THE SAILBOAT WORKS HIN Decoder — MIC SFH
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with SFH were assigned by the US Coast Guard to THE SAILBOAT WORKS of ALAMEDA, CA. The company is recorded as out of business since 1980 — 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
SFH
Location
ALAMEDA, CA
In business
—
Status
Out of business (1980)
THE SAILBOAT WORKS hulls (1972–1980) 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 THE SAILBOAT WORKS HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example SFH45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | SFH | Identifies THE SAILBOAT WORKS, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | THE SAILBOAT WORKS'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 THE SAILBOAT WORKS? Check it before you pay.
THE SAILBOAT WORKS is recorded out of business (1980) — 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
THE SAILBOAT WORKS HIN FAQ
What does a THE SAILBOAT WORKS HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "SFH" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to THE SAILBOAT WORKS — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. THE SAILBOAT WORKS hulls (1972–1980) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is THE SAILBOAT WORKS still in business?
USCG records list THE SAILBOAT WORKS as out of business since 1980. 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 THE SAILBOAT WORKS HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. THE SAILBOAT WORKS hulls (1972–1980) 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 THE SAILBOAT WORKS 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 "SFH" MIC the same as a THE SAILBOAT WORKS serial number?
No. "SFH" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies THE SAILBOAT WORKS. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: THE SAILBOAT WORKS'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 THE SAILBOAT WORKS 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 THE SAILBOAT WORKS records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in CA
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, "THE SAILBOAT WORKS HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/sfh, last verified 2026-06-15.