MINI CAT HIN Decoder — MIC MIC
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with MIC were assigned by the US Coast Guard to MINI CAT of OAKLAND, 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
MIC
Location
OAKLAND, CA
In business
since 2015
Status
Listed active in USCG records
MINI CAT hulls (2015–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 MINI CAT HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example MIC45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | MIC | Identifies MINI CAT, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | MINI CAT'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 MINI CAT? 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
MINI CAT HIN FAQ
What does a MINI CAT HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "MIC" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to MINI CAT — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. MINI CAT hulls (2015–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is MINI CAT still in business?
USCG records list MINI CAT of OAKLAND, CA in the MIC database (registered 2015).
How do I decode the year on a MINI CAT HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. MINI CAT hulls (2015–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 MINI CAT 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 "MIC" MIC the same as a MINI CAT serial number?
No. "MIC" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies MINI CAT. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: MINI CAT'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 MINI CAT 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 MINI CAT 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, "MINI CAT HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/mic, last verified 2026-06-15.