NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES HIN Decoder — MIC QGL
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with QGL were assigned by the US Coast Guard to NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES of KASILOF, AK. 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
QGL
Location
KASILOF, AK
In business
since 1989
Status
Listed active in USCG records
Parent company
QUAIL GROUP, LTD
NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES hulls (1989–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 NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example QGL45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | QGL | Identifies NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES'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 NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES? 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
NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES HIN FAQ
What does a NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "QGL" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES hulls (1989–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES still in business?
USCG records list NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES of KASILOF, AK in the MIC database (registered 1989), associated with QUAIL GROUP, LTD.
How do I decode the year on a NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES hulls (1989–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 NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES 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 "QGL" MIC the same as a NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES serial number?
No. "QGL" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES'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 NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES 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 NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in AK
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, "NORTHERN MARINE SERVICES HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/qgl, last verified 2026-06-15.