The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking about 10,000 boat owners to not wait until their registration expires on April 30 to verify their hull identification number.
Boat owners were notified by the Iowa DNR if their crafts’ HIN issued by the manufacturer was not in compliance with the U.S. Coast Guard. Owners need to either trace the HIN with a pencil or take a photo of it and email it to HIN@dnr.iowa.gov, or fax it to 515-725-8201 with attention to HIN Verification.
Boat owners need to verify their boat’s HIN before April 30, 2016, in order to renew their boat registration. Owners must also include a signed affidavit included in the mailing that confirms they will permanently attach the new HIN to the boat – if provided – to comply with the U.S. Coast Guard regulations.
Anyone with questions can contact the Iowa DNR at HIN@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-725-8200. Information on the registration process can also be found on the Iowa DNR website.
“If they no longer own the boat in question, they should let us know in the space provided on the affidavit,” said Susan Stocker, boating law administrator for the Iowa DNR.
“This is no fault of the boat owner; they purchased a craft that had an incorrect HIN issued by the manufacturer. We want to help them resolve this before their registration expires but time is starting to run out. Don’t wait until the last minute to take care of this,” said Stocker.
