Boats 1990 SPARTAN TRAILERS B14-8 BUNK. 1 configuration. Asset TypesTruck Trailer Auto Marine Powersport RV Grounds. Data TypesValues VIN Decoding Specs. Trailer Vin Search. Trailer VIN search is highly desirable to do for all trailers available for sale. However, it’s is not so easy as with cars because most vehicle history report providers specialize on cars, not trailers, so be prepared to do some work. Spartan Boat Trailer Serial Number Hi Everyone, Just purchased a project boat that will be going through a full restoration. It is a 1987 Lund Renegade which had a nice heavy duty all roller spartan classic roller trailer under it.
The first thing to understand, a serial number is your VIN for a Vintage Trailer. Those terms are used interchangably and the DMV has a hard time with this because they don’t normally deal with vehicles that are this old. They will ask you for the VIN and expect a modern format but vintage trailers used serial numbers. You may have to educate your DMV employee.
Secondly, not all serial numbers have any intelligence built into the code but some brands do. They might embed the length of the trailer or the year of the trailer in the serial number. You’ll see an example of that below. Some vintage trailer brand’s serial numbers are just sequential numbers and you might have to find someone else that has a serial number that is close to yours to estimate the year of the trailer.
To figure out what kind of trailer you have, you need to find serial numbers, VIN, markings, makes/manufacturers of equipment, paperwork – anything that could be a clue. Here is video on uncovering VINs on tongues
Serial numbers are frequently found on the tongue rail on the passenger side. (Usually on top, but may be on the drivers side or the side of the rail). Use paint remover or sand lightly to uncover the numbers. The first two digits may be letters that identify your make, followed by the year, length and number of production. Example: Serial number (or VIN number): MR 57 25 123 is a Monterey, 1957, 25′ number 123.
You can also find it, sometimes but not always, inside a cabinet or entry screen door. The metal plate with the VIN number can be found on the trailer tongue, frame rail leading to the hitch or it could be stamped on some metal part of the frame.
VINs were first used in 1954 in the United States. From 1954 to 1981, there was no accepted standard for these numbers, so different manufacturers used different formats. Earlier than 1981 – the serial number from the manufacturer is consider the VIN.
This is NOT a serial number – this is a patent number of the tongue manufacturer. Marvel was a supplier of lots of parts to most trailer brands. Lots of people get confused thinking this is their serial number but it’s not.
This is a serial number and it is an intelligent one as well. The first part 160, means it is 16’0” in length. Notice the punch separator. The 2nd part is the sequential number used that year. They probably started at 1000 and this trailer is the 25th made. Again the punch separator. The 3rd part is the year the trailer was made – it’s a 1967. Wouldn’t it be nice if every serial number gave you this much information!
Also – there are plenty of homebuilt trailers out there – you might have one. If so, your not going find any information on it. It could just be a custom one-of-a-kind!
Weight distribution is extremely important to boat safety as well as performance. Weight can affect a boat’s running angle, attitude, performance and ride. For the best top speed with a moderate to fast planning boat, passenger loading in most cases should be evenly distributed. Each boater should seek out what weight locations best suit his or her needs. Always remember that weight distribution is not strictly confined to fore and aft locations, but also applies to lateral weight distribution.
Altitude has a very noticeable effect on the wide open throttle (WOT) power of an engine. Since air gets thinner as altitude increases, the engine begins to starve for air (oxygen) and horsepower is lost. If the boat has been set up at a lower altitude and then moved to a much higher altitude, there will be a noticeable reduction in power.
Summer conditions of high temperature, low barometric pressure, and high humidity all combine to reduce engine power as much as 15%. This, in turn, is reflected in decreased boat speeds of (in some cases) 3 -5 miles per hour. Nothing will regain this speed for the boater except the coming of cool, dry weather.
Stainless steel is just as its name implies – it “stains” less than normal carbon steel. Only the highest quality stainless steel available is used on Spartan boats. Rust can occur under numerous circumstances, including polluted water and galvanic corrosion. The rust can be removed with rubbing compounds. A scotch-brite pad is OK, but do not use steel wool.
Nearly all recreational boat manufacturers place their operator’s position on the right-hand side and use right-hand rotation propellers to compensate for the boat roll resulting from propeller torque.
