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I don't want to apply stick-on plastic letters on my hull. I think it's ugly. I've seen lobster boats with their numbers painted on boards and the boards fastened to their superstructures. Can I create similar boards and hang them from my safety railings port and starboard. I would paint the boards white and use black stick-on numbers and letters. I would use stainless steel fastenings to hang the boards from my railings. My question: Is it legal to display registration this way?
Excerpt from the Massachusetts Office of Environment Affairs FAQ:
...The registration number is assigned when you register your boat for the first time. It should be painted or attached to each side of the forward half of the boat. It should read from left to right, be in block letters not less than three inches high, and contrast with the color of the boat's hull. The number consists of the letters MS followed by no more than four numbers and two capital letters. A two-inch space or hyphen must separate the letters and the numbers. The registration number is issued to the boat owner and not the vessel. Therefore, it can be transferred to different boats for a given owner, but it cannot be transferred to a new owner.
The registration decal should be placed in line with and three inches to the stern of the registration number on the port side of the boat. The decal is issued with the initial registration and each registration renewal; it indicates the month and year that the registration expires....
It sounds like either way you plan to use black vinyl adhesive numbering.
I think if thought out and well done, they don't look bad placed properly on the hull. I only buy this particular type of block lettering, 3" tall and compact horizontally, They are avaiable in many marine stores and have been around for 40 years. Numbers placed on a board hung from the rails can be moved around from boat to boat. Your DNR may not apporove of that.
Here is how I do it, keeping it simple with generic block lettering and the proper 3" spacing between groups:
I do agree that many of the numbering solutions I have seen are terrible. More are either poorly spaced, poor aligned, or just plan ugly lettering, including those from graphic shops that overdid it. Sea Ray type "booze and crooze" boats are one of the biggest offenders, where they try to match registration numbers to hull graphics and coloring. Look in any West Marine, Cabelas, Bass Pro, Overtons, or other catalog and you can see that stuff. Don't forget Walmart also!
Since registeration numbering and state decal are a way of life in boating, I say just keep it simple, in good taste and minimal, and not try to make a graphic design statement with your required state number.
For my last three (or was it four?) whalers, I've gotten my numbers and the boat name from Custom Vinyl Lettering. They did a great job on matching the registration numbers to the color of the stripe on the boat. Generally you get the numbers in a couple of days after ordering. Here's the url for them:
33CFR173.27 Code of Federal regs. USCG Be Painted on or Permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the vessel.
If used by a manufacturer for testing or demonstrating it may be on a removable plate.
Even inflatables must have glued on numbers to be legal.
I did 1/4" 316 stainless for my hull registration number, this company http://www.steelartco.com/ is up in your neck of the woods, they can do anything.
