FOSTER MFG CORP HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with FOS were assigned by the US Coast Guard to FOSTER MFG CORP of RACINE, WI. The company is recorded as out of business since 2013 — 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
FOS
Location
RACINE, WI
In business
since 1985
Status
Out of business (2013)
FOSTER MFG CORP hulls (1985–2013) 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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FOSTER MFG CORP HIN FAQ
What does a FOSTER MFG CORP HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "FOS" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to FOSTER MFG CORP — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. FOSTER MFG CORP hulls (1985–2013) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is FOSTER MFG CORP still in business?
USCG records list FOSTER MFG CORP as out of business since 2013. 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 FOSTER MFG CORP HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. FOSTER MFG CORP hulls (1985–2013) 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 WI
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "FOSTER MFG CORP HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/fos, last verified 2026-06-12.