Do I need to register my kayak?

Registration requirements vary by state. In most US states, non-motorized kayaks used on regulated waterways must be registered. Some states exempt human-powered boats; others do not. Check with your state's fish and wildlife or boating authority to confirm requirements for your location before you hit the water.

What is a HIN?

A Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12-character serial number required on all recreational boats manufactured or imported in the United States since November 1, 1972. It is the boating equivalent of a vehicle VIN number and uniquely identifies your kayak.

Where to find your HIN

On Vibe kayaks, the primary HIN is permanently engraved or affixed on the starboard (right) side of the stern (back) of the kayak, within 2 inches of the top of the hull. Look at the upper right-hand corner of the transom from behind the kayak.

There is also a secondary (duplicate) HIN located in an unexposed area inside the hull, typically under a fitting or inside a compartment.

Reading your HIN

A standard 12-character HIN follows this format:

• Characters 1-3: Manufacturer Identification Code (MIC), assigned by the US Coast Guard.
• Characters 4-8: Hull serial number, unique to your specific kayak.
• Character 9: Month of manufacture (A = January, B = February, through L = December).
• Character 10: Last digit of the model year.
• Characters 11-12: Last two digits of the year of manufacture.

Note: The letters I, O, and Q are never used in HINs because they can be confused with the numbers 1 and 0.

What documents do I need to register?

• Your Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO). This should be included in the box with your kayak. If it was not included, visit this page to download a new MSO template for your kayak
• Your order confirmation email or receipt as supplemental proof of purchase.
• The completed registration application for your state.
• Payment of the applicable registration fee.

Common state registration portals:

• Ohio: ohiodnr.gov
• Texas: tpwd.texas.gov
• Florida: myfwc.com
• California: dbw.ca.gov
• Pennsylvania: fishandboat.com
• For other states, search [your state] boat registration.

My state is asking for a corrected HIN - what does that mean?

Some states require a HIN in a specific format and may reject a registration if the format does not match their expectations. This is a known issue affecting a small percentage of kayaks.

If your state registration is rejected or you receive a letter about a HIN correction:

1. Contact us immediately at support.vibekayaks.com. Include the rejection letter or state communication, your full HIN as it appears on the kayak, and your order number.
2. Our team will confirm your HIN is correctly formatted and contact the manufacturer's records to provide documentation to support your registration.
3. In some cases, a formal HIN correction request must be submitted to the USCG. This process takes time and we will keep you updated throughout.

Note: HIN correction through the USCG is a federal process and can take several weeks to months. Please contact us as soon as you encounter this issue so we can start the process promptly.

What if my MSO was not in the box?

You can create our own replacement MSO by visiting this page to download and fill  in a new MSO for your kayak.