DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC HIN Decoder — MIC VFQ
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with VFQ were assigned by the US Coast Guard to DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC of BELLINGHAM, WA. 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
VFQ
Location
BELLINGHAM, WA
In business
since 2005
Status
Listed active in USCG records
DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC hulls (2005–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 DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example VFQ45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | VFQ | Identifies DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC'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 DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC? 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
DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC HIN FAQ
What does a DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "VFQ" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC hulls (2005–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC still in business?
USCG records list DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC of BELLINGHAM, WA in the MIC database (registered 2005).
How do I decode the year on a DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC hulls (2005–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 DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC 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 "VFQ" MIC the same as a DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC serial number?
No. "VFQ" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC'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 DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC 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 DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in WA
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, "DOCKSIDE MACHINE, LLC HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/vfq, last verified 2026-06-15.