what does my hull number reflect?

Every boat built since 1972 should have a 12 digit HIN.

On my 1981 Post 42, I think the HIN was in the center of the transom just below the rub rail. As I recall, it was hard to read. It could also be on the lower stbd transom corner just above the boot stripe.

Has your hull been painted? Sometimes the HIN disappears during a paint job.

My 42 had HIN# PMC42194M81H. She was Post hull # 194 which you can see in the HIN. I had always assumed that she was hull 194 of the 42's.

About Time

Aside from the HIN. Post refers to its boats for their own use by size and hull count. for instance when I request info, I tell them my hull is 50-042. which to them means its 50 feet and was the 42nd hull of that length manufactured. I would guess your number with Post is 46-023.

I believe Post keeps info on every boat it manufactured by using this system

Possibly your hull maybe had blisters, was shaved and repaired and never got the nubers re-engraved into the new repair ?
I know of one other boat with that scenario.

Yes, you have the 23rd 46 they built. This timeline: http://www.postyachts.com/a_pgs/pgs_prd.htm may help you. Your boat is 2-3 years into the 46 run.

Almost every Post I have looked at in the water (being nosy) has the plate on the starboard transom just below the rub rail.

Your HIN should be like SeaEric referred to: PMC46023?80? Another 1980 46 HIN will probably have the same letters as yours to fill in the question marks.

Is your boat documented? HIN has to be on that blue certificate you receive each year.

Nope. I looked on the net. His CG Doc says Hull # is 46-023.

Mine hull # is at the water line beneath the boot stripe.
Mine is # 21 built in 1980.

Congratulations on fooling yourself into believing you will EVER really be done !
I have 410 Hp, 671's with turbos.
They are rated at 2650 rpm no load and 2550 at full load.
I run mine at 2250.
Depending on the wind and the tides and the sun and the moon, I run at anywhere between 20 and 22 knots@2250.
At 2100 rpm I run around 19, 20 knots
I burn about 25 gals per hour consistantly.
My starboard tank always takes about 20 gallons more than my port tank which I attribute to the genny.

I generally do not let the tanks get less than 1/2 full and more than likely top off after any long distance travel because I like the boat heavey in case of rough seas. This is my own opinion.
I run the genny whenever I run the boat to keep it limber. ( 7.5 Kw Onan )

At 17 knots and below the boat does not respond well.
It is on plane but seems almost in transition, it wallows in a sea.

3.5 feet draft is the same as mine.

48000 Lbs is what I always quoted lift operators but I do not think it ever tipped the scales on those same lifts at that much.
I never wrote it down but I think the most she ever weighed on a lift was 42000 lbs. that was full of fuel but no water at all.

I only have 80 gallons water storage after removeing the original tanks that had split and replacing them with bladder type tanks.
This is adequate for my use around the bay.

Also mine is the galley down model which has a rinky dinky sized dinnette and long isle style galley.
The salon is pretty big and comfortable.
This boat layout is perfect for two of us.

I wish you the best with you Post.
I have enjoyed the heck outta mine.

Where will you keep the boat ?

About Time, a question for you....

why did the boat burn ?

I had an aquaintance that had a 46, (1979 I think ) that also burned.
It did not realy burn so much as get completely full of soot.
This was attributed to the trubo falling off of the exhaust manifold due to loose clamps.
The hot exhaust gas melted the cabling into a giant molten mass that would not budge.
The engine was trying to run at 2000 + rpm but with no turbo boost, it was a giant carbon pump.

The skipper could not move the emergency kill cables from on the bridge.
When he opened the hatch in the salon the back smoke ( soot ) poured in the boat.
Also the Port engine and genny were now breathing in sooty air.

He could not get to the fuel solenoids to manually shut the boat down and in the end he had ( I think it was his kid ) crawl up from the rear hatches to shut down the fuel valve to the motor.

A real mess and a real miricle thet saved the boat and people on board.

He did go on to rebuild the boat better than when he got it.
As I recall it was black and purple inside if anyone has seen it.
The skipper sold the boat I think a few years ago.
I cannot for the life of me remember the name of that boat but we ended up calling it " Velvet Elvis " because of the black and purple interior........

