BROWN COMPANY HIN Decoder — MIC BNI
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with BNI were assigned by the US Coast Guard to BROWN COMPANY of FLORENCE, SC. The company is recorded as out of business since 1983 — 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
BNI
Location
FLORENCE, SC
In business
since 1982
Status
Out of business (1983)
BROWN COMPANY hulls (1982–1983) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
How a BROWN COMPANY HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example BNI45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | BNI | Identifies BROWN COMPANY, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | BROWN COMPANY'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 BROWN COMPANY? Check it before you pay.
BROWN COMPANY is recorded out of business (1983) — 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
BROWN COMPANY HIN FAQ
What does a BROWN COMPANY HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "BNI" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to BROWN COMPANY — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. BROWN COMPANY hulls (1982–1983) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is BROWN COMPANY still in business?
USCG records list BROWN COMPANY as out of business since 1983. 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 BROWN COMPANY HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. BROWN COMPANY hulls (1982–1983) 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.
Where is the HIN on a BROWN COMPANY 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 "BNI" MIC the same as a BROWN COMPANY serial number?
No. "BNI" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies BROWN COMPANY. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: BROWN COMPANY'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 BROWN COMPANY 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 BROWN COMPANY records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in SC
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, "BROWN COMPANY HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/bni, last verified 2026-06-15.