WILCOX MFG CO HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with WLQ were assigned by the US Coast Guard to WILCOX MFG CO of WINTERPORT, ME. The company is recorded as out of business since 1987 — 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
WLQ
Location
WINTERPORT, ME
In business
since 1983
Status
Out of business (1987)
WILCOX MFG CO built hulls across both HIN eras (1983–1987): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three.
Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner
The optional $19.99 Boat History Report adds stolen-boat, salvage/auction, incident, and USCG documentation checks — one-time, no subscription (typical boat-history services charge $25+).
WILCOX MFG CO HIN FAQ
What does a WILCOX MFG CO HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "WLQ" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to WILCOX MFG CO — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. WILCOX MFG CO built hulls across both HIN eras (1983–1987): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three.
Is WILCOX MFG CO still in business?
USCG records list WILCOX MFG CO as out of business since 1987. 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 WILCOX MFG CO HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. WILCOX MFG CO built hulls across both HIN eras (1983–1987): boats before August 1984 carry legacy straight-year or model-year date codes; later hulls use the current month-letter format. The decoder handles all three. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.
Other builders in ME
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "WILCOX MFG CO HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/wlq, last verified 2026-06-12.