PS. I check those same clamps annually.

25 gals for the genset? That seems like alot. I was under the impression the genset should only burn 1-2 gals per hour ( 7.5 KW).

Could be the starboard engine uses a little more fuel than the Port.
That is not to say 20 gallons an hr but 20 gallons more on a fill up of ,say, 200 gallons......
I never gave it much thought and only picked it up because I keep track of all my fuel and realized the trend.
I was just happy that 25 gallons an hour seemed pretty good for a 44000 lb boat at around 20 knots.
I should note that I have a rag top not a hard top which would prolly slow you down a knot or two........
I would like a hard top but I don't want to give up even 1/2 knot of speed !!!

Do the engines seem happy @ 2250, that sounds like alot. I would be very happy to criuse @ 20 knts.

They seem to be fine at 2250. Some people look at me funny and think thats too hard on them.
My understanding of 2 strokes is that they were not great over the road type engines as they were put through the gears and constant RPM changes, but, they were excellent for generators, pumps and boats as they were run up to an RPM and kept there for a long period.
I have run mine for about 17 yrs at 2250 and do have not had any problems other than regular maintanence. ( having said that I will light a candle for the DD gods...... )
They are just now beginning to smoke when they are cold.
this clears when they warm up.
They both start well and s do not need a sniff to run even in the cold weather.
They have around 3600 hrs on them

I also have the galley down, I just got done installing a larger 21 cu ft samsung refrige, side by side with a draw freezer on the bottom.

That is a great idea.
I replaced mine a couple years ago with an apartment size fridge.


Your friend had to crawl up from the rear hatches? Do you mean the fish boxes in the cockpit? The only access I have is in the salon. After moving some furniture I have great access. I cant imagine crawling in from the cockpit.

I believe the fuel valve is reachable from the fish box access in the deck.
They said after he tried to get in through the salon hatch he was choking and completely covered in soot. I believe his son pulled the rear hatch and turned the valve off.


How concerned are you of a "runaway" with these two strokes?

I have not heard of any run away engines in the recent past.
It is a concern but my air cut offs on the blower box work.
If you kill the air the engine cannot run.


Do you stow a dingy with a davit on the fordeck? I heard this will effect the following sea problem with this hull.

I have an 85 lb inflatable on the bow.
It does not affect the attitude of the boat at all.
I think when you put a small whaler on a 42 the real problems start.
I really hate the look of the inflatable but it is so handy that I felt the trade off was necessary. We use the heck out of it at anchor or in some ports of call.


The boats original name was "JUST CRUISING", her home port was in Maryland. I think it was for tax reasons?
The name is not familiar to me.
Maryland has had a 5 % tax since I was a kid.
Delaware is the favorite game here. De has no sales tax. Folks buy a boat and register in De but keep it in MD.
Usually upper end of the bay.
Every Spring the MD federallies ( Sate-a-rallies ? ) make the rounds to the marinas looking for DE registrations so they can get their fair share !!

Been checking myself. About to do a run from Detroit to LI. Here some info that will help. You may have to do the Welland & Oswego Canals. (remember to bring a passport for Canadian Customs since last June).Total Mileage: 524 miles
Segment Mileage:

Erie Canal: 338 miles
Champlain Canal: 60 miles
Oswego Canal: 24 miles
Cayuga-Seneca Canal: 12 miles
to Ithaca and 45 miles
to Watkins Glen/Montour Falls 45 miles


Lock Dimensions
328 feet long, 45 feet wide
Area available for vessels: 300 feet long, 43.5 feet wide
Information on How to "Lock Through" Canal System Locks


Bridge Clearances & Channel Depths

Bridge Clearances Channel Depths*
Erie Canal
Waterford to Three Rivers 21 feet 14 feet
Three Rivers to Tonawanda 15.5 feet 12 feet
Oswego Canal 21 feet 14 feet
Champlain Canal 17 feet 12 feet
Cayuga-Seneca Canal 16.5 feet 12 feet
*Bridge clearances are given at normal pool and are subject to variation.
Here's the bridge table:
http://www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/boating/bridgeheights.html