found a set of numbers today

[my other east]

Good afternoon all.
I found a set of numbers this afternoon and i'm curious what they stand for.
They are directly below the rear deck support (that runs the entire width of the stern) on the interior center line of the stern.
The numbers are "315 281". They are not hand written, but maybe painted with a stencil? They are about 3/4" tall, and very thin in thickness.
The boat is a 1974 FBC. i understand the "315" part for being a cruiser, but the 281 has me thinking maybe the date that it left the assembly line???
Could it mean the 28th of january?
Any and all replies are appreciated.
Thanks
Eric

[STraenkle]

Just curious, what are the numbers in the hull on the starboard stern, if it is a 1974 they should be there, if not either someone covered them or it is a pre 1972 boat

[Pete Fallon]

My other East,
The 315 is the model number 315 fbc, 314 sport fish 313 Bahia Mar, 312 Sedan 316 Express. If the boat is a 1974 there is a HIN number on the starboard transom, all vessels made after Nov 1, 1972 have to have a HIN somewhere near the starboard transom area, either embossed into the hull or a plate that is riveted onto the hull. From the list that I have compiled from doing surveys on 31's a 1974 boat should have a hull number in the very high 1300's or low 1400's. I have no clue what the number 281 is for. For example Buddy Boy Jim Bailey's old boat was hull 1370 a 1973 boat, Island Girl Tommy Drakes old boat was 1172 a early 1973 boat, Sea Chele Bill Machovina's old boat was 1321 a 1973. Bertram built 90 boats the first year, mine is a 1961 hull # 186, they started at 101. After that they made a little over 100 per year, total number of 31's built is reportedly 1980, then in 23 Silver Anniversary models were built in 1986. The sticker on the inside of the transom should be white paper with the following info: 315-Hull Number and Bertram Whittaker name and address, it is usually on the centerline of the transom just below the teak ledger board for the cockpit sole. I hope this helps.
Pete Fallon

[my other east]

Pete,
the hull # is 1442, but the location that you described under the ledger board is right on.
no white paper, no name, just the set of numbers stenciled into that beautiful green fiberglass.
Eric

[MarkS]

Hey Pete does the third number in the first set hold true for the 25 as well? Mine is 254 does this mean Sportfish? I have always struggled with the vague differences between the 25 sportfish vs cruiser as there is no rear cabin salon-ish bulkhead and pictures really show a difference in the bow rail, sportfish being a short rail stopping just a few feet back where the FBC follows back almost to the front window.

MOE sorry about the hijack.

-Mark

[Pete Fallon]

MarkS,
I am not sure how they did the 25 numbering but the models run just like the 31's, FBC Sport fish, Bahia Mar and Express, I have never seen a 25 sedan.
Pete Fallon

[bob lico]

One more Pete mine FBC a 1973 is numbered 1301. Built April 15 1973 .a diesel custom ordered apparently from some bluefin tuna fisherman in cape cod mass. Federal documented as soon as he received boat . I have paper work. Numbers were written 6 times in differant places on hull and some with his last letters of his name in chalk or pencil.

[Bertramp]

316-1003 - 1970 Bahia Mar