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History of Bill Farmer Lightning boats?

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Old 01-15-2025 | 11:50 AM
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Default History of Bill Farmer Lightning boats?

Ok so it turns out that what I thought was a 24ft 1975 P&D is actually titled as a Lightning. I read that Bill Farmer had a company called Lightning boats of Sarasota.
He then changed the company name to Excalibur in 1976 I think. I cant seem to find anymore info about Lightning. My HIN des not start with NAP so its not an Excalibur but looks identical. Do I have an original Bill Farmer Lightning? Does anybody know the history this boat HIN# B5HM10831RW10
Any help is appreciated.
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Old 01-24-2025 | 11:52 AM
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Don't have an answer for you but commenting to see if someone else does. Interested to hear the story if anyone has it.
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Old 01-25-2025 | 08:32 AM
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New info to me. I have a 78 bill farmer 24x7 excalibur! hope someone responds with more info
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Old 01-28-2025 | 12:22 PM
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Here's a read that might interest you...
Excalibur questions...
C
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Old 02-07-2025 | 01:33 PM
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Mine is identical to the Excalibur. It has the two hatches on the bow too.
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Old 02-07-2025 | 01:37 PM
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ChristianGott, thank you but that is where I got my information from, and unfortunately that is all the information I have been able to find.
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Old 02-07-2025 | 07:42 PM
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your HIN makes no sense, all HIN # are 12 digits from 1972 on and would have three letters at the beginning and then all numbers from there on with the last two numbers being the year of manufacture.
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Old 02-07-2025 | 08:00 PM
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I know of a Lightning that was in Fla back in the day but what I knew of were splashes of small tunnels like Mirage, STV etc but also some mid 20’ CC’s in the later days, as in probably late ‘80’s??

But if they were in Fla, molds were moved from garage to garage, payment exchanged and names
changed.
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Old 02-07-2025 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by compedgemarine
your HIN makes no sense, all HIN # are 12 digits from 1972 on and would have three letters at the beginning and then all numbers from there on with the last two numbers being the year of manufacture.
I agree it makes no sense, but that is what is engraved on the transom.
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Old 02-07-2025 | 11:00 PM
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based on everything I would guess that is something someone engraved on it and it has no meaning as far as an identifying HIN unless the boat is imported. I have no idea what other countries use as a HIN
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