The trim angle of a boats drive has a distinct effect on the planing angle of the boat, which significantly alters top speed and handling. The engine should be trimmed in at the factory for best start-up acceleration and shortest time to plane. If trimmed “in” (under) too far, the bow drops and the boat runs too wet. In this condition, top speed drops, fuel economy decreases, and the boat may over-steer in one direction or the other (otherwise known as “bow-steering”).
If trimmed “out” too far, the may lose its hold on the water. In conventional extruded chine hull designs, the boat may start to “walk” from right to left to right, etc. (“chine walking”), and getting on plane may be difficult or labored. Porpoising may also occur.
A tachometer (“tach”) measures engine RPM’s. An engine is designed to run at certain RPM limits. Without a tachometer, the operator has little opportunity to know if the engine is at a dangerously high or low RPM level. Any deviation from the established RPM levels other than those associated with climatic conditions, elevation, or gross load changes, is an indication of a possible performance problem.
Fouling is a kind of unwanted build-up (usually animal/vegetable derived) occurring on the boat’s bottom. Fouling creates additional drag, which reduces boat performance. In fresh water, fouling results from dirt, vegetable matter, algae or slime, chemicals, minerals and other pollutants. In salt water, barnacles, moss and other marine growth often produce a dramatic build-up of material rather quickly. So it’s important to keep the hull as clean as possible in all water conditions to maximize boat performance. Severe cases of bottom fouling can prevent planing by adding too much drag.
The leading cause of corrosion damage is galvanic corrosion (the electrochemical interaction between different metals). It is most hazardous where drive units are immersed in salt water, brackish water and many inland waters with high conductivity caused by pollution.
The corrosion reaction occurs when electrons flow between dissimilar metals connected or grounded through water. In the process, one of the two metals is eaten away. The damaging corrosion can be eliminated by providing sacrificial metal-zinc which will preferentially corrode to protect the drive unit.
Sacrificial anodes are installed at the factory by the engine manufacturers that Spartan uses. Additional transom mount zinc anodes are available for optimum protection, if deemed necessary. The anode’s main purpose is for corrosion protection. By their very nature, they deteriorate very rapidly and must be constantly inspected and regularly replaced if you are an avid salt water boater.
The use of marine grade aluminum, zinc anodes, and freshwater cooling in combination with respected name brand components gives Spartan boats as much salt water protection the industry can offer.
Unlike typical extruded chine construction that most aluminum boat manufacturers utilize today (a displacement hull that simply pushes water out of the way), Spartan’s exclusive Reverse Chine Hull utilizes the energy available in the bow spray to create lift beneath the hull. This will cause the boat to achieve quicker planing speeds and have superior performance characteristics. What happens is that the hydrodynamic forces overcome the static buoyant forces sooner and the hull reacts by moving forward and up out of the water, reducing draft and creating less drag. The smooth flow of water generated by this design allows more water into the intake during both straight line speed and hard cornering maneuvers. This increases fuel economy. The reverse chine also will not allow the rear end slide (typical characteristic of extruded chine hull boats).
All Spartan boats are constructed with 5086 H116 and 5052 H32 corrosive resistant marine grade alloy.
Although mile per hour numbers are usually how boats are judged, Spartan has taken the time and energy to convert the savings by using our Exclusive Reverse Chine Hull vs. the typical extruded chine aluminum hull into actual dollar savings at the gas pump.
At planing speeds, strakes serve several purposes. Primarily, they provide additional lift, acting somewhat like an extra chine and helping to get more hull out of the water. This reduces drag and increases overall performance. Strakes also tend to break up the flow of water beneath the hull to eliminate some of the surface tension that develops between the water and the bottom and help the hull to track well through all speed ranges.
If you want to maximize versatility, a folding top is the best bet. It provides good weather protection but is a little noisy on a windy day. In just a few seconds it can be folded up or taken off to enjoy the sunshine or provide more fishing room.
If you want maximum weather protection, a hard top with sliding windows is the way to go. Boats with hard tops (cabin style) are very popular in the Northwest where the weather can change from fair to mild to wet and windy in a few short moments.
A good compromise between the two is a fixed frame canvas top. It provides good weather protection yet does not add the weight or expense to your boat.
You should always consider a boat slightly larger than what you think you need. 21′ is a very popular size because it is large enough to carry a good sized group (up to 8 people quite comfortably), yet is highly maneuverable and easy to trailer. Buying too small of a boat often results in an upgrade the following season.