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Old 04-20-2016, 10:05 AM   #22
BandB
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City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
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The name and hailing port of a recreational vessel must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. The vessel name of a commercial vessel must also be marked on the port and starboard bow and the vessel name and the hailing port must also be marked on the stern. All markings may be made by any means and materials that result in durable markings and must be at least four inches in height, made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals. The "hailing port" must include both a place and a State, Territory, or possession of in the United States. The state may be abbreviated.

Obviously this is only applicable to documented boats. The ability to read the name is necessary due to no numbers. The numbers on a boat not documented are on the bow. It's just most do it on the stern, but can be on the bow. However, the size is a firm requirement.

Have I ever seen anyone have a problem with them not being legible? In the US, no. However, if you had other issues and the LEO was already not pleased with you, then an easy ticket. And I did hear a boat in the BVI given a firm scolding over the radio and told to pull to shore for a complete inspection. The LEO was just upset because he had no way to hail the boat. What got the LEO's attention however was how close the cruiser ran to a small sailboat. It started something like "Cruiser who just passed sailboat." Then was "White 50' or so cruiser making huge wake that just passed sailboat." Then next was more like "White boat with no visible name and dinghy on stern and idiot skipper, respond now or you will be boarded immediately." So the name not being visible wasn't the initial issue but was very annoying to the LEO.
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