MAINE HYDROSPACE IND HIN Decoder — MIC MHZ
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with MHZ were assigned by the US Coast Guard to MAINE HYDROSPACE IND of DETROIT, ME. The company is recorded as out of business since 1990 — 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
MHZ
Location
DETROIT, ME
In business
since 1984
Status
Out of business (1990)
MAINE HYDROSPACE IND built hulls across both HIN eras (1984–1990): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three.
How a MAINE HYDROSPACE IND HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example MHZ45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | MHZ | Identifies MAINE HYDROSPACE IND, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | MAINE HYDROSPACE IND'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 MAINE HYDROSPACE IND? Check it before you pay.
MAINE HYDROSPACE IND is recorded out of business (1990) — 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
MAINE HYDROSPACE IND HIN FAQ
What does a MAINE HYDROSPACE IND HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "MHZ" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to MAINE HYDROSPACE IND — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. MAINE HYDROSPACE IND built hulls across both HIN eras (1984–1990): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three.
Is MAINE HYDROSPACE IND still in business?
USCG records list MAINE HYDROSPACE IND as out of business since 1990. 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 MAINE HYDROSPACE IND HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. MAINE HYDROSPACE IND built hulls across both HIN eras (1984–1990): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.
Where is the HIN on a MAINE HYDROSPACE IND 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 "MHZ" MIC the same as a MAINE HYDROSPACE IND serial number?
No. "MHZ" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies MAINE HYDROSPACE IND. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: MAINE HYDROSPACE IND'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 MAINE HYDROSPACE IND 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 MAINE HYDROSPACE IND records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in ME
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, "MAINE HYDROSPACE IND HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/mhz, last verified 2026-06-15.