Only Ocean Kayaking - WaveLength Paddling Magazine

Preventing Theft
Kayaking is one of the fastest growing
water sports in the world and when
something becomes popular, thieves become
interested.
Manufacturers are supposed to put a hull
identification number (HIN) on their craft
to identify one boat from another, and most
do. The HIN is a twelve character string
comprised of letters and numbers. The first
three characters are specific to your boat’s
manufacturer and is issued to that manufacturer
by the Coast Guard. The next five
characters are the production serial number
and the last four characters deal with the
date of manufacturer, e.g. ABC12345A001.
When you look at the way some manufacturers
attach the HIN, it is obvious that
they are only doing so because it is a legal
requirement and not out of concern for their
customers. Don’t take my word for it—
check your own boat and see if it even has
a HIN. Depending on the manufacturer, you
will find the HIN scratched in with an engraving
pen, or on an attached plate. Some
do a pretty good job but in some cases you
will not find a HIN at all, even on some very
expensive craft.
The HIN is not some needless government
intrusion into the boat manufacturing
process. It is the serial number for your
boat and can tell tell which manufacturer
made the boat, when it was made and in
some cases the model of the craft. The HIN
is really important if your canoe or kayak is
stolen. Without a permanent identifier on
the craft there is very little the police can
do for you. They have to have a means of
identifying it as stolen and proving who is
the rightful owner. Telling the police your
yellow polyethylene sea kayak was stolen
and you would recognize it anywhere is of
little use to them, especially in a different
jurisdiction. They need the HIN and you
should know it.
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October/November 2001 WaveLength
How can you protect yourself from having
your kayak stolen? You can lock it to
the roof rack, you can carry it into the
house, or tie it to your guard dog. But I have
found the best way to keep someone from
stealing something is to make it less marketable.
You don’t have to drill holes in it
or spray graffiti all over it to make your
kayak or canoe less marketable to a thief.
All you have to do is add extra identification
to your gear, and advertise to the world
that your gear has been marked for identification
and to keep their hands off!
The HIN is not some
needless government
intrusion into the boating
manufacturing process. The
HIN is really important if
your canoe or kayak
is stolen.
We suggest you participate in the “Hands
Off Marine Identification” program, a simple
but effective crime prevention program
organized through your local paddling club
in conjunction with your local police. People
bring their boats to a Hands Off event
and volunteers place multiple identifiers on
the boats via engraving pens, permanent
markers and tiny microdots. A warning decal
is placed on the boat, all of the details
are recorded in triplicate and a photograph
is taken of the boat. The police keep a copy
of the form and the boat owner gets two
copies for insurance purposes. The program
is so effective that many insurance companies
are giving discounts on premiums for
participating in the program.
Cst. Larry Burden
The microdots included in the Hands Off
program, trade named “Data Dots”, all have
the same code number on them and are
specific to that Hands Off event. When
magnified with a portable 30x viewing
scope, the Data Dot code number can be
read and the code number traced to that
event. The glue used to place the Data Dots
on the boats has an ultraviolet tracer in it
and can be found when illuminated with a
black light. The glue is highly resistant to
common solvents so it can’t be easily wiped
away. Paddlers are also encouraged to place
extra identification on their accessories
such as paddles etc. You can purchase your
own bottle of Data Dots in many paddling
or marine supply stores.
So please do yourself a big favor and
mark your gear with your name and driver’s
license number (not your social insurance
number). Write down your HIN, along
with the make, model and colour of you
boat and keep it in a safe place, so if you
do become a victim of a theft, you can give
the police some useful information that may
lead to the recovery of your gear. In the
meantime, consider hosting a Hands Off
event, and encourage manufacturers to do
a better job placing HIN’s and other types
of identification on their products. Let’s
keep paddling for the honest folk and make
the sport less attractive to the thieves. ❏
© Constable Larry Burden is recognized as one
of the leading authorities in boat theft in North
America and was the recipient of the 2001
“Investigator Of The Year” award from the
International Association of Marine Investigators.
He is the creator of the Hands Off Marine
ID program, and a Constable with the
Chilliwack RCMP: 604-792-4611.
Coastal Kayak Leadership Training Course
(2 sessions, tentative dates) April 19-28 and May 3-12, 2002
Malaspina University-College offers an intensive 10-day ocean kayak course
providing participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead groups of
kayakers in coastal waters. The course takes place on the west coast of Vancouver
Island and includes basic training followed by an expedition into unprotected
coastal waters. Also offered: 6-day, Wilderness First Aid/Emergency Response
for Kayakers, Leaders. Tentative date: mid-April 2002
For more information contact Learning Connections
(250) 755-8775 or email: learning@mala.bc.ca
Nanaimo Campus
900 Fifth St.
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5
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