What is a hull identification number (HIN)
A hull identification number (HIN) or serial number is vital in registering and titling your boat. It is also important to recovery if your boat is stolen or if there is a recall campaign by the manufacturer. HINs can be found on all boats manufactured since model year 1973. They are a letter-number combination usually about 12-17 digits long (ex- ample: ABC12345L402) and are usually found on the right side of the stern or transom of the craft on the outside. They may be stamped into the fiberglass or aluminum, or be on a separate plate. Location may vary slightly on pontoon boats, personal wa- tercraft, kayaks, canoes etc. Boats built before No- vember 1972 should have a shorter serial number somewhere on the craft. Length is the straight-line distance from the foremost part of the boat (bow) to the rearmost part of the boat (stern). Bowsprits, outboard motor brackets, rudders and other attachments are not included in the measurement. Watercraft licenses cover a period of three calendar years and expire on December 31 of the last year the license is valid. The expiration date appears on both the license certificate and on the validation decals which are applied to the boat.
