HETZLER BROS. BOATS HIN Decoder — MIC HZE
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with HZE were assigned by the US Coast Guard to HETZLER BROS. BOATS of ST. CHARLES, MO. 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
HZE
Location
ST. CHARLES, MO
In business
since 1996
Status
Listed active in USCG records
HETZLER BROS. BOATS hulls (1996–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 HETZLER BROS. BOATS HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example HZE45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | HZE | Identifies HETZLER BROS. BOATS, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | HETZLER BROS. BOATS'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 HETZLER BROS. BOATS? 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
HETZLER BROS. BOATS HIN FAQ
What does a HETZLER BROS. BOATS HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "HZE" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to HETZLER BROS. BOATS — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. HETZLER BROS. BOATS hulls (1996–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is HETZLER BROS. BOATS still in business?
USCG records list HETZLER BROS. BOATS of ST. CHARLES, MO in the MIC database (registered 1996).
How do I decode the year on a HETZLER BROS. BOATS HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. HETZLER BROS. BOATS hulls (1996–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 HETZLER BROS. BOATS 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 "HZE" MIC the same as a HETZLER BROS. BOATS serial number?
No. "HZE" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies HETZLER BROS. BOATS. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: HETZLER BROS. BOATS'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 HETZLER BROS. BOATS 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 HETZLER BROS. BOATS records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in MO
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, "HETZLER BROS. BOATS HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/hze, last verified 2026-06-15.