The HIN (“Hull Identification Number”) can be used to tell you the year the vessel was manufactured. Additionally, it can reveal the month as well.
Of the 12 or 14 characters of the HIN, look to the end of the number. The 3rd and 4th digits from the very end, to its left, are when it was manufactured. For the model year, look to the HIN’s final two digits. Each letter on the date it was manufactured tells you what month of the year the vessel was manufactured. January is represented by “A,” February by “B,” etc.
Vessels manufactured or imported after or on November 1st, 1972 are required to have an HIN. If you see a vessel without one, it most likely was manufactured or imported before 1972.
If the vessel has a transom, the HIN is most often found on a plate (metal or plastic) on the starboard side of the transom. If the vessel does not have a transom, then the HIN is most likely on the starboard side of the hull, within one foot of the stern and two inches of the top of the hull side.
To conduct a search by HIN or Official Number (ON) through our site, use this vessel documentation search.