I have an 8' Zodiac inflatable and currently my State registration numbers are displayed using 2 white plastic boards purchsed from WM for this purpose. I have 1 board tied on each side. The boards are fine, but they frequently get in the way. Now that it is getting time to put a new State sticker next to my registration numbers I would like to permanently fix the numbers directly on the fabric. WM sells two different letter/number kits, but neither has a stellar review from purchasers. Anyone found a good way to permanently fix State registration numbers to an inflatable? I am inclined to use a stencil paint system, but before I do so I wanted to get any advice that any of you have... Thanks for any! Rob
Inflatable Registration Kits
- Thread starter Rob McClain
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Use a Sharpie
I use the stencil kit with a Sharpie pen and works great. I reprint each spring when I open the boat for the season and works great for the rest of the year. I attach the state reg sticker to the transom and have never been hassled by authorities.
I use the stencil kit with a Sharpie pen and works great. I reprint each spring when I open the boat for the season and works great for the rest of the year. I attach the state reg sticker to the transom and have never been hassled by authorities.
Jim is right on
I also use a Sharpie to blacken the number on the tubes. It lasts maybe two years but would look better if I re-newed it each year. Use the number and letter templates either from a paint-on kit or from a stationary store. I think they must be abut 3" high. You need to check the regulations. I put the state decal right on the tubes- never had a problem.
I also use a Sharpie to blacken the number on the tubes. It lasts maybe two years but would look better if I re-newed it each year. Use the number and letter templates either from a paint-on kit or from a stationary store. I think they must be abut 3" high. You need to check the regulations. I put the state decal right on the tubes- never had a problem.
Dont use nails
I too have an inflatable boat and i decided not to nail the board to the inflation tubes. Seriously, i have had many inflatables over the years and i havent found anything that really sticks well to it.
I too have an inflatable boat and i decided not to nail the board to the inflation tubes. Seriously, i have had many inflatables over the years and i havent found anything that really sticks well to it.
Rob, I do not have nor do I intend to...
purchase state registration tabs for our dink. There are rules that allow you to use a small unregistered boat when it is used to transit between the main boat and shore. At least it is allowed in our state. Terry
purchase state registration tabs for our dink. There are rules that allow you to use a small unregistered boat when it is used to transit between the main boat and shore. At least it is allowed in our state. Terry
Thanks...
I really like the Sharpie idea - that sounds clean and simple to do from a 3" stencil, and easy to maintain. Unfortunately, California is more strict than WA (if the boat uses sail or motorized power) and in addition to registration numbers requires use of registration stickers to be placed directly next to the CF numbers. I know there are little envelopes that can be glued on so maybe that will work next to the stenciled number. Thanks for the ideas!! Rob
I really like the Sharpie idea - that sounds clean and simple to do from a 3" stencil, and easy to maintain. Unfortunately, California is more strict than WA (if the boat uses sail or motorized power) and in addition to registration numbers requires use of registration stickers to be placed directly next to the CF numbers. I know there are little envelopes that can be glued on so maybe that will work next to the stenciled number. Thanks for the ideas!! Rob
Registration will make your life easier
I have owned inflatable dinks since 1969 and have always registered them and have never been stopped by any kind of water cop. No registration, is like carrying a sign that says PLEASE STOP ME AND CHECK ME OUT, and you had better have proof of ownership with you. Back in the 1960's i had relatively short hair and looked real straight and smoked all the grass i wanted to in my car....never got stopped then either. Besides , other then a tender for our sailboat, we take the dink out on many day trips just to play around on the islands off the Mississippi Coast as well as throw it in the trunk when we go visiting out of town.
I have owned inflatable dinks since 1969 and have always registered them and have never been stopped by any kind of water cop. No registration, is like carrying a sign that says PLEASE STOP ME AND CHECK ME OUT, and you had better have proof of ownership with you. Back in the 1960's i had relatively short hair and looked real straight and smoked all the grass i wanted to in my car....never got stopped then either. Besides , other then a tender for our sailboat, we take the dink out on many day trips just to play around on the islands off the Mississippi Coast as well as throw it in the trunk when we go visiting out of town.
