Documentation

TIME WELL WASTED

New Member
Dec 28, 2006
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Boat Info
1995 290 Sundancer w/out arch twins & gen. 1993 454 3/4 ton Suburban tow vehicle.
Engines
2001 efi closed cooled 6 cylinders.
What is the legal sizes for Name and Homeport?
Thanks
 
whoops! my hailing port is certainly vertically challenged :smt018
 

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My feeling is that if you are not going to take your boat out of the country, don't worry about it. The scale is out of whack at the documented size.
 
My guess is that most of us come up shout on the 4 inch rule for hailing ports. I thought the 4 inch restriction (and it may actually be 3 inches...I can't remember.....must be mad cow or something) was for the documentation numbers that have to be applied inside the boat (preceded by NO.) My hailing port measures 2 inches. It has to be changed this season (we moved) and I am going with 3 inch letters. 4 inches would look stupid.....way too large. We'll see how that flies with the Coasties.

I would almost bet that Frank W is right on the size and we are all out of compliance. :smt101 . I am sure that when documentation rules were established way back when, pleasure boats like ours were not a consideration.
 
Mine is. i believe everone who responded above is as well. only us vain people who hate the look of numbers.

4" and 3" are correct. and here it is, straight from the horse's (er, uh, Coast Guard's) mouth...

HOW DO I MARK MY VESSEL?
The official number assigned to documented vessels, preceded of the abbreviation "NO." must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals at least three inches high on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious and cause some scarring or damage to the surrounding hull area.

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.
 
My boat is documented. My hailing port is to USCG standard. One less thing to worry about.

Reminder, documented vessel owners have probably gotten the annual documentation notice from the Fed Vessel Documentation Center in Falling Waters, West Virginia (hmmm...lots of documented boats there, I am sure...ahhhh...the politics of gummint jobs) you must fill out the form, sign to certify accuracy, and return. Late fee is 5 bucks.

regards
Skip
 
I'm thinking most of your boats are not documented.
I know I had to get both my 28 and 34 documented. Most lenders require documentation (on boats that can be documented) so that their interest are secured by a "Preferred Ship’s Mortgage" recorded with the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has more stringent chain of title requirements than most states.
 
no loan here, thankfully. just vanity!
 
rondds said:
Mine is. i believe everone who responded above is as well. only us vain people who hate the look of numbers.

4" and 3" are correct. and here it is, straight from the horse's (er, uh, Coast Guard's) mouth...
(directly from the USCG Website)



HOW DO I MARK MY VESSEL?
The official number assigned to documented vessels, preceded of the abbreviation "NO." must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals at least three inches high on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious and cause some scarring or damage to the surrounding hull area.

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.
 

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