RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with EFK were assigned by the US Coast Guard to RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS of THOMPSONVILLE, MI. The company is recorded as out of business since 2001 — 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
EFK
Location
THOMPSONVILLE, MI
In business
since 1997
Status
Out of business (2001)
RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS hulls (1997–2001) 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
The optional $19.99 Boat History Report adds stolen-boat, salvage/auction, incident, and USCG documentation checks — one-time, no subscription (typical boat-history services charge $25+).
RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS HIN FAQ
What does a RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "EFK" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS hulls (1997–2001) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS still in business?
USCG records list RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS as out of business since 2001. 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 RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS hulls (1997–2001) 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 MI
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "RIVER LIGHTNING KAYAKS HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/efk, last verified 2026-06-12.