Question for owners of USCG Documented Boats

[sickday]

I have a couple of quick question for those who have USCG Documented Vessels. According to my docs that I recently received in the mail from USCG, I must mark the "Official Number" at least 3" high on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. It also states that the numbers must be permanently affixed so that alteration, removal, replacement would be obvious and cause scarring or damage to the hull. My question is; How the heck do I mark the "Official NUmber"? And where do you recomend doing it? (I have a Marlin 300)

Also, does the # also need to be visible on the outside of the boat next to the name?


Thank you very much in advance

Matt

 

[CJBROWN]

We used to carve them into a deck timber. Hmmm...that would be difficult on a new Marlin I guess.

The numbers do not need to be displayed on the exterior. In fact, you don't need registration numbers either on a documented vessel. The reality is you are registered with the country, as in USA, not a state. It's a different kind of registration, has some advantages for international travels - I forget what now, it's been so many years. All my old sailing ships (boats :wink: ) were documented. So there's no state motor-vehicle 'title' either. There are documentation papers, the coast guard processes a transfer of ownership.

I'm not sure how they do the numbers on a glass boat. You'll usually see them in an engine room or storage area on larger vessels. I would contact one of the many documentation service that advertise online and ask them what they suggest.

Here's a pretty good FAQ on the process if you haven't already seen it:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/nvdcfaq.asp

 

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

What i did was i cut a piece of plywood and bought the ready made number used for registration and glue them on the plywood, then i put a lot of 5200 behind and stuck it in the rear bildge area on one of the stringerss, then i put a layer of fiberglass matt over the whole thing and about 6" all around the plate. The numbers are visible thru the matt when it dries. I had an USCG inspector to do a vessel safety check and he told me was the best job he ever saw.

 

[sickday]

So I guess it doesnt have to be visible. Sounds cool what you did, but I dont have the time for something that detailed. I gotta come up with something though, thanks for the responses

 

[JeffN]

Back when I did mine I thought that the number had to be placed from mid ship forward - inside. I got had the numbers carved in a board (looks nice) and put some resin behind it and stuck and srewed it to my bulkhead as I go below. I have never been boarded so I don't know if it is suitable but think so. I have seen people just put the stick on numbers under a berth or similar and glass over it thereby permanent. I do know that the numbers do not have to be outside the boat.

 

[Legend]

I put my numbers on a Sailfish on the side of the Hull inside where the wasdown pumps are. I just used plastic stick on registraion numbers and then app;ied 3 coats of Polyurethane over them. I have been boarded by the coast guard several times and the have nexer asked to see them. They just wanted the documentation paperwork. A documentation service gave me instructioms on the permanent placement of the numbers.
As far as the exterior hull the name serves as the identification- no numbers needed in Massachusetts. Some staes aslo require local registration.

 

[megabytes]

My dealer placed mine on the inside of the transom right over the genset fuel tank. They are glassed in with a dap of fiberglass and resin. You can clearly see then when the aft hatch is open.

 

[Stonewall]

My dealer placed mine on the inside of the transom right over the genset fuel tank. They are glassed in with a dap of fiberglass and resin. You can clearly see then when the aft hatch is open.

That's exactly where I placed mine. I used 4" vinyl stick on letters and coated them with 5 minute epoxy. Works perfectly.

 

[sickday]

My dealer placed mine on the inside of the transom right over the genset fuel tank. They are glassed in with a dap of fiberglass and resin. You can clearly see then when the aft hatch is open.

That's exactly where I placed mine. I used 4" vinyl stick on letters and coated them with 5 minute epoxy. Works perfectly.

Sounds simple enough to me! Just the way I like it. Thanks for all the responses

Matt