SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC HIN Decoder — MIC SB2
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with SB2 were assigned by the US Coast Guard to SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC of COLUMBIA, SC. The company is recorded as out of business since 1996 — 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
SB2
Location
COLUMBIA, SC
In business
since 1982
Status
Out of business (1996)
Parent company
REC BOAT GROUP, OMC
SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1996): 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 SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example SB245678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | SB2 | Identifies SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC'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 SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC? Check it before you pay.
SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC is recorded out of business (1996) — 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
SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC HIN FAQ
What does a SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "SB2" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1996): 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 SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC still in business?
USCG records list SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC as out of business since 1996 (associated with REC BOAT GROUP, OMC). 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 SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–1996): 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 SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC 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 "SB2" MIC the same as a SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC serial number?
No. "SB2" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC'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 SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC 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 SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in SC
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, "SUNBIRD BOAT CO INC HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/sb2, last verified 2026-06-15.