Buying a used boat? Check the HIN first.

A used boat can hide a lot, but the HIN can't. It tells you who actually built the hull, the model year, and the build date — and it's the one identifier that follows a boat across owners and states, even when the registration numbers change. A seller can fudge plenty; the number molded into the transom should match the title, the registration, and the insurance paperwork exactly. When it doesn't, that's your first red flag.

How to decode it for free

Read the 12 characters off the transom and run them through a free decoder to confirm the builder, the build location, the build date, and the model year. You can decode any boat's HIN free in under a minute. If the decoded builder doesn't match what the seller is telling you, walk away — a swapped or misrepresented hull is not a problem you want to inherit.

Those records live in separate places you check yourself — your state titling agency and a stolen-boat database like the NICB. If you'd rather not chase them one at a time, a boat history report bundles the HIN decode, the U.S. Coast Guard builder record, and a marine-recall check into one $9.99 lookup. Prefer to verify everything yourself? Their free boat history check guide walks through every official source, one by one.

““A few minutes with the HIN can save you from buying someone else's problem.””

Before you hand over money — or hit the ramp

1. 01
   Match the plate to the paperwork

   The HIN on the transom must match the title and registration exactly. Watch for grinding, mismatched fonts, or a re-bedded plate — signs of a swapped hull.
2. 02
   Decode the builder and year

   Confirm the factory, build date, and model year against what the seller claims.
3. 03
   Check for liens and title brands

   Your state titling agency holds the lien and salvage/brand records.
4. 04
   Search a stolen-boat database

   The NICB runs a free VINCheck-style lookup for boats.
5. 05
   Get a marine survey

   For anything of real value, a professional survey pays for itself.