TARPON BOATS INC HIN Decoder — MIC TPN

Hull Identification Numbers beginning with TPN were assigned by the US Coast Guard to TARPON BOATS INC of MEDLEY, FL. 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

TPN

Location

MEDLEY, FL

In business

Status

Out of business (1976)

TARPON BOATS INC 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 TARPON BOATS INC HIN breaks down

A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example TPN45678D424 (illustrative):

CharactersSegmentIn exampleWhat it identifies
1–3Manufacturer (MIC)TPNIdentifies TARPON BOATS INC, assigned by the US Coast Guard.
4–8Hull serial number45678TARPON BOATS INC's own production number for the specific hull (the letters I, O, Q are never used).
9Certification monthDMonth built — A=January … L=December (D = April).
10Certification year4Last digit of the certification year.
11–12Model year24The boat’s model year.

Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner

Buying this TARPON BOATS INC? Check it before you pay.

TARPON BOATS INC 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

TARPON BOATS INC HIN FAQ

What does a TARPON BOATS INC HIN look like?

It starts with the three characters "TPN" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to TARPON BOATS INC — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. TARPON BOATS INC 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 TARPON BOATS INC still in business?

USCG records list TARPON BOATS INC 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 TARPON BOATS INC HIN?

On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. TARPON BOATS INC 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 TARPON BOATS 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 "TPN" MIC the same as a TARPON BOATS INC serial number?

No. "TPN" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies TARPON BOATS INC. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: TARPON BOATS 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 TARPON BOATS 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 TARPON BOATS INC records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.

Other builders in FL

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, "TARPON BOATS INC HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/tpn, last verified 2026-06-15.