# HIN Search - Boat HIN Decoder — Boat Hull ID Decoder & More! > Offline US boat HIN decoder and manufacturer database. (iPhone/iPad app by Juggernaut Technology, Inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hin-search-boat-hin-decoder/id529669534 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Juggernaut Technology, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/494748553) - Category: Reference, Utilities - Price: $8.99 (on sale, was $9.99) - Rating: 4.60/5 from 73 App Store ratings · 17 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 26.0 · 8 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2012-06-04 - Data updated: 2026-08-26 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hin-search-boat-hin-decoder/id529669534/reviews.md ## What is HIN Search? We've compressed and optimized the complete US Coast Guard's boat manufacturer database of over 16,000 boat builders, and over 30,000 brands to fit on your iOS device, so you can have lightning fast results wherever you are, with NO Internet access needed! No more wondering "Who made that boat?" Important HIN Search features include: • Decoding of US 12 digit and 14/15 digit HINs • Detection of suspicious or possibly altered HINs - an important first step to make sure a boat is not stolen! • Boat manufacturer and build date information. • Print, copy or share your results. • Searching for manufacturers by their company or brand names • No Internet access needed, so you can use this app no matter where you are. • Favorites List, including your own personal notes. • Share/Print/Save results as an Image. • Developed by someone who knows and understands boats. Nearly all boats (including fishing boats, power boats, sail boats, jet skis, kayaks, and canoes) imported or built in the US since 1972 are required to have a HIN by the federal government. The HIN will include when the boat was built, and by who. With the included Manufacturer database, HIN Search can also tell you a little bit about the builder, such as if they are still in business, their address, and sometimes even a website. What this app DOES NOT do: • Retrieve boat model information other than year. This information is NOT encoded universally in the HIN. If the boat manufacturer is still in business, please contact them directly with your HIN. • Tell you if the boat is stolen. We can tell you if the boat HIN looks suspicious and warrants a closer look, but that's it. • Decode boat identification numbers for boat built before 1972. • Retrieve boat's past or current owners or sale information. Please contact your local vehicle registration authority. Please don't leave a negative review with regards to what is clearly stated above! This app only decodes HINs for boats which were built or imported legally in the USA since 1972. Some older (1970s) boat manufacturers "in business" dates may be incorrect. The USCG records are sometimes inaccurate. This is a great tool for both marine professionals and boat shoppers! No limits on number of HINs you can decode, or manufacturers you can look up. No hidden or extra fees. Buy once, use forever. Ad free, and will relieve you of scratching your head wondering, "Who made that boat?" ## Key features - Offline HIN decoding - Suspicious HIN detection - Manufacturer and build date lookup - Search by company or brand name - Favorites list with notes - Share/Print/Save results ## Chart rankings - #190 in Top Paid · Reference (US App Store) ## Recent user reviews (10 of 17) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hin-search-boat-hin-decoder/id529669534/reviews.md ### 5/5 — The best app ever *2026-04-24* They go to for all HI needs We’re gonna need ### 5/5 — The best app ever *2026-04-24* They go to for all HI needs We’re gonna need ### 5/5 — Well it’s working for now & I use the vin number of the boat & it’s exactly what I was looking for. *2025-10-01* Good app ### 1/5 — Really *2022-03-23* How come you can search a vessels name ? I work on the upper Mississippi River and it don’t work I would like a refund **Developer response:** HINSearch does NOT do searches by vessel name. This app decodes and validates vessel Hull Identification Numbers, and provides some manufacturer data. Potential users should read the full App Description before purchasing this or any other app. You can request a refund from Apple at "reportaproblem.apple.com". ### 3/5 — HIN Search rating *2022-01-16* I purchased this app. for my iPhone last year, when I was in the process of buying a boat. It seemed to work good, as a search of the HIN I entered returned the former owner’s name. I completed the title transfer in WA. state before the end of July, 2020. For kicks, I searched my HIN today, over a year later. It still lists the former owner’s name! The app. may be good, but the author is not pulling updated data to reflect transfers in ownership. For that reason, I deduct two stars, giving it a “meh” rating. ================================ 2022-01-16: This is a reply to a recently entered developer reply. You wrote: “I am not sure exactly what this review is referring to. HINSearch does NOT provide any boat ownership or registration info.” Run a search for HIN BL1G54CKB787. Scroll towards the bottom of the page, where you will see the following: “Owner/Contact Name: Keith Mitchell Phone: 5078255851” How can you claim that HINSearch does NOT provide any boat ownership or registration info? Hint: I am the legal owner, since July 20, 2020, but my name is NOT Keith Mitchell. Perhaps Keith was a first owner? I don’t know. If this is a situation where you are pulling stale information from a state database, perhaps it is best to not show it. **Developer response:** Thank you for the update. The "Owner/Contact Name" is referring to the Builder/Manufacturer. I will make this super clear in a future release. HINSearch does NOT provide any boat ownership or registration info (as stated in the App description). HINSearch WILL tell you who made the boat, when, and a little bit about the company that made it. It will also do some checks for suspicious or fraudulent HIN numbers. ### 1/5 — Info available for free *2021-08-29* This app is a robbery. Information it provides is free