Bring back some lost Glastron data

[catchnedge]

Some good info on HIN's
http://nasbla.org/files/public/Enf%20&%20Training/NASBLA%20HIN%20comp.pdf

Looks like you are going to have to only look at the serial number part of it. Hopefully it did not just start at 0 and there are some meanings to those numbers.
ex: GLA38788M75D
ex: CN005504C686

After 1984 Glastron HIN codes:

Great info and link Jason, thanks.  Really does a good job explaining the breakdown of the numbers.  The serial number itself, though, is it just random or is there a patter to these within the Glastron or Glastron Carlson family of boats?

[Jason]

Some good info on HIN's
http://nasbla.org/files/public/Enf%20&%20Training/NASBLA%20HIN%20comp.pdf

Looks like you are going to have to only look at the serial number part of it. Hopefully it did not just start at 0 and there are some meanings to those numbers.
ex: GLA38788M75D
ex: CN005504C686

After 1984 Glastron HIN codes:

Great info and link Jason, thanks.  Really does a good job explaining the breakdown of the numbers.  The serial number itself, though, is it just random or is there a patter to these within the Glastron or Glastron Carlson family of boats?

Sure would be nice if our buddy Art could at least tell us that much.

[dorelse]

Some good info on HIN's
http://nasbla.org/files/public/Enf%20&%20Training/NASBLA%20HIN%20comp.pdf

Looks like you are going to have to only look at the serial number part of it. Hopefully it did not just start at 0 and there are some meanings to those numbers.
ex: GLA38788M75D
ex: CN005504C686

After 1984 Glastron HIN codes:

Great info and link Jason, thanks.  Really does a good job explaining the breakdown of the numbers.  The serial number itself, though, is it just random or is there a patter to these within the Glastron or Glastron Carlson family of boats?

Sure would be nice if our buddy Art could at least tell us that much.

Yep, I'm hoping John can ask Art when Art's having a good memory day.

[75starflight]

Some good info on HIN's
http://nasbla.org/files/public/Enf%20&%20Training/NASBLA%20HIN%20comp.pdf

Looks like you are going to have to only look at the serial number part of it. Hopefully it did not just start at 0 and there are some meanings to those numbers.
ex: GLA38788M75D
ex: CN005504C686

After 1984 Glastron HIN codes:

Great info and link Jason, thanks.  Really does a good job explaining the breakdown of the numbers.  The serial number itself, though, is it just random or is there a patter to these within the Glastron or Glastron Carlson family of boats?

Sure would be nice if our buddy Art could at least tell us that much.

Yep, I'm hoping John can ask Art when Art's having a good memory day.

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. 

[V153]

If only we recorded HIN #s on the old registry. Can you 'magine what a treasure trove that'd be?

Ah well. Still cool Chris, alotta data to be mined there.

[Rosscoe]

Because of this thread, I looked closer at the tags on my Surflite... come to find out, I have a FIREFLITE, not a SURFLITE.  I looks like it's the FIREFLITE 155... not the SURFLITE 153 that was shown in the same color in the 1962 brochure!  However, I don't get it?... the brochure Fireflite doesn't mention having the bench seating in back like my boat has (also not shown in picture like the surflite), doesn't mention the "hard top" option like my boat has, but the Surflite does mention those items, that's why I thought it was the Surflite to begin with.  Also, the HP rating in the brochure is different than the tag.   I wonder now if this was a mistake on the label they placed on it?  What do you guys think?  I'm not 100% positive what I have.  Guess I would have to default to Fireflite, since that's what the tag says, even though it doesn't match the brochure.

1962 Glastron, Model: FIREFLITE, SURFLITE?
HIN: 02218 (interesting... they glassed in a paper tag with a handwritten serial number on it and FIREFLITE listed as model.  That tag is glassed under gunwale, port rear side.  In addition, I posted another picture showing the OBC rating tag, just above that tag stamped into the aluminum trim piece is that same serial number.  I wonder if they did that at factory, or if the original owner did that?)
Built in Austin TX

Yup yours is a Fireflite. My 61 is a Surflite. The only difference is the seating configuration. Surflite has 2 bench seats facing each other which I believe to be shown in the 61 brochure. I have seen the Fireflites with the rear bench seat.
Most of my stuff is now under tarps and covered with snow. I don't have registration for most.

[carlsoncvx18]

!987 CVX18 brown(rootbeer) and white.

hin# CNO07411C787

Hin# is off the title as the boat is in storage and to d@&m cold to go look at this time.

