Displaying the Boat's Name

[Hudson Force]

I received a VHF call once warning me that there was a partially submerged large propane tank floundering in the channel ahead. The caller was nortbound while I was southbound and he had recently avoided the tank which was among the debris in the waterway a few days after a hurricane. It's not uncommon for cruisers to warn their neighbors about a shoal, snag or missing navigational aide, etc. and it's info passed easily when others can call with the name of your boat.





Often I can easily read a name on a vessel, but sometimes, at a hundred yards or more, it's impossible. Some people allow for a clear contact and some don't. Some of the gold letters on a mahogany name plate are only legible at the dock. What do you guys think? Is the legible display of the boat's name a concern and worth considering?

[sailorboy1]

I think it is of concern. Right up there with a name that you can pronounce.

[markpierce]

Yes, easier to read is important.

One the other hand, usually the name is out of sight such as when the boat is heading toward you.

[Hudson Force]

I fall short on the name pronuncing need!


....but I answer to anything close!

[Reefmagnet]

Well I had to waste an extra 1/2 hr at a marina the other month while the staff tried to find the account for "Missile"....

[Sailmonkey]

Is this easy enough to read?

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Is this easy enough to read?

Sure, yours is clear.



This is one of the unclear ones even though it's clever.

[TomM]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

I fall short on the name pronuncing need!

....but I answer to anything close!

"Hey You!"

[Cotemar]

I agree. The bigger the better.

[jeremiason]

46 CFR 67.123 covers the display of names for documented boats.

it basically says that recreational vessel's name and hailing port must be marked together and clearly displayed in a minimum of 4" letters.

Thats were it is open to interpretation...

Something else many of us do, which is also a violation of the CFR, is placing the name on the bow or quarter and the hailing port on the transom.

[Stu Jackson]

It really doesn't matter. Why? Unless you're within reading distance, even with binoculars, it won't matter much.

[Cotemar]

Reading those rules is what allows names on the bow and stern.

46 C.F.R.
For vessels other than those covered in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the port and starboard bow and the stern of the vessel. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern of the vessel.
(b) Vessels with square bow. For vessels having a square bow, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the bow in a manner to avoid obliteration. The name and hailing port must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern.
(c) Recreational vessels. For vessels documented exclusively for recreation, the name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.
(d) The markings required by paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, which may be made by the use of any means and materials which result in durable markings, must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.

[markpierce]

With a four-inch minimum for letter size, the regulations obviously aren't intended to assure visibility from any significant distance.

Most boats aren't USCG-documented, so any sort of lettering is legal for them.

[Travelnik]

...must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.

I see a lot of them that don't fit this requirement.

[jeremiason]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Most boats aren't USCG-documented, so any sort of lettering is legal for them.

Yes that is right, except the undocumented vessels are subject state requirements for display of their license numbers.

I don't know of any state that requires undocumented vessels to display anything other than their license numbers