ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS HIN Decoder — MIC VDS
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with VDS were assigned by the US Coast Guard to ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS of FT LAUDERDALE, FL. 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
VDS
Location
FT LAUDERDALE, FL
In business
since 2013
Status
Listed active in USCG records
ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS hulls (2013–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 ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example VDS45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | VDS | Identifies ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS'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 ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS? 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
ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS HIN FAQ
What does a ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "VDS" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS hulls (2013–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS still in business?
USCG records list ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS of FT LAUDERDALE, FL in the MIC database (registered 2013).
How do I decode the year on a ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS hulls (2013–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 ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS 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 "VDS" MIC the same as a ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS serial number?
No. "VDS" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS'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 ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS 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 ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS 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, "ARDELL YACHT AND SHIP BROKERS HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/vds, last verified 2026-06-15.