CHIEF MARINE LTD HIN Decoder — MIC CEF
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with CEF were assigned by the US Coast Guard to CHIEF MARINE LTD of WEST BABYLON, NY. The company is recorded as out of business since 1997 — 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
CEF
Location
WEST BABYLON, NY
In business
since 1991
Status
Out of business (1997)
CHIEF MARINE LTD hulls (1991–1997) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
How a CHIEF MARINE LTD HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example CEF45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | CEF | Identifies CHIEF MARINE LTD, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | CHIEF MARINE LTD'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 CHIEF MARINE LTD? Check it before you pay.
CHIEF MARINE LTD is recorded out of business (1997) — 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
CHIEF MARINE LTD HIN FAQ
What does a CHIEF MARINE LTD HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "CEF" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to CHIEF MARINE LTD — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. CHIEF MARINE LTD hulls (1991–1997) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is CHIEF MARINE LTD still in business?
USCG records list CHIEF MARINE LTD as out of business since 1997. 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 CHIEF MARINE LTD HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. CHIEF MARINE LTD hulls (1991–1997) 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 CHIEF MARINE LTD 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 "CEF" MIC the same as a CHIEF MARINE LTD serial number?
No. "CEF" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies CHIEF MARINE LTD. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: CHIEF MARINE LTD'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 CHIEF MARINE LTD 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 CHIEF MARINE LTD records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in NY
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, "CHIEF MARINE LTD HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/cef, last verified 2026-06-15.