I am receiving conflicting information regarding the proper requirements for a USCG documented vessel. We just received our official document and the instructions state that you must remove any state reg numbers, apply your documented vessel sticker to the mast and make sure your boat name & hailing port are shown in the same place, 4" high, however we were never made aware of this or we certainly would have added the hailing port under the name when it was on the hard. The previous owner had a documented vessel as well and did not have these shown together, the sales manager at the marina did not seem to think this was an issue and MD DNR personnel told us the only requirement was to obtain the new sticker, apply it to the mast and have the certificate onboard. Does anyone know how strictly this is enforced by the CG and what the potential fine would be for not having thename & hailing port together? Thanks
USCG Documented Vessel
- Thread starter maryg0802
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sounds like you are dealing with the great state of MD... as the "documented vessel sticker" is unique to the state of MD. You are mixing FED and ST requirements.
USCG requires only that the documentation numbers be "permanently affixed" to some structural part of the boat (Not a door or something removable from the boat) see:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/nvdcfaq.asp#01 for more details.
What MD requires will be an interpretation of several departments, all wanting your TAX money, rather than any concern for you, the boat, or that kind of stuff.
You then need to carry the documentation papers aboard, along with your completion of training appropriate to the state, if required. They must be produced for the USCG, LLEO, TSA, DHS, etc, etc if asked.
Best of luck, and you are right it is often much easier to add graphics while on the hard, but any one who does boat graphics, worth his salt, should be OK on the water. Or you can order the vinyl from BoatUS or others and DIY.
USCG requires only that the documentation numbers be "permanently affixed" to some structural part of the boat (Not a door or something removable from the boat) see:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/nvdcfaq.asp#01 for more details.
What MD requires will be an interpretation of several departments, all wanting your TAX money, rather than any concern for you, the boat, or that kind of stuff.
You then need to carry the documentation papers aboard, along with your completion of training appropriate to the state, if required. They must be produced for the USCG, LLEO, TSA, DHS, etc, etc if asked.
Best of luck, and you are right it is often much easier to add graphics while on the hard, but any one who does boat graphics, worth his salt, should be OK on the water. Or you can order the vinyl from BoatUS or others and DIY.
Louisiana recently passed a law requiring that documented vessels be state registered as well.. but the only sticker is the state registration one that has the expiration date.. but no numbers are to be displayed on the hull.. (other than the internal numbers kd3pc mentions) The boat name and hailing port is a CG requirement that is loosely enforced. Many boats don't have the hailing port on them..and haven't been ticketed.. yet.. On the gulf coast it is noted if you are busted for something else but generally folks aren't stopped specifically for the hailing port and state name. I am not recommending in any way that you operate that way, I am saying that the chance of you being ticketed for that alone in the one season that you operate that way is slim... but get it done as soon as it makes sense.
Documented and MD Registrarion on Bow
In April of 2003 we got federal documentation and Maryland registration for Dreamboat. Put the MD sticker and numbers on the bow, put the documentation peel & stick documentation numbers in the keel bilge with a coat of clear epoxy over them, and put the boat name and hailing port on the stern. Never had any one say a word to us about it. The only issue you have is to get the Hailing Port on the stern. I've found that the Boat US web site, on their lettering tab, has a choice of the 4" high letters. Peel & stick at least for now and make it pretty next time you're hauled out if you feel a need to.
In April of 2003 we got federal documentation and Maryland registration for Dreamboat. Put the MD sticker and numbers on the bow, put the documentation peel & stick documentation numbers in the keel bilge with a coat of clear epoxy over them, and put the boat name and hailing port on the stern. Never had any one say a word to us about it. The only issue you have is to get the Hailing Port on the stern. I've found that the Boat US web site, on their lettering tab, has a choice of the 4" high letters. Peel & stick at least for now and make it pretty next time you're hauled out if you feel a need to.
It is technically illegal to have state registration numbers on a documented vessel. Almost every state requires that you register with the state even if you are documented. They will all issue a sticker for a documented vessel and ONLY the sticker should be displayed. Chuck
I'm pretty sure I saw in my documentation paperwork that the documentation is invalid if the vessel is not properly marked on the exterior as well as the interior. I know that is is seldom enforced but, according to the letter of the law, fines are something like $10,000 a day. Since changing name and hailing port is the kind of thing someone might do if up to no good like drug running or terrorism, the USCG might take if quite seriously in a boarding.
It is also my understanding that no state numbers are permitted on a documented vessel although a couple states have passed law in conflict with Federal law. A sticker showing state registration/tax payment may be required.
It is also my understanding that no state numbers are permitted on a documented vessel although a couple states have passed law in conflict with Federal law. A sticker showing state registration/tax payment may be required.
I recently removed the painted on hailing port from the transome of my Catalina 30 and after polish and wax had a new vinyl hailing port sticker made up of four inch letters to satisfy the CG requirement. When I realized how large four inch letters look on my boat I started looking around the marina and realized that almost no one with a documented boat my size had four inch letters.
The coast guard language is fairly clear though, and it would be just my luck to be the guy that gets the ticket, so I used the required letter size even though it looks a bit large on my boat.
This is from the National Vessle Documentation Center FAQ page...
The name and hailing port of a recreational vessel must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. The vessel name of a commercial vessel must also be marked on the port and starboard bow and the vessel name and the hailing port must also be marked on the stern. 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
I think I'm probably still not legal because for the time being the name of my boat is on the side not "marked together" with the hailing port like the language specifies. I'm workin' on it though...
This discussion sometimes gets confused with marking your vessle with the Documentation number which is a whole different animal!
