JOHN PILLSBURY HIN Decoder — MIC JPL
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with JPL were assigned by the US Coast Guard to JOHN PILLSBURY of WILLIAMSON, NY. The company is recorded as out of business since 1979 — 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
JPL
Location
WILLIAMSON, NY
In business
since 1979
Status
Out of business (1979)
JOHN PILLSBURY hulls (1979–1979) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
How a JOHN PILLSBURY HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example JPL45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | JPL | Identifies JOHN PILLSBURY, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | JOHN PILLSBURY'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 JOHN PILLSBURY? Check it before you pay.
JOHN PILLSBURY is recorded out of business (1979) — 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
JOHN PILLSBURY HIN FAQ
What does a JOHN PILLSBURY HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "JPL" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to JOHN PILLSBURY — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. JOHN PILLSBURY hulls (1979–1979) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is JOHN PILLSBURY still in business?
USCG records list JOHN PILLSBURY as out of business since 1979. 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 JOHN PILLSBURY HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. JOHN PILLSBURY hulls (1979–1979) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.
Where is the HIN on a JOHN PILLSBURY 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 "JPL" MIC the same as a JOHN PILLSBURY serial number?
No. "JPL" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies JOHN PILLSBURY. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: JOHN PILLSBURY'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 JOHN PILLSBURY 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 JOHN PILLSBURY records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in NY
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, "JOHN PILLSBURY HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/jpl, last verified 2026-06-15.