WEISS, BENJAMIN HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with BJW were assigned by the US Coast Guard to WEISS, BENJAMIN of ANN ARBOR, MI. The company is recorded as out of business since 1977 — 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
BJW
Location
ANN ARBOR, MI
In business
since 1972
Status
Out of business (1977)
WEISS, BENJAMIN hulls (1972–1977) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner
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WEISS, BENJAMIN HIN FAQ
What does a WEISS, BENJAMIN HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "BJW" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to WEISS, BENJAMIN — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. WEISS, BENJAMIN hulls (1972–1977) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is WEISS, BENJAMIN still in business?
USCG records list WEISS, BENJAMIN as out of business since 1977. 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 WEISS, BENJAMIN HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. WEISS, BENJAMIN hulls (1972–1977) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.
Other builders in MI
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "WEISS, BENJAMIN HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/bjw, last verified 2026-06-12.