Stop 1 at the dock
HIN Check
Boats built or imported for sale in the US carry a hull identification number (HIN). Type the 12 characters from the hull plate: usually the starboard side of the transom, or near the stern on a boat with no transom, or the aft crossbeam on a pontoon boat (spaces and hyphens are fine) to see what the format says.
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How a HIN is built
- Places 1 to 3: the manufacturer identification code (MIC), assigned by the Coast Guard.
- Places 4 to 8: the builder's serial number, in letters and numbers but never I, O or Q.
- Place 9: the month it was built or certified, A for January to L for December. Place 10: the last digit of that year.
- Places 11 and 12: the model year.
From 33 CFR 181.25 and 181.29 (see Sources). Next: walk the boat.