DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD HIN Decoder
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with ZAV were assigned by the US Coast Guard to DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD of VANCOUVER, BC. 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
ZAV
Location
VANCOUVER, BC
In business
since 1975
Status
Out of business (1982)
DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD hulls (1975–1982) 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
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+).
DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD HIN FAQ
What does a DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "ZAV" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD hulls (1975–1982) predate the current HIN format — expect the legacy straight-year (MMYY) or model-year (M + year + month letter) date codes used 1972–1984.
Is DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD still in business?
USCG records list DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD 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 DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD hulls (1975–1982) 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 BC
Sources: USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (uscgboating.org, refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR 181 subpart C. Cite this page: CarWhere, "DAVIDSON MFG CO LTD HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/zav, last verified 2026-06-12.