online. Please issue refund **Developer response:** What this app does and doesn't do is fully described in the App Description. We are not trying to deceive or trick anyone. While much of the raw information used by this app is publicly available, some of it isn't. The app makes decoding and interpreting HINs and related info more convenient, easier and reliable for users, And it doesn't require Internet access. A lot of time, effort, and thought was put into this app. Most users find that this is worth paying a few bucks for. If you wish a refund, please request one via Apple. Developers cannot process refunds. ### 2/5 — No model info😞 *2021-03-03* Bought this app expecting to decode HIN’s and find out model of boat, not just manufacturer information. That is useful, but really want model ID. **Developer response:** Unfortunately boat model info is not encoded into HINs like car model info is encoded in VINs. We wish it were! Sometimes you can get model info by contacting the manufacturer with your boats HIN, but sadly most are out of business. We encourage everyone to read the full App Description before purchasing to see what HINSearch can and cannot do. ### 1/5 — No new info *2020-09-03* This app did nothing for me. Told me no new info that I could have just googled. Waste of money. **Developer response:** We encourage everyone to read the full App description before purchasing (of any app, really) so you can understand what type of data can be retrieved and what cannot from a boat's HIN. ### 1/5 — Only valid for USA *2019-09-27* Only valid for USA **Developer response:** Correct. As stated in the App Description: "This app only decodes HINs for boats which were built or imported legally in the USA since 1972." Other countries or regions may use different formats and/or other manufacturer codes. ### 5/5 — Great app *2019-06-10* Would be great if you could print the screen read out **Developer response:** You can now Print your search/decode results with the latest version. ## Frequently asked questions about HIN Search ### What types of HINs can HIN Search decode? HIN Search can decode US 12-digit and 14/15-digit HINs for boats built or legally imported into the USA since 1972. It does not decode HINs for boats built before 1972. ### Can HIN Search tell me if a boat is stolen? HIN Search can detect suspicious or possibly altered HINs, which is a crucial first step in identifying potential issues. However, it does not provide definitive information on whether a boat is stolen; for that, you would need to consult relevant authorities. ### Does HIN Search require an internet connection? No, HIN Search is designed to work completely offline. It includes a compressed database of over 16,000 US Coast Guard boat manufacturers and over 30,000 brands, allowing for fast results anywhere. ### What information does HIN Search provide about boat manufacturers? HIN Search provides boat manufacturer and build date information. It can also tell you if the manufacturer is still in business, their address, and sometimes their website. ### Can I save HINs I've decoded with HIN Search? Yes, HIN Search features a Favorites List where you can save decoded HINs. You can also add your own personal notes to these saved entries. ### How often is HIN Search updated? The app was last updated on January 5, 2026, indicating a recent update. The developer, Juggernaut Technology, Inc., provides this reference tool for iOS devices. ### What is the price of HIN Search? HIN Search is a paid application priced at $9.99. The description states 'Buy once, use forever' with no hidden or extra fees. ### What is the age rating for HIN Search? HIN Search has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. It is available on iPhone and iPad. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.79 — 2026-04-08 + Performance, User Interface, and Stability improvements. If you have any questions, problems, or comments, please contact us at support@HINSearchPlus.com! ### 1.78 — 2026-01-05 + Performance, User Interface, and Stability improvements. If you have any questions, problems, or comments, please contact us at support@HINSearchPlus.com! ### 1.77 — 2025-07-24 + Performance, User Interface, and Stability improvements. If you have any questions, problems, or comments, please contact us at support@HINSearchPlus.com! ### 1.76 — 2024-10-06 + Performance, User Interface, and Stability improvements. If you have any questions, problems, or comments, please contact us at support@HINSearchPlus.com! ### 1.75 — 2024-05-05 + Updated Boat Builder Database! + Performance, User Interface, and Stability improvements. If you have any questions, problems, or comments, please contact us at support@HINSearchPlus.com! ## Apps similar to HIN Search | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Cruisers of the US Navy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cruisers-of-the-us-navy/id397705938) | — | $0.99 | Reference | | [Posted! - List Pro & Anti-Gun](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/posted-list-pro-and-anti-gun/id530004581) | 4.7 (373) | $0.99 | Reference | | [VMRC Maps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vmrc-maps/id1103889712) | 4.6 (11) | Free | Reference | | [CorvetteDNA for iPad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/corvettedna-for-ipad/id856534929) | 4.8 (25) | Free | Reference | | [MyNavy UNIFORMS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mynavy-uniforms/id1279680442) | 2.6 (70) | Free | Reference | | [ShoreCasts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shorecasts/id6572323562) | 5.0 (18) | Free | Reference | ## More apps by Juggernaut Technology, Inc. - [WireSizer - DC Voltage Drop](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wiresizer-dc-voltage-drop/id494748550) - [Rivercast: River Levels USA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rivercast-river-levels-usa/id545375951) - [NOAA Buoy Reports & Ship Data](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noaa-buoy-reports-and-ship-data/id1038264455) All apps by Juggernaut Technology, Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/494748553 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*