Aerocraft Boats By Serial Number

The first AeroCraft aluminum boats were made in June 1946 at St. Charles. The original boat constructed was a twelve-foot row-motor boat. Ten boats per week rolled off the assembly line by November. Orders came in at a much quicker rate than expected, so that by March 1947 they were building fifty boats per week with sixty workers on the payroll. That year they purchased an eight-acre plot on the outskirts of the city and constructed a new production facility. The first public stock offering occurred in 1948 when lack of working capital forced the owners to seek assistance. A number of St. Charles businessmen invested including A.S. Brennan who became president.

A hull identification number, or HIN, is the unique serial number assigned to a boat. HIN plates are a federal requirement used to identify boat manufacturers defects and/or any recalls. These plates are frequently referred to as Hull ID plates. Capacity plates might also be required, which show weight, horse power, number of persons per boat size, etc.