O V CHEVALLIER HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with VCH were assigned by the US Coast Guard to O V CHEVALLIER of MOORINGSPORT, LA. The company is recorded as out of business since 1978 — 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
VCH
Location
MOORINGSPORT, LA
In business
—
Status
Out of business (1978)
O V CHEVALLIER hulls (1972–1978) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner
The optional $19.99 Boat History Report adds stolen-boat, salvage/auction, incident, and USCG documentation checks — one-time, no subscription (typical boat-history services charge $25+).
O V CHEVALLIER HIN FAQ
What does a O V CHEVALLIER HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "VCH" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to O V CHEVALLIER — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. O V CHEVALLIER hulls (1972–1978) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is O V CHEVALLIER still in business?
USCG records list O V CHEVALLIER as out of business since 1978. 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 O V CHEVALLIER HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. O V CHEVALLIER hulls (1972–1978) 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.
Other builders in LA
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "O V CHEVALLIER HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/vch, last verified 2026-06-12.