In Maryland, what do I have to display on my hull for USGC documented boat?

[scooper321]

First time boat owner here. Bought my bought in August. It's got a lien, so it had to be documented. Even though I closed in August, the official Certificate of Documentation from the Coast Guard didn't arrive until January. Yikes.

As I understand it, I have to put the Official Number (assigned by the Coast Guard) on the hull of my boat, in an unalterable manner. Fine. I got that. And I've already put the boat name and port of call on the transom, in the proper size.

The boat wasn't documented when I bought it, so it came with MD vessel numbers and an orange, square MD sticker on both sides of the hull, per the MD regulations. Since the documentation process took so long, I was told I had to put a MD temporary sticker on my boat, This was a round blue sticker. I put that on, right over top the prior MD use sticker (which looks like crap, but it's temporary). So I now have this:

I have received a new 2016 sticker from MD. It's orange, square and has the MD state house on it, a gull flying by, the year (16) and my number. It looks like this:

So my question is: Is this the correct sticker for a documented boat? And is this sticker ALL I need to display on both sides of the hull? Can I remove all of the other numbering?

Thanks!

 

[kap2]

Here is the official text:

The official number assigned to documented vessels, preceded by the abbreviation "NO." must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals at least three inches[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] 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.[/FONT]

On my vessel the doc numbers are carved into a piece of wood which is mounted to a stringer in the engine room. In RI it is not necessary to post your state registration numbers along the port and starboard side of the hull. But the state registration stickers needs to be posted on both sides. My stickers are just on the port and starboard sides of the windshield.

Ken

 

[scooper321]

Thanks. I'm good with understanding about putting the official number on the interior of the hull somewhere. What I don't know exactly, is exactlty what I need on the outside of the boat. I don't think the USCG requires anything. But each state has their own specific rules for documented vessels and that's what I'm trying to understand. But thanks!

 

[FootballFan]

*** not a Maryland person *** can only speak with confidence to the USCG part.

Saying that up front. My USCG documentation identification number is in the bilge. I don't have anything on the outside of the boat related to USCG other than vessel name and hailing city - both on the transom. Given I just had a boarding by USCG in the last 60 or so days - I am comfortable that everything is good regarding USCG.

kap2 nailed the USCG part with his post of the actual regulation.

A side note - in FL - we are required to have a sticker on the boat. Mine is on a lower window of the fly bridge on the port side.

On the Dinghy - which is not documented - FL sticker and FL registration number is displayed.

Mark

 

[Woody]

First time boat owner here. Bought my bought in August. It's got a lien, so it had to be documented. Even though I closed in August, the official Certificate of Documentation from the Coast Guard didn't arrive until January. Yikes.

As I understand it, I have to put the Official Number (assigned by the Coast Guard) on the hull of my boat, in an unalterable manner. Fine. I got that. And I've already put the boat name and port of call on the transom, in the proper size.

The boat wasn't documented when I bought it, so it came with MD vessel numbers and an orange, square MD sticker on both sides of the hull, per the MD regulations. Since the documentation process took so long, I was told I had to put a MD temporary sticker on my boat, This was a round blue sticker. I put that on, right over top the prior MD use sticker (which looks like crap, but it's temporary). So I now have this:

I have received a new 2016 sticker from MD. It's orange, square and has the MD state house on it, a gull flying by, the year (16) and my number. It looks like this:

So my question is: Is this the correct sticker for a documented boat? And is this sticker ALL I need to display on both sides of the hull? Can I remove all of the other numbering?

Thanks!

Yes, you must remove the state number from the bow of your boat. Call one of these places to find out if you have the correct state sticker and where to put it.

Annapolis Service Center
1804 West St #300
P.O. Box 1869
Annapolis, MD 21404
410-260-3220
1-866-344-8889 (Toll Free in MD)
410-260-3281 (Fax)

Western Service Center
12500 Pleasant Valley Rd
Flintstone, MD 21530
301-777-2134
1-866-679-0906 (Toll Free in MD)
301-777-5865 (Fax)

Dundalk Service Center
7701 Wise Ave
Baltimore, MD 21222
410-284-1654
1-886-535-8319 (Toll Free in MD)
410-284-3505 (Fax) (WALK-In Only: M/W/F)

Southern Service Center
6904 Hallowing Lane
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-3382
1-866-688-3823 (Toll Free in MD)
410-535-4737 (Fax)

Central Service Center
2 S. Bond St., Suite 101
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-836-4550
1-866-623-3187 (Toll Free in MD)
410-836-4562 (Fax)

Eastern Service Center
201 Baptist St #22
Salisbury, MD 21801
410-713-3840
1-866-812-1678 (Toll Free in MD)
410-713-3849 (Fax)


East Central Service Center
120 Broadway Ave #5
Centreville, MD 21617
410-819-4100
1-866-439-1708 (Toll Free in MD)
410-819-4110 (Fax)

 

[scooper321]

^^^ Excellent! Thanks!

