Above or below the rub rail?

[matthewmiller01]

I originally wanted to put my registration lettering below the rub rail, but before I did it, I kept seeing other boats' letters above. So, that's what I did. Now that they have been affixed, I see more and more letters below. I think I'd like the look better the other way (the grass is always greener...) and may redo them below the rub rail next year when I get a new annual sticker.

My questions:
Is there any reason I can't put them below the rail? (The directions that came with the registration decal did not state above or below.)
Where are your letters?

 

[chuck1]

Not sure in TN but, GA shows it below the rubrail.

 

[brad10281]

Mine are below. Not sure I've ever seen any above the rub rail here in Michigan.

 

[avguy]

Ours is below the rubrail.

 

[tmsrb]

I also have below the rub rail.

 

[tmhudson2]

I was told to put it below the rubrail, because the sun relecting off the upper deck can make the numbers hard to read. But don't put it so far forward on the bow that the angle of the hull makes the numbers hard to read. In the end, you want the TWRA and Coasties to be able to read your numbers from far enough away that they don't stop you just to read the numbers.

Of course, if they do stop you, you will be compliant with plenty of life jackets, fire extinguisher, and so forth....

 

[First Born]

Below but mine are not technically legal due to they are not block letters.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

For Washington State: They must be visible to the enforcement agency looking at them. Does not matter above or below. Gotta be at least 3" and a full letter space or hyphen between the state letters at the front and the letters at the end.

The registration number and registration decals must be displayed as follows.

• Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high, bold, vertical BLOCK characters.
• Number’s color must contrast sharply with its background.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen; for example: WN 3717 ZW or WN-3717-ZW.
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
• Decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel toward the stern of the registration number and in line with the number.

So, check with your state... BTW, TN is the same as WA...

 

[comsnark]

I will agree with much of the above. . the primary requirement is that they are LEGIBLE.

While First Born's numbers may be "technically" illegal because they are not block letters, I would be SHOCKED if anyone cited him for that. .. .because they are very legible.

My Jetski has similar numbers. I got stopped once, and the numbers were not the issue. The admiral's attitude was more of the issue . . .but that is another story. . . .

 

[ruf1967]

I'll have to take a pic but my letters are above. It looked better that way.

 

[Dave S]

The picture below will answer your question of where mine are.

 

[First Born]

While First Born's numbers may be "technically" illegal because they are not block letters, I would be SHOCKED if anyone cited him for that. .. .because they are very legible.

Correct and I have been checked twice but I think they were just happy to see polite people drinking Mtn Dew and water enjoying the day on the water.

The admiral's attitude was more of the issue

Exactly, same as being pulled over on the highway. Between the ages of 16 and 19 I had a little bit of a lead foot and got pulled over 13 times. Never once got a ticket, the reason I always made sure I was the first to speak and my quote was always the same, "How are you doing today sir" and then I shut up and about the only thing that came out of my mouth after my opening line was yes sir. A little 16 year old prick driving a 25th anniversary mustang GT convertible but who had respect for others let me go everytime.

 

[Four Suns]

Hmm.. I never get off with a warning. I was pulled over a few years ago rushing from the office (around noon) to the airport and the first words out of the officer's mouth were "Have you been drinking today sir?"... My response was "I've been sucking them down all day." Got a nice ride in the back of Mr. Police Man's car in cuffs... bastard. (I had not been drinking...)

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Hmm.. I never get off with a warning. I was pulled over a few years ago rushing from the office (around noon) to the airport and the first words out of the officer's mouth were "Have you been drinking today sir?"... My response was "I've been sucking them down all day." Got a nice ride in the back of Mr. Police Man's car in cuffs... bastard. (I had not been drinking...)

Let's see, they carry guns, pepper spray and cuffs... they win... last place I want to be is the back seat of a police car. Just thinking of what trash has been back there gives me the willies...

When I get pulled over, I run down my windows, shut down the car, put the emergency blinkers on and place my wallet on the dash with my hands on top of the wheel. No tickets yet and I am polite.

I almost got nailed for doing 35 in a 25 (I really did not know the center of town was all 25...). He was about to write the ticket when a bank robbery in progress came in over his radio just down the road. He told me to keep it under and took off.:thumbsup:

 

[ruf1967]

You forgot the "Taser" as well......................

 

[Dave S]

Did any of you guys ask the Policeman where he displayed his numbers?
:smt043:smt043

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Proper display of boat numbers[/FONT]

 

[RobF300]

some boats the hull makes the numbers not visable, on those boats it should be above the rail.

In the end, as others have already pointed out, they must be easily read and conform to the requirements for the color and font.
There is NO law that says it must be on the hull so if putting them on the gunwale makes more sense to you then go for it!

 

[comsnark]

Did any of you guys ask the Policeman where he displayed his numbers?
:smt043:smt043

Oh. . .in my case the admiral was heading in that direction. She absolutely does NOT deal well with authority. I suspect if she was with Gary when he got stopped for speeding that they would BOTH be in the back of the cop car.

In my case, after a couple of minutes I had to tell the Admiral to be polite. After a touch more lip, Mr. Marine Policeman took his turn and explained to the admiral WHY I was telling her to be polite.

At that point, she quieted down. . .but MAN WAS SHE TICKED.

10 minutes later, the impact of what she did began to sink in, and we joke about it. I now I have ammunition. . .which I have used upon occassion.

 

[Merge360]

Mine are below... Sorry that I don't have a pic readily available, but mine are LARGER than normal.... Law here in TX is that they must be a minimum of 3" tall....

Buddy of mine owns a sign shop..... he said he would hook me up with my numbers.... I picked out a font, he put them to scale (3" tall) and the whole reg number came out pretty long!

While it doesn't bother me, I may be changing it for next season.... To something a little more "petite".....