Bring back some lost Glastron data

[75starflight]

We could do a little investigation on our own here. Doarn's CVZ-18 and my CVZ18 are the same production year. Could we compare the two HIN numbers and see if their would be any relivance? Maybe it would also help to have a HIN for a couple 1978 CVX-18 to compare to also since the haul designs are relatively the same.  

Here is the HIN for my '78 CVX 18     GCV10480M78H         Color is    Silver                            and   OMC outdrive
                              '80 CVX 18      GCV16381M89F         Color is    Champagne w/ beige       and    Mercruiser outdrive
  Let's assume there is a method to the Hin # madness and that basic info is contained in the Hin, organized similar to Vin #'s on your auto.
  We know that "GCV" indicates Glastron Carlson built in Anaheim,Ca.
  Let's assume the next series of numbers represents the consecutive unit or build number, for the '78 that is 10480, for the '80 it's 16381.
  The next segment is 'M'. This could designate the hull design  as both boats are CVX 18's and both have the 'M' in common. I suspect
        hull design because other CVX's, built in Anaheim , listed in this thread have the 'M'.
  That leaves a combination of 2 numbers and a letter. These could indicate outdrive and engine combination.
  This method would give the factory or dealer basic info that could  identify the boat for any warranty issues.

What do you guys think. Am I on the right track or just blowing smoke.

'78 CVX18



'80 CVX 18

John, I think you are on to something, OK let's put the three 78' HINs we have side by side Doran's, mine and John's.

1978 CVZ-18.   GCV09123M78B. Mine  Option factory ski pole mount
1978 CVZ-18.   GCV10465M78H. Doran. Standard factory engine cover
1978 CVX-18.   GCV10480M78H. John   Standard factory engine cover
1980 CVX-18.   GCV16381M80F.  John. Option factory ski pole mount

OK let's bread this down
First three digits
GCV = Production plant designation
Digits 4 and 5
I am thinking accessory option code
10  09 16
We have two with the same designation of 10 same model year and same factory engine cover and both are the same production year.
We have two with different designation of 09 and 16 both have the factory ski pole comp. mount an are different model years.
Digits 6 7 8
I am thinking production sequence, break it down as follows
My CVZ is a B production which means it is an early production hence explains the numbers 123
Doran's CVZ and John's CVX are both H production which is towards the end of production for the model years of 1978. Which would explain why their 6th 7th and 8th digits are so close 465 and 480.
9th digit
The letter M = CV/18' bottom hull mold
All four HINs have the M designation and all four are CV hull designs
Digits 10 11
We know these are year
Digit 12
We know this is production month

This is my opinion on the meaning of our HINs. Thanks John for putting your two out there they are a big help.

[75starflight]

  The next segment is 'M'. This could designate the hull design  as both boats are CVX 18's and both have the 'M' in common. I suspect
        hull design because other CVX's, built in Anaheim , listed in this thread have the 'M'.
  That leaves a combination of 2 numbers and a letter. These could indicate outdrive and engine combination.
  This method would give the factory or dealer basic info that could  identify the boat for any warranty issues.

What do you guys think. Am I on the right track or just blowing smoke.

I think you're just blowing smoke on your M theory. Marks M code '77 GT150 kinda ruins that idea.

Next 2 #s designate the year. (I believe you meant to put a 0 where the 9 is in your '80?) Last letter may indicate month of production but I'm not entirely sure about that. Seems to me somebody told me otherwise. Danged if I can remember it now.

Did not catch that, well that throws out my theory on the 9th digit.

[CVX Fever]

It could be that the boats didn't have unique serial numbers but lot numbers meaning year and month manufactured and facility location.

I have a 1980 Glastron Carlson parts manual that was given to dealers so I know they used "smart" part numbers. That said it is possible they did the same thing with the boat serial numbers.

Here is a direct quote out of my Glastron Carlson 1980 Small Parts Catalog and Service Manual:

" In many cases after the boat has been re-sold several times, the year and model is questionable. We maintain an accurate file of serial numbers on all boats sold and can assist you in identifying a questionable model."

So it sounds like the serial number at the least contained the model of the boat. Maybe color and model of drive system as well, who knows.

[Glastronjohn18]

Send me some new glasses.
Doug and to all that caught it, you get the Eagle Eye Hunter Award. The next to last digit  for the '80 indeed is 0 not the 9 as I originally posted.
 I also missed the 5th digit from the end which should be a 9 instead of the 1. I've changed my post to reflect the proper numbers.

[MarkS]

1971 GT-150 R  Serial No 1131060 Austin, Texas

(Never noticed the "R", but it's stamped into the plate from Glastron!)

[75starflight]

Hey Doran, in you log of CVZ do you have any 78s listed that came with the bow cover or another with the comp ski pole? And do you have the HIN for it. Just curious for my thoughts on the option code

[Rich_V174SS]

1971 GT-150 R  Serial No 113060 Austin, Texas

(Never noticed the "R", but it's stamped into the plate from Glastron!)

I think you're missing a digit there Mark, there should be 7 digits and the 4th would be a (1) for it to be a '71 boat. The R is most likely a color indicator for "Red".