 

[HomePort]

My boat is registered in MD so I don't know if this holds true for other states, but in MD, if your boat is documented with the USCG, you don't need to display state registration numbers to the hull. You are, however, required to affix your registration stickers on each side of the forward half of the vessel. The decals must be displayed in a conspicuous manner so they can be easily seen from a passing vessel.

 

[scooper321]

Thanks. Is this orange sticker the right one? I heard there was a blue one for MD that includes my documentation number and should be displayed instead? Guess I need to call the DNR service center... Ugh.

 

[dwna1a]

USCG document numbers for mine are in the bilge. They are posted on a piece of hardwood, sandblasted into the wood and mounted onto the inside of my stern. Just keep it in mind, mount it where they can see it down there. My PO placed it in a great spot. I open the hatch and cut on a light and most are happy and move on to the rest of the boat. Those numbers outside need to be removed. Don't forget to put the boats name and port on the stern.

As for the sticker, I'm in VA and I don't have a sticker. I'm sure you could ask other boaters in your marina, nobody wants to see you get a ticket.

welcome and good luck!

 

[JeffM]

Thanks. Is this orange sticker the right one? I heard there was a blue one for MD that includes my documentation number and should be displayed instead? Guess I need to call the DNR service center... Ugh.

Yes, the new sticker you got from DNR is the right one. The color changes every year.

 

[scooper321]

Yes, the new sticker you got from DNR is the right one. The color changes every year.

Nope, I don't believe it is. I called my settlement company (Sterling Acceptance, in Annapolis MD) to try and understand what's what. They confirmed that what I need in Maryland for a documented vessel is a (surprise surprise) documented vessel sticker. For Maryland this year, it's BLUE. The ORANGE sticker that I have is for Maryland state-registered boats, not USCG documented boats. Mystery solved (I think - I'll let you all know when I get the correct stickers in hand. I'll post a pic)

Now a word about my settlement company: Not only did they help me decipher all of this, but they are sending someone over to the local DNR office for me. They will be getting my documented vehicle sticker for me and will mail it out to me. I'll have it next week. Talk about service! That saves me the hassle of having to take time out to go there myself. And I'm sure they know how to navigate DNR better than I would. So props to Sterling Acceptance in Annapolis!

 

[DaleM]

Yes this year is blue (I just got mine in the mail last week). Like you and on my other boat I was in this state of flux where I was documented but had temp numbers on the hull but not received the documented sticker. How they figured out I was documented by the registration I was displaying I guess is still a bit of a mystery to me. As a result I did get pulled over by the DNR because they said I was improperly displaying registration numbers. I explained the situation and after 30 minutes of going over it with the guy and showing my safety gear, etc I was given a written warning. Just thought I'd pass that along because they weren't really in a good mood when they boarded me and trying to work through a confusing situation was interesting to say the least (kept my cool).

 

[quality time]

Now a word about my settlement company: Not only did they help me decipher all of this, but they are sending someone over to the local DNR office for me. They will be getting my documented vehicle sticker for me and will mail it out to me. I'll have it next week. Talk about service! That saves me the hassle of having to take time out to go there myself. And I'm sure they know how to navigate DNR better than I would. So props to Sterling Acceptance in Annapolis!

+1. I have used Sterling Acceptance for my last three boat purchases. The owners are family friends.


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[xravenx]

It's true that Maryland stickers change color every year, however your new sticker will be good for two years..........documented or not.

John

 

[scottrreiner]

Just picked up my stickers today. The documented ones are Blue AND they have your Coast Guard Official Number on them.

 

[DaleM]

Just picked up my stickers today. The documented ones are Blue AND they have your Coast Guard Official Number on them.

You're right! I just checked against my cert to make sure it wasn't one more thing for MD to screw up

 

[scooper321]

Just picked up my stickers today. The documented ones are Blue AND they have your Coast Guard Official Number on them.

Correct! I promised the thread that I would follow up once this all got resolved. And the saga is complete. The MD stickers for documented boats ARE blue (as others above have said - thank you!). Here are mine:

You don't need any other numbers on the hull, but proper name and port of call display are required. As are "permanently" affixed documentation numbers on the hull.

Thanks to all who helped with this mystery!

 

[LiL Nauti]

Correct! I promised the thread that I would follow up once this all got resolved. And the saga is complete. The MD stickers for documented boats ARE blue (as others above have said - thank you!). Here are mine:

You don't need any other numbers on the hull, but proper name and port of call display are required. As are "permanently" affixed documentation numbers on the hull.

Thanks to all who helped with this mystery!

Hey Steve,

Now u have me guessing exactly what my boat needs! I have reg. numbers and a 2 yr sticker. If I understand correctly, you simply have a sticker and don't need to display reg numbers, just a sticker, boat name, and port of call? FYI. My boat hasn't had a name or port of call for 3 years (long story).

kevin

 

[scooper321]

Yup. Just the sticker. And labeling my boat structure with the Doc number. All done. Heading out tomorrow for the season's first voyage.


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[LiL Nauti]

Where ya heading to? I might go for a short cruise myself, Ego Alley or up Spa Creek.