HOEFGEN CANOE MFG HIN Decoder — MIC HCA
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with HCA were assigned by the US Coast Guard to HOEFGEN CANOE MFG of MENOMINEE, MI. 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
HCA
Location
MENOMINEE, MI
In business
since 1976
Status
Listed active in USCG records
HOEFGEN CANOE MFG built hulls across both HIN eras (1976–present): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three.
How a HOEFGEN CANOE MFG HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example HCA45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | HCA | Identifies HOEFGEN CANOE MFG, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | HOEFGEN CANOE MFG'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 HOEFGEN CANOE MFG? 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
HOEFGEN CANOE MFG HIN FAQ
What does a HOEFGEN CANOE MFG HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "HCA" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to HOEFGEN CANOE MFG — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. HOEFGEN CANOE MFG built hulls across both HIN eras (1976–present): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three.
Is HOEFGEN CANOE MFG still in business?
USCG records list HOEFGEN CANOE MFG of MENOMINEE, MI in the MIC database (registered 1976).
How do I decode the year on a HOEFGEN CANOE MFG HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. HOEFGEN CANOE MFG built hulls across both HIN eras (1976–present): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.
Where is the HIN on a HOEFGEN CANOE MFG 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 "HCA" MIC the same as a HOEFGEN CANOE MFG serial number?
No. "HCA" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies HOEFGEN CANOE MFG. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: HOEFGEN CANOE MFG'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 HOEFGEN CANOE MFG 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 HOEFGEN CANOE MFG records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in MI
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, "HOEFGEN CANOE MFG HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/hca, last verified 2026-06-15.