Documentation lettering question

[Roger Long]

The information from the vessel documentation center says that exterior markings must be at least 4" high. In the real world, does this include the hailing port? It seems to me that most of the documented boats have the hailing port in smaller letters but I can't remember if this is because they are 4" and 6" for the name. All the boats are covered up now and I can't see much around the boat yards.

I know the hailing port must be 4" according to what it literallly says. My question is whether anybody is paying attention. Has anyone here ever heard of anyone being busted for having letters that are too small?

My transom is small and cluttered and getting "Portland, Maine" on in a 4" and 6" set is going to be very difficult. "Strider" in 4 and the hailing port in 3 will be difficult enough.

 

[Bob V]

I would stick with the 4 inch letters minimum

The idea behind the law is that when they are overtaking your boat it is easy to see both the name and the hailing port at the same time.

I think they would be very strict about minimum size but I know they cut you some slack regarding placing name and hailing port both on the same place. Most of the sailboats that I see have the hailing port on the transom along the bottom where there is plenty of room just below the step and the name of the boat on the side as far aft as possible. This arrangment, while not technically allowed, seems to pass boarding inspections. I have been inspected several times by both CG and CG auxiliary. This arrangement also allows you an easy way out if they do make you change it. All you need to do in that case is add the hailing port on the side below the name of the vessel. If they make you change the 3" numbers to 4" you will have the same issues people have when they change the name of the boat and the old name keeps "ghosting through".

I was surprised when the one hit I took on a CG "uninvited" boarding inspection was that the documentation number on the inside lacked the "NO.". The inspector even pointed out that when I add the NO to the front of the number I should not forget the period after NO. He did not look like he was kidding.

Don't forget to remove the wax with a solvent like alchohol or acetone so that you get good adhesion with the peel and stick letters.

 

[ITMaster]

I have never had any trouble Roger

with the size of the fonts on my documentaition lettering.

I think my lettering for the name may be the 4", but my home port lettering I am fairly certain doesn't meet the standards. I've been boarded only once for a safety check by USGC and that was because I was on the hook right next to the entrance to their station at Cape Charles and they told me they were using it for a training session for a new "coastie" recently assigned duty at their station.
Additionally, I have had the boat on the hook in the City of Hampton mini harbour with lots of different law enforcement agents going by me day in and day out for a week or better. No one has ever said anything. I'll put a tape measure on my lettering and let you know.

For my documentation numbers, I went to a very isolated area in my lazerette and used a dremel tool to carve the numbers in the hull and then used a black magic marker to fill in the grooves that I cut. They do meet the specification and have been inspected and have passed since they do satisfy the requirement. I kind of hid them, since they are supposed to be placed somewhere they can be seen, yet if altered, would be clearly recognized as having been modified. The use of the nice numbers that I have seen on a placcard piques my curiosity, since if I were a thief, all I would need to do would be to remove that plaque and put a new one up with a new set of bogus numbers.

 

[petersea]

another option (double check to make sure it is legal) is to put the name on each side of the boat (pref-ably the bow area) and then just the hailing port on the stern. Commercial vessel are required to do the and I think it OK for any documented vessel but double check

 

[Roger Long]

Commercial vessels are required to have bow and stern except in cases where there is no stern such as some lobster boats.

I could probably get away with the name on the sides, double ender style, and the hailing port on the stern but I never cared for the look of that arrangement. I also wouldn't want to put on markings that are clearly non-standard when viewed from a distance.

 

[petersea]

"A documented vessel must have the name of the vessel and hailing port plainly marked on the exterior part of the hull in clearly legible letters not less than 4 inches in height. In addition, the documented vessel must have the "Official Number" permanently affixed in block type, Arabic numerals not less than 3 inches on some clearly visible interior structural part of the boat. "

Quote taken from the U.S.C.G web site. Hailing port and name must must be 4 " but name only states exterior of vessel hull. So I would interpret that as name and hailing port can be on bow or hull side (even stern) or combination of and still meet requirements. Maybe a phone call to your local U.S.C.G. station may give some insight also.

 

[ITMaster]

Re: Documentation lettering question
another option (double check to make sure it is legal) is to put the name on each side of the boat (pref-ably the bow area)

I think the posting of the name on the side of the forward half of the vessel indicates that the vessel is cited on the "Documentation" as being commercial. This would imply that certain standards not required for recreational use are aboard which would not be the case.

 

[Roger Long]

For my documentation numbers, I went to a very isolated area in my lazerette and used a dremel tool to carve the numbers in the hull and then used a black magic marker to fill in the grooves that I cut. They do meet the specification and have been inspected and have passed since they do satisfy the requirement.

