Chaparral HIN Decoder

Decode your Chaparral's Hull Identification Number (HIN) for free. Enter the 12-character HIN found on the starboard side of the transom below and click "Decode HIN":

Chaparral builds bowriders and sport boats in Nashville, Georgia, and its long model runs mean the same model name can cover many different years. The HIN settles which year you are actually looking at.

Chaparral Manufacturer Details

Primary MIC Code	FGB
Codes on Record	1
Parent Company	Marine Products Corporation
Vessel Types	Bowriders · Sport boats · Surf boats · Outboard boats
Website	www.chaparralboats.com
USCG Recalls on Record	2

Chaparral Recalls (USCG)

⚠ 2 recall campaigns are on record with the U.S. Coast Guard under Chaparral's manufacturer codes. Each campaign applies to specific models and hulls, but the public records list the models and years, not every affected hull number. A match on builder and year means you should check, not that the boat is affected. A dealer with the full HIN can confirm whether it applies.

Recall #	MIC	Model(s)	Model Year	Units	Example HIN	Opened	Status
990058T	FGB	2135SS 2334SS 2835SS 205L3 240	1999	708	not given	05/18/1999	✔ Closed
950161T	FGB	"1935SS, 2135SS, 2335SS"	1995	438	not given	09/13/1995	✔ Closed

Chaparral Manufacturer ID Codes (MIC)

The first three characters of a HIN are the manufacturer code the U.S. Coast Guard assigned to the builder. If your HIN starts with one of these, it was registered to Chaparral or its parent company. Every code below was checked against the Coast Guard's live manufacturer database on 24 October 2026. Chaparral's code FGB is registered in Nashville, Georgia.

MIC Code	Registered Company	Address on Record
FGB	CHAPARRAL BOATS INC	Nashville, GA

How a Chaparral HIN Breaks Down

Every hull built or imported for the US market since 1972 carries a 12-character Hull Identification Number. Each block of characters means something specific:

Characters	What it means
1–3	Manufacturer code (MIC), identifying Chaparral as the builder
4–8	Hull serial number, assigned by the manufacturer
9	Month of manufacture, as a letter: A = January through L = December
10	Last digit of the year the hull was built
11–12	Model year, often one year ahead of the build year

A boat built in the autumn is often sold as the following year's model, so a build year one behind the model year is normal. A gap of more than a year, or a HIN that does not start with one of the codes above, is worth checking against the title and asking the seller about.

Check your Chaparral now

Enter the hull number and get the builder, build date, model year and the Coast Guard recall campaigns for that builder in one lookup. Free, no account needed.

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Where to find the HIN on a Chaparral

The HIN is stamped or plated on the starboard (right) side of the transom, within two inches of the top of the transom, gunwale or hull-deck joint. That position is federally required. A second, identical HIN is hidden somewhere unexposed on boats built for US sale since August 1984. If the visible number is missing, painted over or looks altered, treat that as a reason to ask questions. See where the HIN is located on a boat for the usual spots and what a tampered plate looks like.

Decode other manufacturers

Comparing several boats? These brand pages work the same way: Sea Ray, Yamaha, Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Bennington, Rinker, Tracker, Lund, Grady-White, Four Winns, Sea-Doo, MasterCraft, Ranger, Crestliner, Harris. Or start from the general hull ID lookup if the builder is unknown.