[Jason]

So we 5 digits in the middle of the HIN that be specific to glastrons. How many glastrons do think were made in one year? It's got to be over 1000. What I am getting at is every single glastron has to have unique HIN. And with only 5 digits there can't be more than one or two to those numbers that actually mean anything while the remaining are just a unique number to make it different then the next glastron. Kind of like the last 6 or so digits of a VIN. Maybe the model but likely not more than that.

[V153]

1971 GT-150 R  Serial No 113060 Austin, Texas

(Never noticed the "R", but it's stamped into the plate from Glastron!)

That's the "R"acing model ...

[75starflight]

So we 5 digits in the middle of the HIN that be specific to glastrons. How many glastrons do think were made in one year? It's got to be over 1000. What I am getting at is every single glastron has to have unique HIN. And with only 5 digits there can't be more than one or two to those numbers that actually mean anything while the remaining are just a unique number to make it different then the next glastron. Kind of like the last 6 or so digits of a VIN. Maybe the model but likely not more than that.

As I stated in my theory, I think the first two numbers of the five digit number are an option code while the last three are a production sequence number.

On the total production numbers of models per year, think of it this way. With five plant designations for the beginning of the hin, and if the letter before the model year stands for a specific hull mold. I am guessing around 800 to 900 hulls produced of each hull design.

[aquamaniac]

The "M" means that Glastron was using the optional display of model year instead of certificate date. "M" stands for model year.

When this law went into effect manufacturers didn't like that they would have to stamp 72 into a 1973 model hull so the law allowed the optional method that Glastron used of stamping the model year and then a month code.

[Glastronjohn18]

Brandon, I don't think there are any option codes just serial (consecutive unit numbers). The factory could list the options and drive systems by serial number after the hull was built.  

Here is a direct quote out of my Glastron Carlson 1980 Small Parts Catalog and Service Manual:

" In many cases after the boat has been re-sold several times, the year and model is questionable. We maintain an accurate file of serial numbers on all boats sold and can assist you in identifying a questionable model."

OPPS wasn't there a fire?

[Glastronjohn18]

Good work on the date code Aquamaniac, that makes sense.

[75starflight]

Brandon, I don't think there are any option codes just serial (consecutive unit numbers). The factory could list the options and drive systems by serial number after the hull was built.  

Here is a direct quote out of my Glastron Carlson 1980 Small Parts Catalog and Service Manual:

" In many cases after the boat has been re-sold several times, the year and model is questionable. We maintain an accurate file of serial numbers on all boats sold and can assist you in identifying a questionable model."

OPPS wasn't there a fire?

John, I think you are correct on that Here is a list of all the GCV HINs and corresponding models. Nothing matches up to show any pattern. They are just random numbers.

GCV04766M76F  1976 CV16
gcv02358m74h  1974 CV-18
GCV17524M81F  1981 C500
GCV01762M74C 1974 CV16SS
GCV06310M77C 1977 CVX 16
GCV04295M76B 1976 CVX20
GCV15210M79L 1979 CVX18
GCV09123M78B 1978 CVZ-18. 
GCV10480M78H 1978 CVX-18. 
GCV16381M80F 1980 CVX-18. 
GCV10465M78H 1978 CVZ-18. 
 

[CVX Fever]

Jason I think your probably correct or pretty close to it. The first 2 numbers could designate the model for that year and the rest of the digits sequential units built. They probably kept another log tying the serial# to a build sheet.

[V153]

The "M" means that Glastron was using the optional display of model year instead of certificate date. "M" stands for model year.

That'd be my guess.

I tend to agree, there's probly model/color info coded into the HIN, somewhere. Then again mebbe not. Clastron did have a couple fires that "destroyed the records"?

Crapshoot at best if'n ya ask me. But I'm in ...

[CVX Fever]

John what I have came from a Glastron Carlson dealership. A member on the now defunct Trailer Boats  boards sent it to me for free because he knew I had a CVX18 that I loved and had owned a CV23 Hardtop at one time himself. Not sure where he got it.

After reading Brandons last post they do seem to be just random numbers. His and Dorans boats are the same model, color, year and nothing really matches up or makes sense.

So I suspect the serial numbers are meaningless by themselves and Glastron had a system to link them with a buildsheet to determine how the boat was built.

[aquamaniac]

If you sort those examples by the 5 digit serial number they display in chronological order



GCV01762M74C 1974 CV16SS
gcv02358m74h 1974 CV-18
GCV04295M76B 1976 CVX20
GCV04766M76F 1976 CV16
GCV06310M77C 1977 CVX 16
GCV09123M78B 1978 CVZ-18.
GCV10465M78H 1978 CVZ-18.
GCV10480M78H 1978 CVX-18.
GCV15210M79L 1979 CVX18
GCV16381M80F 1980 CVX-18.
GCV17524M81F 1981 C500

[Hyperacme]

Shouldn't a link be posted on CGOA, for a larger data base ?

[Glastronjohn18]

Here is one more I found on e-bay. 1980 CVX 18 Champagne / beige. Has the 2 bbl 305(898) mine has the 4bbl (228).  Just one digit from mine.
GO?V16390M80F
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Glastron-Carlson-CVX18-mercrusier-898-V8-motor-and-Glastron-Trailer-/221332551113?forcerrptr=true&hash=item338872b5c9&item=221332551113&pt=Power_Motorboats