GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) HIN Decoder — MIC GWS

Hull Identification Numbers beginning with GWS were assigned by the US Coast Guard to GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) of PEMBROKE PINES, 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

GWS

Location

PEMBROKE PINES, FL

In business

since 2008

Status

Listed active in USCG records

GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) hulls (2008–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 GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) HIN breaks down

A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example GWS45678D424 (illustrative):

CharactersSegmentIn exampleWhat it identifies
1–3Manufacturer (MIC)GWSIdentifies GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA), assigned by the US Coast Guard.
4–8Hull serial number45678GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA)'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 GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA)? 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

GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) HIN FAQ

What does a GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) HIN look like?

It starts with the three characters "GWS" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) hulls (2008–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.

Is GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) still in business?

USCG records list GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) of PEMBROKE PINES, FL in the MIC database (registered 2008).

How do I decode the year on a GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) HIN?

On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) hulls (2008–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 GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) 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 "GWS" MIC the same as a GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) serial number?

No. "GWS" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA). The hull serial number is characters 4–8: GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA)'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 GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) 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 GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) 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, "GAVIOTA WELDING WATERCRAFT SERVICES (DBA) HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/gws, last verified 2026-06-15.