WA registration required
Terry - don't be fooled - Washington State DOES require that any vessel with propusion machinery by registered. See the link. The idea that "dingy's" are excluded is either outdated news or an old wives tale. Any vessel with a motor, and apparently sailboats over 16' - even if they don't have motors, must carry WA state reg. numbers and a sticker. Documented vessels don't carry the numbers, but must have the tax sticker. Good Luck - apparently you have good luck because you haven't yet been sited for using an unregistered vessel.... Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Terry - don't be fooled - Washington State DOES require that any vessel with propusion machinery by registered. See the link. The idea that "dingy's" are excluded is either outdated news or an old wives tale. Any vessel with a motor, and apparently sailboats over 16' - even if they don't have motors, must carry WA state reg. numbers and a sticker. Documented vessels don't carry the numbers, but must have the tax sticker. Good Luck - apparently you have good luck because you haven't yet been sited for using an unregistered vessel.... Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
NIce shot Tim
Good solid info Tim, so what do u think of nailing the boards to the inflation tubes? I'll bet Rob didnt have any idea of how much interest this would stir up when he sent his inquiry.
Good solid info Tim, so what do u think of nailing the boards to the inflation tubes? I'll bet Rob didnt have any idea of how much interest this would stir up when he sent his inquiry.
It depends..
Our sailboat is documented, and also have a WA state registration sticker. Our dinghy is not registered. We placed our sailboat's documentation number on the the dinghy's transom using 1.5" stick-ons, then added a -1 after it. So it looks like 123456-1. We also placed the boat's name on the transom too. This identifies the dinghy as the tender for the main boat. We got the instruction from the CG. We then placed 4-5 coats of varnish over it. As to how to place the numbers over the tubes, I would suggest using something other than Sharpie. I purchased a FenderStep a while back. It looks like a white fender, sideways. You hang it below your gate as a step to help with getting on/off the boat. I painted the boat's name using MDR's inflatable paint that I purchased at West Marine. A friend painted his dinghy with this stuff, and it has lasted for many years. It just doesn't come off at all.
Our sailboat is documented, and also have a WA state registration sticker. Our dinghy is not registered. We placed our sailboat's documentation number on the the dinghy's transom using 1.5" stick-ons, then added a -1 after it. So it looks like 123456-1. We also placed the boat's name on the transom too. This identifies the dinghy as the tender for the main boat. We got the instruction from the CG. We then placed 4-5 coats of varnish over it. As to how to place the numbers over the tubes, I would suggest using something other than Sharpie. I purchased a FenderStep a while back. It looks like a white fender, sideways. You hang it below your gate as a step to help with getting on/off the boat. I painted the boat's name using MDR's inflatable paint that I purchased at West Marine. A friend painted his dinghy with this stuff, and it has lasted for many years. It just doesn't come off at all.
sucess with sharpie
Have also use the sharpie & stencil to put CA reg #'s on. Have sticker attached to stern. Have had no problems out on frequent sails on bay & delta. Just have to redo ever year. We sail year round out here.
Have also use the sharpie & stencil to put CA reg #'s on. Have sticker attached to stern. Have had no problems out on frequent sails on bay & delta. Just have to redo ever year. We sail year round out here.
Ducumenting tender as -1 in interesting, but
I read 'JC on Bainbridge' advice received from the Coaast Guard with great interest as it really bothers me to pay the state $'s for my tender. However, I found the following FAQ info line within the FAQ's of the U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center at the below link. IS THE VESSEL TENDER DOCUMENTED? Documentation of your vessel does not cover the vessel's tender or dinghy. These craft fall within the jurisdiction of the motorboat numbering laws of the state of principal use. Please contact your state agency that handles the registration or numbering of motorboats for further information Darn --- I guess without some other written confirmation to counter this, I must continue paying fees on my tender. Hope this helps...
I read 'JC on Bainbridge' advice received from the Coaast Guard with great interest as it really bothers me to pay the state $'s for my tender. However, I found the following FAQ info line within the FAQ's of the U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center at the below link. IS THE VESSEL TENDER DOCUMENTED? Documentation of your vessel does not cover the vessel's tender or dinghy. These craft fall within the jurisdiction of the motorboat numbering laws of the state of principal use. Please contact your state agency that handles the registration or numbering of motorboats for further information Darn --- I guess without some other written confirmation to counter this, I must continue paying fees on my tender. Hope this helps...
