WILLIS BOATWORKS INC HIN Decoder — MIC WLJ
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with WLJ were assigned by the US Coast Guard to WILLIS BOATWORKS INC of HARKERS ISLAND, NC. 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
WLJ
Location
HARKERS ISLAND, NC
In business
since 1992
Status
Listed active in USCG records
WILLIS BOATWORKS INC hulls (1992–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 WILLIS BOATWORKS INC HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example WLJ45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | WLJ | Identifies WILLIS BOATWORKS INC, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | WILLIS BOATWORKS INC'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 WILLIS BOATWORKS INC? 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
WILLIS BOATWORKS INC HIN FAQ
What does a WILLIS BOATWORKS INC HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "WLJ" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to WILLIS BOATWORKS INC — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. WILLIS BOATWORKS INC hulls (1992–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is WILLIS BOATWORKS INC still in business?
USCG records list WILLIS BOATWORKS INC of HARKERS ISLAND, NC in the MIC database (registered 1992).
How do I decode the year on a WILLIS BOATWORKS INC HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. WILLIS BOATWORKS INC hulls (1992–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 WILLIS BOATWORKS INC 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 "WLJ" MIC the same as a WILLIS BOATWORKS INC serial number?
No. "WLJ" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies WILLIS BOATWORKS INC. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: WILLIS BOATWORKS INC'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 WILLIS BOATWORKS INC 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 WILLIS BOATWORKS INC records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in NC
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, "WILLIS BOATWORKS INC HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/wlj, last verified 2026-06-15.