JOHN LYNCH HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with JSL were assigned by the US Coast Guard to JOHN LYNCH of VALLEY LEE, MD. The company is recorded as out of business since 1982 — 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
JSL
Location
VALLEY LEE, MD
In business
since 1974
Status
Out of business (1982)
JOHN LYNCH hulls (1974–1982) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner
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JOHN LYNCH HIN FAQ
What does a JOHN LYNCH HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "JSL" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to JOHN LYNCH — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. JOHN LYNCH hulls (1974–1982) 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 LYNCH still in business?
USCG records list JOHN LYNCH as out of business since 1982. 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 LYNCH HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. JOHN LYNCH hulls (1974–1982) 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.
Other builders in MD
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "JOHN LYNCH HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/jsl, last verified 2026-06-12.