Boat name letters size?

[Harry]

How does one determine the height & width needed for a transom mounted name? I've been on the Boat US website, which is great for playing around with names, colors, fonts, etc., but I have no idea where to start as to the ideal sizes. I would like to have both the name and home port on the transom. Is there a standard / most common? Stu, it's an '87 C&C 30 MKII

 

[Tim]

USCG requirements

If your vessel is documented I believe the name must be at least 6" tall and the hailing port must be at least 4".Another method is to measure the width of your transom and use that as a guideline for the largest font available. Obviously your name/port cannot be larger than your transom can accomodate.Tim

 

[Steve O.]

boat graphics

If you are having vinyl lettering cut, they can stretch or compress the letters to fit almost any space. I would make a measured drawing of the stern, noting boarding ladder, fittings, etc. that might interfere with the lettering. Another option is to place the name on the hull stern quarter.

 

[Glenn G B350]

Start With 8"-10" Letters

Since vinyl letters are custom cut, you want to make sure you like them before ordering. Steve O had a good suggestion of printing them yourself on your computer printer and then mocking them up on your boat. Other determining factors include font chosen, number of letters in boat name, shadowing, arching or any other custom applications. Couple this with the placement of swim ladders, nav lights, BBQs, and all the other things we hang off the stern of our boats and a mock up makes even more sense.We do a fair number of boat names and I've found the 8"-10" range a great place to start for your 30' C&C. If you want more info, you can contact me at Glenn21x@yahoo.com. Good luck with your project.

 

[Dan]

Tim's right

if it is a documented vessel the USCG regs apply.

 

[Jay Eaton]

National Vessel Documentation Center

Check out this website: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/nvdc.htm. Click on FAQ.

 

[Steve]

A question, while were are on the subject

Just wondering... if one has a transom with an outboard in the middle, can one still put lettering on a top arch, for the name of the boat and the bottom arch, for the home port, with a gap to allow the outboard not to interfere. The name of the boat consists of two words and the home port is two words.Does this make sense to anyone, or should we go ahead and put the letter on both sides, near the stern.Steve"Sailing Lady"Everett WA

 

[Ken Palmer]

Corrected USCG FAQ web address

The address listed previously must have changed. The new one is listed below in "Related Link". The following is from the FAQ page.All markings may be made by any means and materials that result in durable markings and must be at least four inches in height, made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals. The "hailing port" must include both a place and a State, Territory, or possession of in the United States. The state may be abbreviated.

 

[Chris Burti]

That should be OK

The one incorrect meyhod most commonly seen ist place the name on the sides and the hailing port on the transom. Per my direct inquiry with the ducumentation center, if you placr the name on the sides, you must put the hailing port on at least one side nearby (nearby was not defined). I wanted the names on the sides but not the hailing port so I added the name to the transom above the hailing port. Seems a bit silly but that complies with the regulations.