KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP HIN Decoder — MIC PIP

Hull Identification Numbers beginning with PIP were assigned by the US Coast Guard to KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP of ANNAPOLIS, MD. The company is recorded as out of business since 1991 — 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

PIP

Location

ANNAPOLIS, MD

In business

since 1982

Status

Out of business (1991)

Parent company

KETRON INC

KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1991): 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 KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP HIN breaks down

A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example PIP45678D424 (illustrative):

CharactersSegmentIn exampleWhat it identifies
1–3Manufacturer (MIC)PIPIdentifies KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP, assigned by the US Coast Guard.
4–8Hull serial number45678KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP'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 KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP? Check it before you pay.

KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP is recorded out of business (1991) — 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

KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP HIN FAQ

What does a KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP HIN look like?

It starts with the three characters "PIP" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1991): 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 KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP still in business?

USCG records list KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP as out of business since 1991 (associated with KETRON INC). 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 KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP HIN?

On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1991): 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 KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP 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 "PIP" MIC the same as a KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP serial number?

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

Other builders in MD

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, "KETRON ANNAPOLIS GROUP HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/pip, last verified 2026-06-15.