RECREATION UNLIMITED HIN Decoder — MIC RUD
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with RUD were assigned by the US Coast Guard to RECREATION UNLIMITED of BEND, OR. The company is recorded as out of business since 1976 — 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
RUD
Location
BEND, OR
In business
—
Status
Out of business (1976)
RECREATION UNLIMITED hulls (1972–1976) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
How a RECREATION UNLIMITED HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example RUD45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | RUD | Identifies RECREATION UNLIMITED, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | RECREATION UNLIMITED'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 RECREATION UNLIMITED? Check it before you pay.
RECREATION UNLIMITED is recorded out of business (1976) — 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
RECREATION UNLIMITED HIN FAQ
What does a RECREATION UNLIMITED HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "RUD" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to RECREATION UNLIMITED — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. RECREATION UNLIMITED hulls (1972–1976) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is RECREATION UNLIMITED still in business?
USCG records list RECREATION UNLIMITED as out of business since 1976. 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 RECREATION UNLIMITED HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. RECREATION UNLIMITED hulls (1972–1976) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.
Where is the HIN on a RECREATION UNLIMITED 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 "RUD" MIC the same as a RECREATION UNLIMITED serial number?
No. "RUD" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies RECREATION UNLIMITED. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: RECREATION UNLIMITED'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 RECREATION UNLIMITED 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 RECREATION UNLIMITED records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in OR
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, "RECREATION UNLIMITED HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/rud, last verified 2026-06-15.