MARTIN & MERRELL HIN Decoder — MIC MM4

Hull Identification Numbers beginning with MM4 were assigned by the US Coast Guard to MARTIN & MERRELL of FT LAUDERDALE, FL. The company is recorded as out of business since 1987 — 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

MM4

Location

FT LAUDERDALE, FL

In business

since 1982

Status

Out of business (1987)

MARTIN & MERRELL built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1987): 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 MARTIN & MERRELL HIN breaks down

A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example MM445678D424 (illustrative):

CharactersSegmentIn exampleWhat it identifies
1–3Manufacturer (MIC)MM4Identifies MARTIN & MERRELL, assigned by the US Coast Guard.
4–8Hull serial number45678MARTIN & MERRELL's own production number for the specific hull (the letters I, O, Q are never used).
9Certification monthDMonth built — A=January … L=December (D = April).
10Certification year4Last digit of the certification year.
11–12Model year24The boat’s model year.

Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner

Buying this MARTIN & MERRELL? Check it before you pay.

MARTIN & MERRELL is recorded out of business (1987) — 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

MARTIN & MERRELL HIN FAQ

What does a MARTIN & MERRELL HIN look like?

It starts with the three characters "MM4" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to MARTIN & MERRELL — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. MARTIN & MERRELL built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1987): 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 MARTIN & MERRELL still in business?

USCG records list MARTIN & MERRELL as out of business since 1987. 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 MARTIN & MERRELL HIN?

On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. MARTIN & MERRELL built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1987): 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 MARTIN & MERRELL 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 "MM4" MIC the same as a MARTIN & MERRELL serial number?

No. "MM4" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies MARTIN & MERRELL. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: MARTIN & MERRELL'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 MARTIN & MERRELL 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 MARTIN & MERRELL records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.

Other builders in FL

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, "MARTIN & MERRELL HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/mm4, last verified 2026-06-15.