SEAWARD KAYAKS HIN Decoder — MIC QKN
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with QKN were assigned by the US Coast Guard to SEAWARD KAYAKS of CHEMAINUS, BC. 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
QKN
Location
CHEMAINUS, BC
In business
since 2002
Status
Listed active in USCG records
SEAWARD KAYAKS hulls (2002–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 SEAWARD KAYAKS HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example QKN45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | QKN | Identifies SEAWARD KAYAKS, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | SEAWARD KAYAKS'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 SEAWARD KAYAKS? 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
SEAWARD KAYAKS HIN FAQ
What does a SEAWARD KAYAKS HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "QKN" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to SEAWARD KAYAKS — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. SEAWARD KAYAKS hulls (2002–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is SEAWARD KAYAKS still in business?
USCG records list SEAWARD KAYAKS of CHEMAINUS, BC in the MIC database (registered 2002).
How do I decode the year on a SEAWARD KAYAKS HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. SEAWARD KAYAKS hulls (2002–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 SEAWARD KAYAKS 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 "QKN" MIC the same as a SEAWARD KAYAKS serial number?
No. "QKN" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies SEAWARD KAYAKS. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: SEAWARD KAYAKS'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 SEAWARD KAYAKS 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 SEAWARD KAYAKS records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in BC
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, "SEAWARD KAYAKS HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/qkn, last verified 2026-06-15.