I went to our local licensing agent a couple of
years ago for our dingy tabs. It's never been registered in Washington. The Silverdale agent argued with me. She insisted that because our vessel is documented that the dingy needs no tabs. If a law enforcement official asks, just say that we are headed to shore. Any shore. She refused to sell tabs to me. And they would only cost $8.00. No one's even looked at it.
years ago for our dingy tabs. It's never been registered in Washington. The Silverdale agent argued with me. She insisted that because our vessel is documented that the dingy needs no tabs. If a law enforcement official asks, just say that we are headed to shore. Any shore. She refused to sell tabs to me. And they would only cost $8.00. No one's even looked at it.
Anyone with a sense of humour
Up here in Canada we don't have to register our dingys (if under 10hp)...We do however have to register our guns.....guess it's just priorities....lol...*x RG
Up here in Canada we don't have to register our dingys (if under 10hp)...We do however have to register our guns.....guess it's just priorities....lol...*x RG
I had the same experience as Fred.
Yep, years ago, I went to get my boat registered at the local state agency. The agent there also said I do not need to register the tender if my boat is documented. Then I went to CG and got the answer about the -1. That was many many years ago, and we didn't have such things like the current internet websites that will allow us to do searches. Now, maybe neither of them knew what they were talking about. But I got the same answer from two different gov/state sources. So here I am.
Yep, years ago, I went to get my boat registered at the local state agency. The agent there also said I do not need to register the tender if my boat is documented. Then I went to CG and got the answer about the -1. That was many many years ago, and we didn't have such things like the current internet websites that will allow us to do searches. Now, maybe neither of them knew what they were talking about. But I got the same answer from two different gov/state sources. So here I am.
Documenting
"These craft fall within the jurisdiction of the motorboat numbering laws of the state of principal use." It could be that your state simply doesn't require the tender to a documented vessel to be registered (I assume if you can somehow demonstrated that it is in fact a tender to such a vessel. Hence the "-1" designation?) Of course then the question becomes, what happens when you sail out of your home state?
"These craft fall within the jurisdiction of the motorboat numbering laws of the state of principal use." It could be that your state simply doesn't require the tender to a documented vessel to be registered (I assume if you can somehow demonstrated that it is in fact a tender to such a vessel. Hence the "-1" designation?) Of course then the question becomes, what happens when you sail out of your home state?
WM stencil kit
I bought the WM stencil kit 5 years ago and the numbers now need repainting. I stick the decal to wherever it needs to go on the fabric and don't worry about it. I don't care if anyone can read it from a distance. I only care that the boarding officer can see it when he is close aboard. Jim
I bought the WM stencil kit 5 years ago and the numbers now need repainting. I stick the decal to wherever it needs to go on the fabric and don't worry about it. I don't care if anyone can read it from a distance. I only care that the boarding officer can see it when he is close aboard. Jim
Registration Holder
You can buy a glue-on registration holders for your state sticker. They're relatively thick (3/16"?), squares of a rubbery material that you glue to your hull. They doesn't flex as much as the bare hull when deflated so your stickers stay on. They work great. I've attached a link to one online source FYI, but I haven't had any experience with them (I bought mine at a place that sells and repairs inflatables in the SF Bay Area). Once on the page do a search for "registration holder". I've had good luck with the WM stencil/paint kit on my Hypalon hull, but the Sharpie idea sounds easier.
You can buy a glue-on registration holders for your state sticker. They're relatively thick (3/16"?), squares of a rubbery material that you glue to your hull. They doesn't flex as much as the bare hull when deflated so your stickers stay on. They work great. I've attached a link to one online source FYI, but I haven't had any experience with them (I bought mine at a place that sells and repairs inflatables in the SF Bay Area). Once on the page do a search for "registration holder". I've had good luck with the WM stencil/paint kit on my Hypalon hull, but the Sharpie idea sounds easier.
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