Name of City and State, or Name of Country ?

[Tori]

We are redoing the outside of our new to us boat and have removed the word Minnesota.... Below it it says USA do we need to leave the words USA and add Sanford Fl or remove the USA? Husband says boat is supposed to say country or fly our flag I say only city and state.

[boasun]

Most commercial boats have only City, some City & State... But you can check in the CFRs (Code of Federal Regulations) to find out for a fact.

[boasun]

This is what I found on the net. I hope it answer your question.

FEDERALLY DOCUMENTED VESSELS --

The Requirements Are:
The Name of Vessel and Hailing Port, to include City and State, must be located TOGETHER on
some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. The letters and numbers can be made by the use of any
means and materials which result in durable markings. They must be made in clearly legible letters of
the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numbers, all of which are NOT LESS THAN FOUR (4) INCHES
IN HEIGHT (all characters). This can be either on the Transom or on either side of the vessel. There is
no requirement for Block letters or any other restrictions to type or font; or color on Documented
Vessels. Abbreviations of both the place (city) and state are acceptable as long as they are recognized
by the U.S. Post Office (i.e. NY, NY -- Phila., PA -- Wilm., DE -- Pgh., PA -- Balt., MD -- Jax. Bch.,
FL). This is a Federal issue and is not open to enforcement or interpretation by the state.
When dinghys are stored on the swim platform or transom causing the Vessel’s name and hailing
port to be obscured from view, there is no Federal requirement to place the name and hailing port
elsewhere. That is a Law Enforcement issue only. However, the requirement to be CLEARLY
VISIBLE may necessitate duplicating the name and hailing port on either side of the hull. Stenciling
on the bottom of the dinghy is not considered a permanent marking.

[markpierce]

An example (lettering is larger than required):

[markpierce]

Tori, you don't say whether your vessel is U.S. documented or is state registered. If not documented, a name and "home port" is not required to be displayed; however, the state registration no. and sticker need to be displayed.

If U.S. documented, in addition to name and home port on boat's hull, the interior must permanently display the documentation number at least four inches in height:

[Tori]

The boat is state registered Joe was afraid it would be bad luck if we didn't leave the country name on but since we are not planning in leaving us waters I wanted to just put the home port city and state

[markpierce]

Tori, since you are state-registered, you're free to do what you want regarding boat name, port, and country lettering. So, it is a matter between you and Joe, without government interference.

[doug86]

Originally Posted by Tori

The boat is state registered Joe was afraid it would be bad luck if we didn't leave the country name on but since we are not planning in leaving us waters I wanted to just put the home port city and state

The bad luck issue is about the name, not the hailing port or country.

If you are changing the name of the boat, be sure to research the various rites of sacrifice you are required to perform to avoid bad luck. If nothing else, you must spill rum...

[Tori]

Lol we are planning on changing the name but haven't decided on a suitable one yet so for now we were putting the home port and new registration numbers on the boat
Thanks for the information, Joe says only pirates don't put their country on the boat

[sarafina]

this is another lovely example of when you can tell him he is wrong... most recreational boats in the us do not put nation on the transom ; -)

Don't ya just LOVER bein right?

[doug86]

No one puts the country on their yacht that I have ever seen.

Begin the name change ritual now. First: take everything that has the old name off the boat. Everything! If a tool has the old name scratched in it, it goes. Napkins, glass ware, laundry bags, every god darn thing with the old name has to go. Remove the name from all painted surfaces like the transom, liferings, tenders etc....Do this quietly and with a somber demeanor.

Under no circumstances speak of or have in written form the new name of the boat until all evidence of the old name is gone. If your boat came equipped with an ensign, soak it in good rum and burn it at sundown with quiet resolve and respect. Remove (or drink) all the liquor on board. Wait at least two weeks....more is better.

Do not rush to pick a new name. Do not discuss the name issue when on board, and for god's sake, don't debate the names while you are on board. Do it at home or on the dock or at a pizza place.

After a suitable amount of time, announce a party (not a christening party, just a party) and invite some friends. At some point during the party, open a bottle of something expensive and tell everyone that you have picked a new name for your boat. Spill an appropriate offering to Poseidon over the bow, and proclaim the vessel's new name. This is best done as the sun hits the horizon.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Tori

The boat is state registered Joe was afraid it would be bad luck if we didn't leave the country name on but since we are not planning in leaving us waters I wanted to just put the home port city and state

48° Vigor's Interdenominational Boat Denaming Ceremony