FISHBOAT DESIGNS HIN Decoder — MIC FSV

Hull Identification Numbers beginning with FSV were assigned by the US Coast Guard to FISHBOAT DESIGNS of PALMETTO, FL. 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

FSV

Location

PALMETTO, FL

In business

since 2016

Status

Listed active in USCG records

FISHBOAT DESIGNS hulls (2016–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 FISHBOAT DESIGNS HIN breaks down

A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example FSV45678D424 (illustrative):

CharactersSegmentIn exampleWhat it identifies
1–3Manufacturer (MIC)FSVIdentifies FISHBOAT DESIGNS, assigned by the US Coast Guard.
4–8Hull serial number45678FISHBOAT DESIGNS'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 FISHBOAT DESIGNS? 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

FISHBOAT DESIGNS HIN FAQ

What does a FISHBOAT DESIGNS HIN look like?

It starts with the three characters "FSV" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to FISHBOAT DESIGNS — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. FISHBOAT DESIGNS hulls (2016–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.

Is FISHBOAT DESIGNS still in business?

USCG records list FISHBOAT DESIGNS of PALMETTO, FL in the MIC database (registered 2016).

How do I decode the year on a FISHBOAT DESIGNS HIN?

On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. FISHBOAT DESIGNS hulls (2016–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 FISHBOAT DESIGNS 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 "FSV" MIC the same as a FISHBOAT DESIGNS serial number?

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

Other builders in FL

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, "FISHBOAT DESIGNS HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/fsv, last verified 2026-06-15.