AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK HIN Decoder — MIC ACK

Hull Identification Numbers beginning with ACK were assigned by the US Coast Guard to AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK of AUSTIN, TX. The company is recorded as out of business since 2001 — common for older hulls, and useful to know when hunting parts or records. Enter the full 12-character HIN below for build date, model year, and serial — free, no account.

MIC

ACK

Location

AUSTIN, TX

In business

since 1990

Status

Out of business (2001)

AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK hulls (1990–2001) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.

How a AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK HIN breaks down

A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example ACK45678D424 (illustrative):

CharactersSegmentIn exampleWhat it identifies
1–3Manufacturer (MIC)ACKIdentifies AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK, assigned by the US Coast Guard.
4–8Hull serial number45678AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK's own production number for the specific hull (the letters I, O, Q are never used).
9Certification monthDMonth built — A=January … L=December (D = April).
10Certification year4Last digit of the certification year.
11–12Model year24The boat’s model year.

Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner

Buying this AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK? Check it before you pay.

AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK is recorded out of business (2001) — which affects recalls, parts support, and resale. The $9.99 Boat Report adds the full CPSC marine-recall check, a HIN consistency check, a verify-before-you-buy checklist, and the USCG builder record for this hull — one downloadable report, one-time, no subscription. See what's included

AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK HIN FAQ

What does a AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK HIN look like?

It starts with the three characters "ACK" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK hulls (1990–2001) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.

Is AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK still in business?

USCG records list AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK as out of business since 2001. That's common for older hulls — the HIN still decodes normally, and the out-of-business date helps date the boat and guides parts-hunting toward salvage and owner groups rather than a dealer network.

How do I decode the year on a AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK HIN?

On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK hulls (1990–2001) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.

Where is the HIN on a AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK boat?

On the outside upper-starboard (right) corner of the transom, within two inches of the top — required by 33 CFR 181.29. Since August 1984 an identical duplicate HIN is also molded into an unexposed interior location as an anti-theft measure. Both should match the title, registration, and insurance card exactly.

Is the "ACK" MIC the same as a AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK serial number?

No. "ACK" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK's own production number for that specific boat (the letters I, O, and Q are never used). The full 12-character HIN combines the MIC, the serial, and the date code.

Can a AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK HIN tell me the exact model?

Not on its own. A HIN encodes the builder, hull serial, certification month/year, and model year — not the model name or length. Match the decoded year and serial against AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.

Other builders in TX

Sources: verified against the USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR Part 181, Subpart C. Reviewed by Sam Reynolds, Lead Researcher, CarWhere. Cite this page: CarWhere, "AUSTIN CANOE AND KAYAK HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/ack, last verified 2026-06-15.