Location of Boat Name and Home Port

[Alan Kibbe]

If your vessel is documented for recreational use, you can locate your name and hailing port "on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull" according to the USCG.On our 380, for example, we have the name on either side of the hull on the aft quarter and the hailing port on the stern to the left of the walk-thru. I've seen attractive arrangements of vessel names amidship beneath the rub rail as well. It depends on how long the name is and where it will fit. But for sure, it doesn't have to be on the stern.The point is that as long as the use is recreational, you have more latitude than you would for a commercial vessel.Commercial vessels must have the name on either side of the bow and both the name and hailing port on the stern.

[Marc P]

We have come up with a name for our new Hunter 356 (SHAMRA) and are trying to figure out where to display it. The boat will be documented at the banks request so we will have to display the name and home port as well. On our previous Catalina we did not have the walk thru transom so the transom was an ideal location. Due to the configuration of the 356 we are not sure that the transom will provide enough space.We are interested in what others have done. Pictures if available would be appreciated.ThanksMarc

[stephen depaola]

GO TO WEBSITE: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/instr.htm

[Rich Wallace]

The name and hailing port have to be on the stern of a documented boat. There is a minimum size. I am guessing that the web site that Stephen gave is going to tell all about that.We are going through the same process. We checked a couple of weeks ago and the Coast Guard is about 6 or 7 weeks behind in issuing the documentation paperwork. If you need it by spring, it would be a good idea to submit it soon.

[nick maggio]

I had my dealer put the boat name and home port on the stern on both sides of the walk throught transom right under the stern seats I don't have a good picture available ask your dealer to show you other boats that have done this or they have good people that do the lettering thats what I did and it looks great.

[Sandy]

our 356 will be documented too and we are planning on putting on stern. See coast guard rules as you can put on sides if you follow their rules.not commissioned yet (so no pics) but we plan to have the name across the widest part of the stern that is split by the seat when in a down position. the port will be below that, covered if the seat were down. it looks really cool how I mocked it up in Photoshop.see attached.

[Sandy]

here is the photo.sorry can't get the photo to upload.email me if you want.sandpro@pacbell.net

[Rick D]

.. is to put the name on the side, which seems to be a popular placement, calling port on the lower transom, YC burgee on one side of the walk through and YC name on the other. Here is a (poor) photo of the result. People seem to like it. Rick D.

[John H380 1999]

To summarize - must be at least 4", can be together anywhere, is violation to not follow regs. We put name and port on stern 4" and 9" name on side. Here are the official regs:MARKING INSTRUCTIONS Every documented vessel must be marked with its official number, name and hailing port. OPERATION OF A DOCUMENTED VESSEL WITHOUT PROPER MARKINGS IS A VIOLATION OF U. S. REGULATION. All exterior markings must be in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Roman or Arabic numerals not less than four inches in height. OFFICIAL NUMBER: The official number awarded by the Coast Guard must be permanently marked in block-type Arabic numerals not less than three inches in height on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be preceded by the abbreviation "NO", and be affixed in a manner which would make alteration, removal or replacement obvious. EXAMPLE: NO. 123456 NAME AND HAILING PORT FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS: The name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. All exterior markings should not be less than four inches in height.

[Nick]

Be sure to look in the archives for the naming ceremony that you have to use. This puts your vessel in good standings with the God of the Seas. If it has a name, it's also important to have do the de-naming ceremony

[Chuck Wayne]

the coast guard is pretty flexible with recreational boats-many boats, including our 356, have the name on the aft sides-large letters-and the hail only on the stern

[Barnaby]

I put mine on the stern only, see attached pic.Cheers,Barnabys/v Miss Eulie

[frank arndorfer]

We've bought a new boat and are doing in-boom furling. At the Annapolis Show we looked at a lot of boats with boom furlers and started noticing a lot of them had the boat name on the boom itself. Evidently it fulfills the USCG requirements and looked very clean.Granted this would only work for a boat with either in-mast or in-boom furling but it was a creative slant that looked great.I think we're going to do the same.

[Wayne]

Attached is a photo of the name and hailing port on the stern of our 340. I put it on the walk thru transom so unfortunately when the walk thru is in the open position you can't see the name.See attached photo.