The licence number is affixed, painted or engraved on the bow of the boat. Spotting a missing boat that been reported stolen can be a heroic moment. When you are looking at potential boats, you don’t want to delay any longer than you absolutely have to, and so you want a documentation search that is as rapid as possible. Perhaps you are trying to determine who a particular boat belongs to. The answer can be a bit complicated and may vary depending on your state laws. We recommend Get Certified Boat History Report . However, there is a more practical way to identify ships. Boat History Report displays great customer service. However, there many other telltale signs could clue you into criminal activity. If you are looking for help with conducting a vessel search, then we can give you a few tips about the best way to manage this type of investigation. Give a buyer a free boat history report and earn their trust having provided the boats information, boat titles, and boat hull id number search results for free. HULL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (HIN) All boats manufactured or imported on or after November 1, 1972 must bear a HIN (Hull Identification Number), a 12-character alpha-numeric ID that uniquely identifies your boat. A watercraft subject to the commercial vessel tonnage tax. First, you could reach out to the owners of the boat after locating them through the hull identification number on the transom of the boat. We can offer you help in conducting the search, including applying using the USCG forms and making sure that you have completed all of the information necessary for a successful search. The HIN is a 12-character number used to identify a boat in the same way a vehicle identification number identifies a car. This date is technically not the date of manufacture; rather, it's the date on which the boat was certified by the builder to meet Coast Guard regulations. The hull serial number consists of capital letters of the alphabet or Arabic numerals or both, exceptions being the letters I, O and Q, they are not used. A HIN is the nautical equivalent of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on your car. Locate the phone number for your state department and explain your situation. The owner shall paint on or attach the boat number to each side of the forward half of the vessel’s hull or superstructure for which the boat number is issued, displaying the boat number in the manner required by Department regulations and maintaining the boat number in legible condition. This is usually a 12 digits long code, beginning with the Manufacturer’s Identification Code (MIC). 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 (512) 389-4800 | (800) 792-1112 | TTY: (512) 389-8915 Operation Game Thief: (800) 792-GAME Additional search options can be found in our BoatScope database. Instead, they use a 12-digit HIN (Hull Identification Number). The hull serial number consists of capital letters of the alphabet or Arabic numerals or both, exceptions being the letters I, O and Q, they are not used. Send a certified letter to prove that they received a notice and did not respond. Last decoded HIN ETW45547E606 YAMCP341K304 KAW10712L206 RGFU0492K697 XUE40319M84B SES58024A313 TAR41002E596 XMO22015E213 We are experienced in handling Coast Guard forms and documentation and can assist you with every stage of the process. Knowing the HIN is also a great way for you to potentially contact the owner. Federal regulations effective November 1, 1972, require vessel manufacturers to assign a HIN to each vessel the manufacturer builds. Understanding the difference between these two items is also important. Verification is only necessary with a used boat. You don’t have to be particularly savvy to learn how to use these numbers to your advantage. A boat is considered to be an abandoned vessel if it has been left behind or given up. We use it to run reports, identify ownership, and more. It makes sense that you may want to check the VIN on a new boat that you are considering purchasing. Related Article: Boat Club Rules: 10 Thing to Know Before Joining. Marine Parts & Accessories . Since November 1, 1972, federal law requires all boats, including inflatables like rafts, IKs and SUP boards, manufactured in, or imported into, the US to have a unique 12-character identifier called the Hull Identification Number (HIN). Use this number to confirm that the boat matches the registration number.