What is a HIN?
The Hull Identification Number (HIN) — also
known as CIN (Craft Identification Number) in Europe or
WIN (Watercraft Identification Number) — is the
globally unique serial number stamped into every boat hull. Think of
it as the VIN of a car. HINs have been mandatory on new boats in
the U.S. since 1972 and in the EU since 1998.
From the 12 or 14 characters you can extract:
- Manufacturer via the 3-letter MIC (Manufacturer Identifier Code)
- Country of production (CE format only)
- Hull serial number
- Month and year of production
- Model year
Our decoder supports both international formats: the
12-character U.S. Coast Guard format and the 14-character
European ISO 10087 (CE) format.
Decode HIN now →
Where do I find the HIN on my boat?
The primary HIN is plainly visible on the
starboard side (right when facing forward) of the
transom, near the top. Depending on the year and
build, it may be molded into the fiberglass, on a metal plate
attached to the transom, or printed under a clear gel-coat layer.
Since 1984, builders also stamp a secondary HIN at
a hidden location elsewhere in the hull. Its position is known only
to the manufacturer and serves as theft protection: if the primary
HIN is altered or removed, the secondary can verify true identity.
When do I need a HIN decoder?
- Before buying a used boat: verify manufacturer and year before transferring money
- For insurance and registration: get the right details for the policy and the state registry
- For charter agreements: uniquely identify the boat
- When selling: let buyers verify what you're advertising
- For surveys and appraisals: document boat identity
- In case of a claim: insurance often requires the full HIN
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HIN decoder really free?
Yes — 100% free, no registration. We fund the site through
unobtrusive ads and topic-relevant partner banners.
Do you store the HINs I enter?
No. The HINs you decode stay in your browser's local storage
only — they are never sent to our servers. You can clear
them anytime via the in-app history. See our
Privacy Policy for details.
My manufacturer shows as „Unknown“ — why?
We use the official USCG database (~16,000 entries) plus a
curated list of European yards. For CE codes (14-character HINs)
there is no central public EU database — each country issues
MICs separately. For unknown codes we link to the relevant
national registry (British Marine for the UK, etc.).
What's the difference between HIN, CIN and WIN?
Three names, same thing.
HIN (Hull Identification Number) is the U.S. term,
CIN (Craft Identification Number) is the official
European term per ISO 10087,
WIN (Watercraft Identification Number) is also
used. Format and purpose are identical.
What does the „CE“ mark in front of a HIN mean?
On European HINs, the 2-letter country code (DE, FR, IT, GB, ...)
comes first. The „CE“ mark refers separately to the
CE conformity marking that certifies compliance with EU
Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/EU. It is typically printed
next to (not inside) the HIN.
Can the HIN be changed after the fact?
No. The HIN is the permanent identification of the hull and
must not be altered. In case of suspected tampering or theft,
the hidden secondary HIN is used for verification.
Data sources
For manufacturer identification we rely on two sources:
- U.S. Coast Guard — official MIC database,
~16,000 U.S. manufacturers and importers
(source).
- Curated EU list — ~150 well-known
European yards (Bavaria, Bénéteau, Jeanneau, Azimut, Hanse,
Sunseeker, X-Yachts and many more) indexed by country + MIC.
For unknown or low-confidence matches we link to the responsible
national authority (British Marine, BSH, Traficom, Transportstyrelsen,
and others).