CASTLE BOATS MFG HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with DHO were assigned by the US Coast Guard to CASTLE BOATS MFG of HARWOOD HEIGHTS, IL. The company is recorded as out of business since 1989 — 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
DHO
Location
HARWOOD HEIGHTS, IL
In business
since 1989
Status
Out of business (1989)
CASTLE BOATS MFG hulls (1989–1989) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner
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CASTLE BOATS MFG HIN FAQ
What does a CASTLE BOATS MFG HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "DHO" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to CASTLE BOATS MFG — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. CASTLE BOATS MFG hulls (1989–1989) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is CASTLE BOATS MFG still in business?
USCG records list CASTLE BOATS MFG as out of business since 1989. 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 CASTLE BOATS MFG HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. CASTLE BOATS MFG hulls (1989–1989) 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.
Other builders in IL
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "CASTLE BOATS MFG HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/dho, last verified 2026-06-12.