DECATHLON USA LLC HIN Decoder — MIC KAV
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with KAV were assigned by the US Coast Guard to DECATHLON USA LLC of SAN FRANCISCO, CA. 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
KAV
Location
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
In business
since 2017
Status
Listed active in USCG records
DECATHLON USA LLC hulls (2017–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 DECATHLON USA LLC HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example KAV45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | KAV | Identifies DECATHLON USA LLC, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | DECATHLON USA LLC'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 DECATHLON USA LLC? 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
DECATHLON USA LLC HIN FAQ
What does a DECATHLON USA LLC HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "KAV" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to DECATHLON USA LLC — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. DECATHLON USA LLC hulls (2017–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is DECATHLON USA LLC still in business?
USCG records list DECATHLON USA LLC of SAN FRANCISCO, CA in the MIC database (registered 2017).
How do I decode the year on a DECATHLON USA LLC HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. DECATHLON USA LLC hulls (2017–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 DECATHLON USA LLC 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 "KAV" MIC the same as a DECATHLON USA LLC serial number?
No. "KAV" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies DECATHLON USA LLC. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: DECATHLON USA LLC'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 DECATHLON USA LLC 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 DECATHLON USA LLC records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in CA
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, "DECATHLON USA LLC HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/kav, last verified 2026-06-15.