A Hull Identification Number (HIN) is like a boat’s fingerprint—unique and essential for identifying the vessel. Established by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1972, the HIN is a 12- or 14-character code that reveals key information, such as the boat’s manufacturer, serial number, and the year it was built. Decoding it is simple and useful for verifying ownership, registration, and ensuring you avoid fraud.
HIN Structure
The HIN is divided into three parts:
- Manufacturer Identification Code (MIC): The first three characters identify the manufacturer. For example, “ABC” could represent “ABC Boats, Inc.” You can look up the MIC in the U.S. Coast Guard’s MIC database.
- Hull Serial Number: The next five characters are the boat’s unique serial number. This number doesn’t carry specific meaning beyond identifying that particular boat.
- Date of Manufacture/Model Year: The last four characters indicate when the boat was built. For boats made before August 1984, the last four characters show the year and month of manufacture. For newer boats, they follow a model year format, indicating both the year of construction and the model year.
Example HIN Decoding
For the HIN ABC12345M84A:
- ABC: Manufacturer is ABC Boats, Inc.
- 12345: Unique serial number.
- M84: Model year is 1984.
- A: Built in January.
Why It Matters
Decoding a HIN helps confirm ownership, ensures correct registration, and helps avoid fraudulent transactions. Always check the HIN before buying or registering a boat to ensure it’s valid and properly documented.
By decoding a HIN, you can quickly verify a boat’s identity, giving you peace of mind and protecting your investment.You can purchase detailed reports of vessels at https://hin-lookup.com.