Enter a 12-character Hull Identification Number (HIN) to decode information contained in the number and find official resources for researching your boat.
A HIN serves the same purpose for a boat that a VIN serves for a car: it is the permanent identifier a builder assigns to one specific hull. Decoding happens in your browser — nothing you type is sent to us or saved.
Get a free human-reviewed estimated market range for your boat.
Tell us a little more about your boat and our team will review available market information, condition, equipment and location.
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Our team will review the details you provided along with available market information to prepare an estimated market range for your boat.
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A HIN can identify characteristics encoded by the manufacturer, but it does not provide a complete ownership, title, lien, accident, or registration history.
Some vessels are documented federally rather than titled by a state. The Coast Guard's Port State Information Exchange vessel search covers federally documented vessels; a state-titled or state-registered boat may not appear there.
State-titled or state-registered boats are handled by the applicable state agency, although the responsible office and public-record rules vary. Use the official state motor vehicle and titling directory as a starting point, then confirm the boat-record office for that state.
Builder codes are issued by the Coast Guard. Its manufacturer identification resources are the authoritative place to confirm which company a three-character MIC belongs to, including builders no longer in business.
The format is set by federal regulation. You can read the current requirement, including what each character position means, in 33 CFR 181.25.
If your boat has become more work and expense than enjoyment, Boats for Charity can help you eliminate carrying costs with a free 501(c)(3) donation review.
If you are researching a boat because you are deciding what to do with it, these guides cover the practical side: How to Donate a Boat, the boat donation paperwork checklist where the HIN is the first item, Donate a Boat Without a Title for hulls with missing documents, and donating versus selling.
Because titling and registration rules are set locally, the boat donation by state directory is the most direct way to find notes for where your boat is kept. If you are weighing what the boat is actually worth against the effort of selling it, start with the free boat valuation request above and the sell versus donate comparison. When you are ready to talk to a person, use the boat donation review form or call (855) 557-3703.