[catchnedge]

Yup yours is a Fireflite. My 61 is a Surflite. The only difference is the seating configuration. Surflite has 2 bench seats facing each other which I believe to be shown in the 61 brochure. I have seen the Fireflites with the rear bench seat.
Most of my stuff is now under tarps and covered with snow. I don't have registration for most.

I have those 2 bench seats facing each other as well.

[CVX Fever]

Jeff I noticed your Carlson was made in New Braunfels, which I assume is Texas as that is where my dad's 86 was built.  Wonder what year they moved the Carlson production from Anaheim?

[CVX Fever]

1979 Glastron CARLSON CVX18
GCV15210M79L

[dorelse]

1978 Glastron Carlson CVZ18
GCV10465M78H

[Rosscoe]

Yup yours is a Fireflite. My 61 is a Surflite. The only difference is the seating configuration. Surflite has 2 bench seats facing each other which I believe to be shown in the 61 brochure. I have seen the Fireflites with the rear bench seat.
Most of my stuff is now under tarps and covered with snow. I don't have registration for most.

I have those 2 bench seats facing each other as well.

Thats right, I remember getting dimensions from you. Poor memory! Well that is extra confusing now. Definitely Surflite seating config.

[75starflight]

Yup yours is a Fireflite. My 61 is a Surflite. The only difference is the seating configuration. Surflite has 2 bench seats facing each other which I believe to be shown in the 61 brochure. I have seen the Fireflites with the rear bench seat.
Most of my stuff is now under tarps and covered with snow. I don't have registration for most.

I have those 2 bench seats facing each other as well.

Thats right, I remember getting dimensions from you. Poor memory! Well that is extra confusing now. Definitely Surflite seating config.

maybe it was a custom order? Where the customer wanted the fireflite hull but wanted the sureflite seating.

[catchnedge]

Brandon, it could be... so many things don't add up, the more I look.  None of the 61-63 runabout (I looked one year before and after for possibility that the year was wrong) hulls have the same kind of gunwale/transom like my boat, as they all have some kind of swoop down, or taper down inside the gunwale that my boat does not have at all.  The Fireflite doesn't have the option for the white stripe in center of bow either.  If I didn't have the tag on my boat saying "Fireflite" the 1962 Surflite is the closest I can see, bow, hardtop, color, seating, just about everything except for the fact of that taper down on the transom like I mentioned.  My boat doesn't match any of them.  

Look at the below picture, the top deck back at the transom... compare to any of the pictures in the 61-63 brochures... no match.

Guess it comes down to I have to go with the tag, but it doesn't match at all what the brochure has in major structure of boat even.

Sorry, just a Mystery to me!

[aquamaniac]

Mark,
That boat is just stunning.

The white stripe, side storage, and three color front seat don't match my 1962 brochure, but keep in mind that the brochures were shot with pre production photo shoot boats in the summer of 1961. I don't see enough 1962 Glastrons to know if your boat is different or if that is just how they looked in production.

The 150 series all used the same hull. The Fireflite, Surflite and Sportsman all had identical decks. The two Starflites used a different deck. So your boat could have been built with a deck already labeled as a Fireflite and then built as a Surflite. The hardtop was optional on 150, 160 and 170 series boats.

Your deck and transom areas look to me like a match to the Fireflite/Surflite/Sportsman boats in the 1962 Brochure.

[Jason]

The 150 series all used the same hull. The Fireflite, Surflite and Sportsman all had identical decks. The two Starflites used a different deck. So your boat could have been built with a deck already labeled as a Fireflite and then built as a Surflite. The hardtop was optional on 150, 160 and 170 series boats.

That's a good point. May have just labeled them all the same so they could easily tell them apart from other decks for a 14' or 16' sitting in some kind of warehouse.

[Glastronjohn18]

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      GCV16389M80F         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

[dgmeyer]

1973 Glastron GT160

HIN  1423631

[V153]

  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.

[aquamaniac]

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.

The HIN (Hull identification number) was a federal requirement beginning in Nov 1972, for 1973 model boats. It starts with a 3 letter Manufacturer identification code, followed by a 5 digit serial number and ending with the date of manufacture. The reason for this requirement was for safety and defect recalls. The law allowed for two methods of display. The one Glastron chose was to list the model year M and then a letter for the month of manufacture. August was the traditional first month of building new model year boats so A= August, B=Sept, etc.

So the HIN for your '78 CVX-18 is serial number 10480, Model year 78, built in the 8th month, March 1978.

The standard changed again in Aug 1984. 3 letter MIC, 5 digit S/N, single letter for maunufacture month where A=Jan, single number for manufacture year, two number model year.

Under the 1984 HIN rule your 1978 CVX would have read GCV 10480 C8 78