HYDRO CRAF HIN Decoder — MIC HYU

Hull Identification Numbers beginning with HYU were assigned by the US Coast Guard to HYDRO CRAF of GOOSE CREEK, SC. 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

HYU

Location

GOOSE CREEK, SC

In business

since 1977

Status

Listed active in USCG records

HYDRO CRAF built hulls across both HIN eras (1977–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 HYDRO CRAF HIN breaks down

A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example HYU45678D424 (illustrative):

CharactersSegmentIn exampleWhat it identifies
1–3Manufacturer (MIC)HYUIdentifies HYDRO CRAF, assigned by the US Coast Guard.
4–8Hull serial number45678HYDRO CRAF'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 HYDRO CRAF? 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

HYDRO CRAF HIN FAQ

What does a HYDRO CRAF HIN look like?

It starts with the three characters "HYU" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to HYDRO CRAF — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. HYDRO CRAF built hulls across both HIN eras (1977–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 HYDRO CRAF still in business?

USCG records list HYDRO CRAF of GOOSE CREEK, SC in the MIC database (registered 1977).

How do I decode the year on a HYDRO CRAF HIN?

On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. HYDRO CRAF built hulls across both HIN eras (1977–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 HYDRO CRAF 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 "HYU" MIC the same as a HYDRO CRAF serial number?

No. "HYU" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies HYDRO CRAF. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: HYDRO CRAF'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 HYDRO CRAF 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 HYDRO CRAF 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, "HYDRO CRAF HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/hyu, last verified 2026-06-15.