BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD HIN Decoder — MIC OQG
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with OQG were assigned by the US Coast Guard to BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD of MANCHESTER, MI. 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
OQG
Location
MANCHESTER, MI
In business
since 2005
Status
Listed active in USCG records
BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD hulls (2005–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 BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example OQG45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | OQG | Identifies BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD'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 BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD? 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
BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD HIN FAQ
What does a BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "OQG" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD hulls (2005–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD still in business?
USCG records list BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD of MANCHESTER, MI in the MIC database (registered 2005).
How do I decode the year on a BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD hulls (2005–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 BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD 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 "OQG" MIC the same as a BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD serial number?
No. "OQG" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD'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 BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD 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 BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in MI
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, "BLACKSHEEP BOAT WORKS LTD HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/oqg, last verified 2026-06-15.