BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with XHC were assigned by the US Coast Guard to BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT of SANTA ANA, 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
XHC
Location
SANTA ANA, CA
In business
since 1977
Status
Out of business (1982)
BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT hulls (1977–1982) 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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BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT HIN FAQ
What does a BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "XHC" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT hulls (1977–1982) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT still in business?
USCG records list BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT 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 BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT hulls (1977–1982) 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, "BRITISH SPORTS HOVERCRAFT HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/xhc, last verified 2026-06-12.