SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO HIN Decoder — MIC SB3
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with SB3 were assigned by the US Coast Guard to SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO of Topping, VA. 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
SB3
Location
Topping, VA
In business
since 1982
Status
Listed active in USCG records
SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–present): 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 SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example SB345678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | SB3 | Identifies SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO'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 SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO? 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
SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO HIN FAQ
What does a SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "SB3" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–present): 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 SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO still in business?
USCG records list SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO of Topping, VA in the MIC database (registered 1982).
How do I decode the year on a SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO built hulls across both HIN eras (1982–present): 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 SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO 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 "SB3" MIC the same as a SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO serial number?
No. "SB3" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO'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 SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO 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 SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in VA
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, "SHERWOOD BOAT BLDG CO HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/sb3, last verified 2026-06-15.