HARBOUR INC HIN Decoder — MIC HZO
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with HZO were assigned by the US Coast Guard to HARBOUR INC of DICKSON, TN. The company is recorded as out of business since 1996 — 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
HZO
Location
DICKSON, TN
In business
since 1989
Status
Out of business (1996)
Parent company
WINNER
HARBOUR INC hulls (1989–1996) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
How a HARBOUR INC HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example HZO45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | HZO | Identifies HARBOUR INC, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | HARBOUR INC'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 HARBOUR INC? Check it before you pay.
HARBOUR INC is recorded out of business (1996) — 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
HARBOUR INC HIN FAQ
What does a HARBOUR INC HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "HZO" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to HARBOUR INC — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. HARBOUR INC hulls (1989–1996) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is HARBOUR INC still in business?
USCG records list HARBOUR INC as out of business since 1996 (associated with WINNER). 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 HARBOUR INC HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. HARBOUR INC hulls (1989–1996) 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 HARBOUR INC 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 "HZO" MIC the same as a HARBOUR INC serial number?
No. "HZO" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies HARBOUR INC. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: HARBOUR INC'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 HARBOUR INC 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 HARBOUR INC records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in TN
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, "HARBOUR INC HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/hzo, last verified 2026-06-15.