# HIN Search - Boat HIN Decoder — user reviews > 17 indexed App Store user reviews of HIN Search by Juggernaut Technology, Inc., rated 4.60/5 from 73 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hin-search-boat-hin-decoder/id529669534/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hin-search-boat-hin-decoder/id529669534.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 64 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 6 ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 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". ### 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. ### 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. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t provide anymore than you can find on the free web. *2018-11-15* Shame on them for praying on users at 4.99 just to tell the manufacturers name and business info. That’s why the web was created to begin with. No model or make or even build info. Not worth the money. **Developer response:** We're sorry you were disappointed. However, what the app does and does not do is clearly stated in the app description, and most people do find it worth paying for. HINSearch has some clear advantages over Internet based solutions, for example: 1) Easier to use. 2) Validates HIN format to detect possibly altered HINs. 3) Works without Internet. ### 1/5 — No info *2018-08-31* I just inherited a boat from my grandfather, I have the HIN directly from the boat but can’t get any information. Disappointing. **Developer response:** Please contact us directly for assistance. Sometimes manufacturers used "Serial Numbers" that look like HINs but actually are not, especially in older (pre-1972) boats. ### 1/5 — HIN app *2016-02-10* This app does not show you the present owner. It only shows who built it. So this is basically useless....I wish I could get my money back **Developer response:** As stated in the app description, HINSearch does not provide boat ownership or registration information. It will tell you who built a boat and when, a little information about the manufacturer, and detect possibly fraudulent HINs. ### 1/5 — Waste *2015-09-17* I can't believe I paid for this app. It only told me the manufacturer of my boat which I already knew. The reviews were good so I downloaded it. I instantly regret it. This app should be free ### 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. ### 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. ## Most praised reviews (7 highest-rated) ### 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 ### 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. ### 5/5 — Great app *2017-04-25* A great app if you want to find info on a boat. Put in the hull id number and it'll tell you everything about the hull (not the owner. ) ### 5/5 — HIN Search *2015-05-19* I am a marine surveyor and love this app, very easy to use and has useful info. ### 5/5 — Good App! *2014-12-09* I like this app for figuring out the year and builder of boats when wandering around marinas and boat yards. It works fine even when my phone can't get reception. --- *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.*