CAL VAC MARINE HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with VLA were assigned by the US Coast Guard to CAL VAC MARINE of SANTA CLARA, CA. The company is recorded as out of business since 1982 — 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
VLA
Location
SANTA CLARA, CA
In business
since 1978
Status
Out of business (1982)
CAL VAC MARINE hulls (1978–1982) 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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CAL VAC MARINE HIN FAQ
What does a CAL VAC MARINE HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "VLA" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to CAL VAC MARINE — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. CAL VAC MARINE hulls (1978–1982) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is CAL VAC MARINE still in business?
USCG records list CAL VAC MARINE as out of business since 1982. 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 CAL VAC MARINE HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. CAL VAC MARINE hulls (1978–1982) 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 CA
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "CAL VAC MARINE HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/vla, last verified 2026-06-12.