KERO HIN Decoder — MIC YBM
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with YBM were assigned by the US Coast Guard to KERO of RICHMOND HILL, ON. 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
YBM
Location
RICHMOND HILL, ON
In business
since 2004
Status
Listed active in USCG records
KERO hulls (2004–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 KERO HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example YBM45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | YBM | Identifies KERO, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | KERO'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 KERO? 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
KERO HIN FAQ
What does a KERO HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "YBM" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to KERO — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. KERO hulls (2004–present) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is KERO still in business?
USCG records list KERO of RICHMOND HILL, ON in the MIC database (registered 2004).
How do I decode the year on a KERO HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. KERO hulls (2004–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 KERO 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 "YBM" MIC the same as a KERO serial number?
No. "YBM" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies KERO. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: KERO'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 KERO 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 KERO records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in ON
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, "KERO HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/ybm, last verified 2026-06-15.