FINN MARINE HIN Decoder — MIC FQK

Hull Identification Numbers beginning with FQK were assigned by the US Coast Guard to FINN MARINE of BRUNSWICK, OH. The builder is listed in the USCG MIC database. Enter the full 12-character HIN below for build date, model year, and serial — free, no account.

MIC

FQK

Location

BRUNSWICK, OH

In business

since 2002

Status

Listed active in USCG records

FINN MARINE hulls (2002–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.

How a FINN MARINE HIN breaks down

A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example FQK45678D424 (illustrative):

CharactersSegmentIn exampleWhat it identifies
1–3Manufacturer (MIC)FQKIdentifies FINN MARINE, assigned by the US Coast Guard.
4–8Hull serial number45678FINN MARINE's own production number for the specific hull (the letters I, O, Q are never used).
9Certification monthDMonth built — A=January … L=December (D = April).
10Certification year4Last digit of the certification year.
11–12Model year24The boat’s model year.

Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner

Buying this FINN MARINE? Check it before you pay.

Decoding the HIN confirms the year and serial, but not the safety record. 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

FINN MARINE HIN FAQ

What does a FINN MARINE HIN look like?

It starts with the three characters "FQK" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to FINN MARINE — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. FINN MARINE hulls (2002–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.

Is FINN MARINE still in business?

USCG records list FINN MARINE of BRUNSWICK, OH in the MIC database (registered 2002).

How do I decode the year on a FINN MARINE HIN?

On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. FINN MARINE hulls (2002–present) 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 FINN MARINE 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 "FQK" MIC the same as a FINN MARINE serial number?

No. "FQK" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies FINN MARINE. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: FINN MARINE'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 FINN MARINE 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 FINN MARINE records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.

Other builders in OH

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, "FINN MARINE HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/fqk, last verified 2026-06-15.