Search MIC Database

You may
remember reading in a past

tip

that the first
three letters of the Hull Identification Number are a three letter code that identifies
the manufacturer. To decipher the code and determine the manufacturer of a
boat, click on the link “USCG Manuf. ID Code (MIC)” and you will find a
page similar to the following:

Search MIC Database

Recreational Boats sold or imported into the United
States are required to have a twelve character Hull Identification Number (HIN). The first
three letters of that number are the Manufacturer’s Identification Code (MIC).
Manufacturers are required to apply in writing to the United States Coast Guard for
assignment of a MIC. The Coast Guard maintains a database of all recreational boat
manufacturers in the United States, and U.S. importers of recreational boats. This
database contains active, out of business, and Canadian manufacturers…

a

At the bottom of the page
you have two choices. You can enter the 3-digit Manufacturer’s Identification Code (that
you copied from the HIN on the transom) to retrieve a list of indexed companies. Or, if
you want to find the MIC number of the manufacturer, you can do a reverse lookup to verify
that the MIC number on the transom is the correct one. You wouldn’t want a seller to tell
you you are buying a Hatteras when the MIC number says it is a Bayliner.

Let’s assume that the MIC
code that you copied was “SER”. Just enter this in the MIC box

and click the “Search Now” button. Once the search is complete you will
see the following:

Search Results

The Manufacturers Index code is: SER

SEA RAY BOATS INC

200 SEA RAY DRIVE

MERRITT ISLAND

FL32953

You now know
the manufacturer of the boat. Perhaps you should check to see if there are any inherent
defects in this model or if it is on the USCG recall list

.