BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP HIN Decoder — MIC GHQ
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with GHQ were assigned by the US Coast Guard to BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP of NEWBERRY, SC. The company is recorded as out of business since 2008 — 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
GHQ
Location
NEWBERRY, SC
In business
since 2002
Status
Out of business (2008)
Parent company
BRUNSWICK BOAT GROUP
BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP hulls (2002–2008) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
How a BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example GHQ45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | GHQ | Identifies BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP's own production number for the specific hull (the letters I, O, Q are never used). |
| 9 | Certification month | D | Month built — A=January … L=December (D = April). |
| 10 | Certification year | 4 | Last digit of the certification year. |
| 11–12 | Model year | 24 | The boat’s model year. |
Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner
Buying this BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP? Check it before you pay.
BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP is recorded out of business (2008) — which affects recalls, parts support, and resale. 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
BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP HIN FAQ
What does a BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "GHQ" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP hulls (2002–2008) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP still in business?
USCG records list BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP as out of business since 2008 (associated with BRUNSWICK BOAT GROUP). 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 BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP hulls (2002–2008) 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 BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP 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 "GHQ" MIC the same as a BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP serial number?
No. "GHQ" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP'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 BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP 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 BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in SC
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, "BLUEWATER MARINE GROUP HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/ghq, last verified 2026-06-15.