That's good to know. My three decades of interaction with USCG on commercial vessel regulations and inspections would lead me to interpret "clearly visable" as meaning from a portion of the vessel normally occupied. Doesn't mean another individual inspector wouldn't see it differently though. I was going to inscribe them in the structural fiberglass bulkhead behind the galley sink (and a paper towel holder). Since there seem to be some clear prescedents, I think I'll start with a plaque epoxied inside the engine space where I can just open a hatch and show it to them. If I ever have a problem, I'll add the number to the galley bulkhead.

 

[petersea]

I T Master, You may be correct but the quote is directly from the U.S.C.G and does not specify commercial or pleasure. I know of multiple boat with name on bow and stern that are clearly pleasure vessels. Interesting to note that the name placement would require a different set of "standards" or rules/regulations would apply to the vessel based on name placement. Not to be rude or arrangementive where did you come by that info ? I would be interested to read the regulations.

 

[Ron20324]

The USCG letter "General Information to Accompany Certificate of Documentation" says the 'NO.' (with the period) must be shown along with the number in "block-type Arabic numerals at least 3" high on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull permanently affixed so that alteration,removal,or replacement would be obvious and cause some scarring or damage to the surrounding hull area." I agree with the question of the number placcard unless it was something other than just screrwed on. I suppose they look nice over the nav station, though. For my 323 on the hull inside the lazarrette I used a grinder to remove the paint and a little fiberglass. Acetone well. I placed sticky numbers, then three coats of clear epoxy over and beyond the numbers. I will probably do a couple more coats whenever I have some leftover epoxy from some other job. Originally I bought house numbers, thinking I could lay them in the bilge and pour epoxy over them.

"For RECREATION vessels, The exterior name and hailing port both must be marked TOGETHER on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. For COMMERCIAL vessels... must also be marked P&S on the bow AND the stern. (4" high in either case)" This should mean you could put the name/port anywhere, but I'd think aft on the sides would be good for the names, and if the port is on the stern, they are 'together in one glance. "Commonly known abbreviations are acceptable. (e.g. NY, NY)". Roger, at least you can shorten the state by three letters.

If the others have managed with smaller numbers, that is fine, but I see it as another big brother excuse (as if they needed one) to stop your boat and slap a fine on you. Go with the letter of the law, I suggest. I ordered name and port through Boat/US and it was easy and 3-day quick.

 

[Tim R.]

My boat has been moored next to the coast guard channel for the last 2 seasons. They pass within 100 ft. of my boat every time they leave or enter the base. In fact I am at the corner of the end of the channel where they turn to head out which means they probably are within 50 ft. of my boat every time they pass. I have the hailing port on the stern and the name on the topsides. They have never bothered me about this.

Roger, as for size, when I had my letters cut at the sign place, they looked huge with 6" name and 4" hailing port. When I put them on the boat they looked small. Also, if you make a template of your transom or tell them the max width, they can space the letters to fit properly.

 

[sailaway78]

Documentation letters

Very interesting discussion. Regardless of what the regs say, many of the newer boats with walk through transoms, have no place on the transom to put a name, or hailing port in anything other than nearly microscopic letters. I have some friends with a new boat, with a walk through transom, and they have the name on the aft topsides, and the hailing port on the lower transom, under the step. The hailing port lettering is no where near 4". Recently during the wooden boat show, when the place was crawling with cops and coasties, they were not bothered about the lettering. And they were checking everyone and everything.

 

[Roger Long]

Here is a sketch of a couple options for my transom using 4 and 6 inch letters and working around the boarding ladder, wind vane tower, chainplates, etc.

Anyone care to vote for top or bottom?

 

[Barnacle Bill]

You know, the latest issue of Good Old Boat has a very good article all about documenting your boat. Pick up a copy.

 

[kloudie1]

Bottom one but with Maine reduced to its two letter postal abbreviation ..

 

[KorculaChris]

Definately bottom, the top one looks as though "Strider" is the port, and Portland the name...

 

[Bob V]

Option C

hailing port as shown in top example but with STRIDER just below the rub rail as far aft as it fits on both sides.

Especially with the narrow transom that you show. This layout will look more balanced and still be easy to read by a boat approaching from the rear.

 

[Roger Long]

Bottom one but with Maine reduced to its two letter postal abbreviation ..

I don't care for abbrievations in a formal place like this; especially when they are also a word. The intent of the documentation is to go foreign where the abbreviation may not be understood.

 

[Roger Long]

hailing port as shown in top example but with STRIDER just below the rub rail as far aft as it fits on both sides.

I like that option more as I look at these transom sketches. Unfortuantely, the 4 inch letters will almost fill the width of the sheer stripe, too wide I think, to look right. I'm going to repaint the stripe because of some runs but widening it is a much bigger project.

The transom is so cluttered and busy, I've kind of given up on it's looking good anyway. I might as well have the sides look good.

 

[sailaway78]

Like you I have a fairly small transom to display the needed info. There is no way for me to put the boat name on either side of the boarding ladder. So I just ran it above the hinge and centered it up. Not the preferred method, but very readable, and doesn't look bad.