HINs are like VINs (at least I thought so)
It's my impression that EVERY boat has a HIN. Sort of like when a manufacturer makes a car, they ALWAYS have a Vehicle Identification Number. The same with boats. When they are manufactured they all have Hull Identification Numbers.....unless of course your boat was homemade. Look closely on the stern. It may be a small plate that has been painted over, or covered up somehow. If you registered the boat federally, you received a (7 number I think) Federal Registration Number.