TAYLOR ENTERPRISES HIN Decoder — MIC TAO
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with TAO were assigned by the US Coast Guard to TAYLOR ENTERPRISES of UNION, OR. The company is recorded as out of business since 1984 — 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
TAO
Location
UNION, OR
In business
since 1983
Status
Out of business (1984)
TAYLOR ENTERPRISES hulls (1983–1984) 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 TAYLOR ENTERPRISES HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example TAO45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | TAO | Identifies TAYLOR ENTERPRISES, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | TAYLOR ENTERPRISES'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 TAYLOR ENTERPRISES? Check it before you pay.
TAYLOR ENTERPRISES is recorded out of business (1984) — 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
TAYLOR ENTERPRISES HIN FAQ
What does a TAYLOR ENTERPRISES HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "TAO" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to TAYLOR ENTERPRISES — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. TAYLOR ENTERPRISES hulls (1983–1984) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is TAYLOR ENTERPRISES still in business?
USCG records list TAYLOR ENTERPRISES as out of business since 1984. 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 TAYLOR ENTERPRISES HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. TAYLOR ENTERPRISES hulls (1983–1984) 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 TAYLOR ENTERPRISES 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 "TAO" MIC the same as a TAYLOR ENTERPRISES serial number?
No. "TAO" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies TAYLOR ENTERPRISES. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: TAYLOR ENTERPRISES'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 TAYLOR ENTERPRISES 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 TAYLOR ENTERPRISES 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, "TAYLOR ENTERPRISES HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/tao, last verified 2026-06-15.