Free boat check
LIKE CARVERTICAL, BUT FOR BOATS

Know the boat.
Before you buy it.

There's more to a boat than what's above the waterline. Look into its past before you step aboard.

  • Public accident & capsize reports
  • Hull number & manufacturer decoding
  • Clear sources. No false all-clears.
See a real public-record example
A sailing yacht viewed from above on blue open water
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS
WITH A CLEARER PICTURE.Photo: Jack Cohen / Unsplash

Real sources.
Openly explained.

1,103MAIB reports indexed
16,188USCG manufacturer codes
See what we check

A LITTLE RESEARCH. A BETTER DECISION.

Good looks don't tell
the whole story.

The right checks help you spot questions worth asking — before a deposit changes hands.

Capsize & incident reports

Find published investigations into capsizes, flooding, groundings and collisions.

Public report search

Know what the HIN says

Decode the hull number’s date and manufacturer code. Compare it with the seller’s paperwork.

Free HIN decoder

Ask the right questions

See what has been checked, what is missing and which records you need before buying.

Clear coverage, every time

FROM HULL NUMBER TO NEXT STEPS

At the marina?
Start right here.

No account. No card. Just the details on the boat in front of you.

Check a boat for free
  1. 01

    Enter the boat’s details

    Type or scan the HIN plate, or search by boat name.

  2. 02

    Look through the evidence

    See decoded details and possible public-report matches, with links to the original sources.

  3. 03

    Know what to ask next

    Confirm the identity, ask for repair records and book an independent survey.

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT

From weekend RIBs to life aboard.

Search any boat type. Record availability varies by vessel, age and source.

Sailing yachtsMotorboatsRIBs & dinghiesNarrowboatsJet skis & PWCFishing & commercial

BEFORE YOU CHECK

A few things
worth knowing.

Our full coverage explained
Can you tell me if a boat has ever capsized?+

We can find public investigation reports mentioning your search. A name match is only a possible lead: confirm the hull, date and location. Many incidents are never published, so we cannot confirm that a boat has never capsized.

Is the boat check really free?+

Yes. The current HIN decoder, public report search and incident browser are free, with no account required. Paid reports are not yet available.

Where do I find the HIN?+

Usually on the starboard (right-hand) side of the transom, near the stern. Check the builder’s plate and original documents. Older, home-built or commercial boats may use a different identifier.

Does this check theft, finance or insurance write-offs?+

Not automatically at launch. We link to the UK stolen-boats service and explain which documents to request. Insurance, finance, valuation and verified theft feeds are not connected.

Check a boat for free