NJ registration requirements for a documented boat

[J Levine]

Technical question for my NJ neighbors out there. My boat is both Federally documented with the USCG and registered with the state of NJ. When I did this two years ago I posted the NJ reg numbers on the bow, which I really hate from a visual standpoint.

Now I have noticed that most big boats in NJ (which I assume are probably also documented) do not display state reg numbers. I also came across this link (see page 4)

http://safetyseal.net/newsletters/ve-mdv/fss05-02.pdf

that indicates if you are documented you CANT display state reg numbers. So what are other doing about this? I am thinking about removing my state reg numbers and sticking my reg stickers on the side windshields of the boat.

Thanks

Jon

 

[Bridog]

Hello Jon, Yes you don't put the reg #'s on the boat. You do need the sticker's though. I put mine on the port and aft windshield. You also have to have the documentation # affixed as per CG reg's as well as boat name and hailing port, but I'm sure you already knew that.

 

[ImpulseIII]

Hey Jon,

Bridog is absolutely right. Get those ugly numbers off your boat! Don't forget to have the doc number permanently displayed somewhere in your boat where removal of the number would be obvious. (FrankW posted several excellent pictures of how and where to to do this).
Are you coming to BHI this summer with OSD9 et al?

 

[osd9]

I'm in the same predicament right now. My boat is documented and will have the Vessel Name and Port of call on the transom. I will adhere the NJ State Sticker on either side of the vessel.....probably the side windshields.

The concern I have is when I carry the dink off the platform. The dink will cover, at the very least, the port of call. With the weaver davits, I have seen many paint the name of their vessel on the bottom of the dink's hull......I assume that is "legal" as per the USCG reguirements...I'll have to check. I'm just not sure how well that would hold up. I can see myself dragging the dink on sandy shores, or just up my dock for storage. If I were to just carry the dink flat on the transom, as per a Hurley system, that would also cover some portion of the transom mounted vessel name, and again I would have to make some type of concession.

My plan right now, is to have a plexiglass board, of correct proportions made and have my vessel name and port of call put on it made from vinyl. I will hang the "name board" over the dink whenever I take it with us.

The other option, is to UNdocument the boat and put the NJ reg numbers on the side of the vessel hull.

:smt017

 

[ImpulseIII]

Interesting point about hauling a dink that obscures the name and hailing port of the boat. I do not often have the dink with me but when I do it does block the name and port of the boat. Guess if I get stopped I'll use the "duh" :huh: excuse"I didn't know" and see what that get me. I wonder what the penalties are?

 

[fwebster]

Guys,

I'm not in NJ (and don't ever plan to be from Oct to May!), but we boat 12 months a year in an area where there are all kinds of "enforcement".....local USCG station, Marine Patrol (equivalent of a wet highway patrol), county sheriff and the DEA and I have never heard of a citation or even a stop because a dinghy covered the hailing port. I think this is one of those things that, once the water cop sees no state number on the bow and the registration sticker on the side glass, they don't much mess with you, and that forgiveness might be easier to get than the whole process of making a sign to hang on the dink.

But, that's just an opinion from the peanut gallery.................

 

[osd9]

Frank:

Your point is well taken, but around here, especially in the New York Harbor and around the Nuclear plants the post 911 Water Cops have been more "diligent" on thier patrols. Not they need one, but hiding the hailing port on a vessel with no side State Reg Numbers gives them an obvious "reason" to board.