to the licensing agency with any intention to get lucky]

Your trawler is USCG documented, so you're OK there. And there's no problem with your Bullfrog, even though that's on a state title. There are about 20,000 boats in Washington state, most of them older boats on state titles, with irregular HIN numbers. If you have one of those, you have to go through some hoops to renew your tabs. You don't have to worry about it.

Even though I'm not personally affected, I inquired, "What sort of hoops?"

"If you have an older boat with a non-conforming HIN, and you show up here to renew it, we can't complete the renewal or issue you 2018 tabs. We're supposed to tell you to go down to the boat with a piece of paper and a penci and take a 'rubbing' of the HIN. Once we have a rubbing, to verify how the HIN appears on the boat, we can process some additional forms and affidavits that will permit us to issue you tabs for 2018."

I could easily imagine the response from somebody who stands 30 minutes in line to renew boat tabs and is then sent away to get a HIN rubbing. "You're going to have some unhappy boaters, with renewal month just around the corner."

The clerk rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. You know the busiest day of the year for boat tab renewals? The last day before the Fouth of July weekend. The line goes out the door. I don't want to be here and have to tell people that unless they run back down to the boat, get a HIN rubbing, and then come back and get in line again they won't be cruising on valid tabs.