EXPLORER INDUSTRIES HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with VEF were assigned by the US Coast Guard to EXPLORER INDUSTRIES of PLEASANT LAKE, IN. The company is recorded as out of business since 1983 — 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
VEF
Location
PLEASANT LAKE, IN
In business
since 1979
Status
Out of business (1983)
EXPLORER INDUSTRIES hulls (1979–1983) 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
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EXPLORER INDUSTRIES HIN FAQ
What does a EXPLORER INDUSTRIES HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "VEF" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to EXPLORER INDUSTRIES — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. EXPLORER INDUSTRIES hulls (1979–1983) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is EXPLORER INDUSTRIES still in business?
USCG records list EXPLORER INDUSTRIES as out of business since 1983. 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 EXPLORER INDUSTRIES HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. EXPLORER INDUSTRIES hulls (1979–1983) 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 IN
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "EXPLORER INDUSTRIES HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/vef, last verified 2026-06-12.