SAPO HIN Decoder — MIC AHZ
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with AHZ were assigned by the US Coast Guard to SAPO of TEWKSBURY, MA. The company is recorded as out of business since 1990 — 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
AHZ
Location
TEWKSBURY, MA
In business
since 1987
Status
Out of business (1990)
SAPO hulls (1987–1990) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
How a SAPO HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example AHZ45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | AHZ | Identifies SAPO, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | SAPO's own production number for the specific hull (the letters I, O, Q are never used). |
| 9 | Certification month | D | Month built — A=January … L=December (D = April). |
| 10 | Certification year | 4 | Last digit of the certification year. |
| 11–12 | Model year | 24 | The boat’s model year. |
Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner
Buying this SAPO? Check it before you pay.
SAPO is recorded out of business (1990) — 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
SAPO HIN FAQ
What does a SAPO HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "AHZ" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to SAPO — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. SAPO hulls (1987–1990) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is SAPO still in business?
USCG records list SAPO as out of business since 1990. 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 SAPO HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. SAPO hulls (1987–1990) 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 SAPO 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 "AHZ" MIC the same as a SAPO serial number?
No. "AHZ" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies SAPO. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: SAPO'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 SAPO 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 SAPO records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in MA
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, "SAPO HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/ahz, last verified 2026-06-15.