THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD HIN Decoder — MIC VDN
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with VDN were assigned by the US Coast Guard to THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD of LINCOLN PARK, MI. 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
VDN
Location
LINCOLN PARK, MI
In business
since 2004
Status
Listed active in USCG records
THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD hulls (2004–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
How a THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example VDN45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | VDN | Identifies THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD'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 DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD? 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
THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD HIN FAQ
What does a THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "VDN" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD hulls (2004–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD still in business?
USCG records list THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD of LINCOLN PARK, MI in the MIC database (registered 2004).
How do I decode the year on a THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD hulls (2004–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.
Where is the HIN on a THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD 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 "VDN" MIC the same as a THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD serial number?
No. "VDN" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: THE DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD'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 DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD 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 DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in MI
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 DOWNRIVER BOATWORKS LTD HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/vdn, last verified 2026-06-15.