Boat name question

A

ASH

Active Member
Dec 4, 2013
306
ia
Boat Info
Sundancer
Engines
Cummins
Last Friday we crossed the fence. I am a "cruiser" guy now. We are trying to get the name on the back of the new to us 2005 420 Sea Ray. The USCG website says use letters no smaller than 4 inches in height. I don't see any exclusions for the hailing port. I am certain not many of the boats I am around have 4 inch letters for that. Has anyone ever been questioned/ticketed for improper signage?
 
I've never met a USCG employee who seemed to know or care about documentation regs, which isn't of course isn't a recommendation to not abide by them...
 
You make a fair point on following regs!!!! The main reason is because the name of the town/state is 18 letters and the boat name is only 10 letters. I was trying to fit it all in a specific area.
 
Have you noticed that what constitutes the hailing port is vague? Some people use the city they live in, while others use the city where the marina is, or the name of the marina itself. Maybe you can find a way to use less characters...
 
I needed to pull mine down to 3.75" to fit correctly on the transom and called the CG to ask them "off the record" how close they abide by that rule. He told me something like- "we don't carry around a ruler but we can tell the difference between 4 inches and 3 inches so you need to keep it as close as possible but remember the regulations are 4 inches and there are reasons for it."

If you are boating on a smaller inland lake, patrolled by Wildlife and local police, I would be less worried about following the requirement "to the t" but would be hesitant to do less that 4" if you are on a huge lake or coastal area patrolled by USCG. Unless there is some good reason not to, I would just follow the regs to avoid possible inconvenience on your part.
 
RollerCoastr said:
Have you noticed that what constitutes the hailing port is vague? Some people use the city they live in, while others use the city where the marina is, or the name of the marina itself. Maybe you can find a way to use less characters...
Click to expand...

In addition to my last post I was also told by the CG during my call that I could use whatever hailing port I wanted as long as it was a valid city/state in the US.
 
My name is 7 letters and hailing port 17.

I'm still missing where the problem is. I'd much rather help you figure out a way to comply than disregard the regs.

jason78 said:
In addition to my last post I was also told by the CG during my call that I could use whatever hailing port I wanted as long as it was a valid city/state in the US.
Click to expand...

That is correct....
 
This boat, correct?

Plenty of room and examples on the net of what guys have done.

If you want to share the name / port and the look you want, I can prob. mock it up for you.

SR 420.jpg
 
I just put the new name on my boat today and had to figure out how to place it properly. The name itself is 14 letters and the hailing port is 19 letters.

Keep within the guidelines and there is less hassle. Maybe I go a bit overboard, but I also keep a binder with all of my documents in plastic sleeves. I just hand the binder to the inspecting officer. Typically they see that my stuff is squared away and leave me alone.

Just in case, I keep a copy of this letter filed at the front on the binder:
ALEXANDER HAMILTON'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMANDING OFFICERS OF THE REVENUE CUTTERS

http://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/hamiltonletter.pdf‎






Presentation means a lot.
 
ASH said:
Last Friday we crossed the fence. I am a "cruiser" guy now. We are trying to get the name on the back of the new to us 2005 420 Sea Ray. The USCG website says use letters no smaller than 4 inches in height. I don't see any exclusions for the hailing port. I am certain not many of the boats I am around have 4 inch letters for that. Has anyone ever been questioned/ticketed for improper signage?
Click to expand...

Are you a Coast Guard Documented Vessel or a state registered vessel? The naming regs from the Coast Guard only apply to documented vessels. If you are state registered, you are not required to even name you boat. The reason you must for a documented vessel is simply becau you do not display the documentation number. So, if you are not documented, your concern is moot.

Bryan
 
I am boating Lake of the Ozarks in the middle of Missouri. I live in Iowa and yes it will be a documented boat instead of state licensed. Thank You for all the replies, we seldom see USCG on our lake unless there is a big event, like the Shootout. Wet Dogggg those are 2" letters I am guessing? I would say 95% of the boats here do not comply with the 4" requirement. I am a rules follower…..We will see what happens.
 
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