DanM.
The coast guard language is fairly clear though, and it would be just my luck to be the guy that gets the ticket, so I used the required letter size even though it looks a bit large on my boat.
This is from the National Vessle Documentation Center FAQ page...
The name and hailing port of a recreational vessel must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. The vessel name of a commercial vessel must also be marked on the port and starboard bow and the vessel name and the hailing port must also be marked on the stern. 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
I think I'm probably still not legal because for the time being the name of my boat is on the side not "marked together" with the hailing port like the language specifies. I'm workin' on it though...
This discussion sometimes gets confused with marking your vessle with the Documentation number which is a whole different animal!
DanM.
One thing that helps is to use upper and lower case for the hailing port. You could quibble but I think this satisfies the requirement for "4 inch letters". It make the hailing port look a bit smaller visually and provides some contrast from the name.
We have the hailing port on the stern but that is all that will fit. No room for the name above, below or otherwise anywhere else on the stern along with the hailing port unless we use 1 inch letters! The name is on port and starboard sides but ONLY the name. If CG strictly enforces the "name and port" together then I'd need to order the hailing port letters to go under the name on the sides. The official number is permanently attached to the inside of the starboard locker so we are good there and there are NO MD letters/stickers attached. My only problem is the name and hailing port together issue and how strictly the CG enforces this.
As for the documentation number, we had a stencil made. Stuck in under the galley sink and painted over the stencil with paint (2 coats) and remove the stencil.
Response to Ron20324 Comment
The dealer and the lender did both the state registration paperwork and the documentation paperwork so I assumed they knew what they were doing. (Yeah I know what happens when you assume.) Just followed along every year since. From the outside she's just another state registered boat. Can anyone tell me would there be an advantage to removing the state numbers?
The dealer and the lender did both the state registration paperwork and the documentation paperwork so I assumed they knew what they were doing. (Yeah I know what happens when you assume.) Just followed along every year since. From the outside she's just another state registered boat. Can anyone tell me would there be an advantage to removing the state numbers?
Yeah, you're throwing your money away.
I had to get the state # when the boat was new, but only until the documentation came in. A "use decal" is cheaper than MD registration. I'm betting the MD DNR would be PO'd to find you are getting state registration when US documentation superceedes state reg.
From the DNR"
The following documents must accompany applications for a use decal
and/or tax payment for
DOCUMENTED vessels:
USCG stamped Bill of Sale
photocopy of current Certificate of Documentation
proof of prior tax paid (if seeking reciprocity credit)"""
"""Note: US Coast Guard documented vessels using Maryland waters are NOT exempt from the vessel excise tax. When used principally in Maryland, documented vessels must display a documented use decal."""
I guessing if you have a state reg and #, you DO NOT have a USE DECAL, and are thus illegal.
proof of prior tax paid (if seeking reciprocity credit)"""
"""Note: US Coast Guard documented vessels using Maryland waters are NOT exempt from the vessel excise tax. When used principally in Maryland, documented vessels must display a documented use decal."""
I guessing if you have a state reg and #, you DO NOT have a USE DECAL, and are thus illegal.
And why don't you want to take your state numbers off if the coasties told you to do so? I'm not sure what's not clear about that.
Best solution
Your problem is quite common. The best solution is to get a bigger boat. Works every time.
Re: Best solution
I am a certified vessel safety examiner and my own boat is documented. You have the correct instructions. Remove the stated numbers from the hull, place your MD state stickers on each side of the mast, and have the federal number permanently affixed somewhere inside your boat (stick on numbers with polyeurethane over it, a glued on wooden number board, carved into a wooden seatback, whatever). For documented boats, the MD charge is only $10. Now, for the name and hailing port together, that is subject to interpretation (what is "together"). Strickly speaking, you need them on the same plane (transom or sides). In my case, I originally had only the hailing port on the transom, so I did add the boat name there too. I had room. I put it on myself using a vinyl boat name made by a sign shop while the vessel was in the water, from my dinghy.
I am a certified vessel safety examiner and my own boat is documented. You have the correct instructions. Remove the stated numbers from the hull, place your MD state stickers on each side of the mast, and have the federal number permanently affixed somewhere inside your boat (stick on numbers with polyeurethane over it, a glued on wooden number board, carved into a wooden seatback, whatever). For documented boats, the MD charge is only $10. Now, for the name and hailing port together, that is subject to interpretation (what is "together"). Strickly speaking, you need them on the same plane (transom or sides). In my case, I originally had only the hailing port on the transom, so I did add the boat name there too. I had room. I put it on myself using a vinyl boat name made by a sign shop while the vessel was in the water, from my dinghy.
Re: Best solution
Thanks, although in looking around the marina I see several vessels that MUST be documented due to lack of state reg numbers showing and many do not have the name and hailing port together anywhere. The previous owner had it documented and sailed the Chesapeake for 12 years with just his hailing port on the back, but bought the boat from his estate so I cant ask him directly what his experience was. I guess I will just go with what I have and hope that if we encounter the CG they are kind since everything else is in compliance, then put the hailing port under the name on the sides after it is pulled in the fall.
Thanks, although in looking around the marina I see several vessels that MUST be documented due to lack of state reg numbers showing and many do not have the name and hailing port together anywhere. The previous owner had it documented and sailed the Chesapeake for 12 years with just his hailing port on the back, but bought the boat from his estate so I cant ask him directly what his experience was. I guess I will just go with what I have and hope that if we encounter the CG they are kind since everything else is in compliance, then put the hailing port under the name on the sides after it is pulled in the fall.
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