Side Registration Letters

mrtopknight

New Member
Oct 3, 2006
361
Lake Mary, FL.
Boat Info
2001 182 Sport
Engines
4.3L MerCruiser w/ alpha one
I would like to replace the Registration lettering on sides and would like to go as small as possible.

Is there a certain minimum size they need to be?[/url]
 
Yep. 3 inches, which is what your current ones look like from your pic.

"The registration number issued to an undocumented vessel is to be painted or permanently attached to both sides of the bow (forward half) of the vessel and must be in block letters and numerals at least three inches high. The registration number must read from left to right, must contrast in color with the hull and be maintained in legible condition.

The prefix and suffix must be separated from the numerals by a space equal to the width of the digits, i.e., FL 0001 AB."

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/vslfacts.html#8
 
I did mine like this to match the design of the boat....no problem with the authorities...Ok actually I did not do it the Service Manager has a side business of boat lettering. He did a great job and was pretty cheap as well.

Wesley
 

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Nice!! Thats kind of like what I had in mind, but since my boat is white I wanted them like my stripe, black outlined with metallic silver. Are those 3"?
 
Yeah they are, If you would like his information I can get it for you, PM me. He does a great job. You can choose your color, format, two-tone, etc.

Wesley
 
Anything other than block is not regulation according to coast guard wording. :smt018 But considering they are just glad they can read it, as long as you don't go scribe or something like that it will be ignored. I used brushscript bt on my first boat which is close to sr logo lettering and was told that when I got my coast guard inspection sticker. :grin:
 
Mike,

The letter of the law (Florida) is that the numbers have to be block at least 3 inches high.

Having said that, I know that I have seen numbers in italics out there, and have never seen anyone pulled over for it. In fact, when we had the F-16, it had italic numbers, and in 5 years nobody noticed. So I have to agree with stilebolts on this one.
 
Thanks guy's I'll most likely go with italic. Although, I try not to draw any attention from the law since we have such weird open cantainer law. For example in one county they do not allow open containers and the next county over does. The tricky part is that the center of the river is the county line. In order to reduce the confusion they set land marks along the river to determine county lines but they do not post them you must look them up.

I usually do not drink while underway, but my guest do.
 
I realize I am breaking the rules, but they sure do look cool. We have pulled up and talked to several law enforement guys and have never had a problem. We usually stick to only two lakes and are always following all the other rules. Just call me a rebel. :cool:

Wesley
 
Question for everyone else, (looking back at my picture) am I the only one that left the emmission circle sticker on. Am I suppose to take this off. I feel like I am walking around with a hat on with the price tag hanging out the back :lol:
 
I was forced to take mine off to get the numbers to fit. I was going to leave it on if I could of.
 
First Born said:
Question for everyone else, (looking back at my picture) am I the only one that left the emmission circle sticker on. Am I suppose to take this off. I feel like I am walking around with a hat on with the price tag hanging out the back :lol:

Look where it got Minnie Pearl!!

I"ve left the sticker on my boat also. I figure any protection I can give the hull while the wife is docking it is a plus!! :thumbsup:
 
Is the boat federally documented? If so, you can eliminate the state registration numbers completely by surrendering the title to Florida since it is invalid anyway. The registration can legally be affixed to the forward most port side glass, which saves having to scrape the old one off fiberglass every year.
 
I know that when I had my power-squadron vessel safety check that the "letter of the law" states 3" BLOCK letters. Mine are script w/gold outline shading. Looks alot better that block (Boring) but was told that many safety examinators would mark it as correct and then certify. Got same ones on the dingy also and got a sticker on that too!
 

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