Port of questoin?
 

I see alot of boats with port of there town under there name of there boat is there any boating etiquette size or live on the water have toos. Or is it up for anyone?

Check out the US Coast Guard's website for "Vessel Documentation".

The boats that you are referring to are Federally Registered with the USCG; rather than State Registered.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/nvdc.htm should answer any questions.

You do not have to put "Port of" on your boat/federal documentation.

I could be wrong, but I think his question does not really have to do with documentation, but more about do you put the name of the town you live in vs the town that you boat out of underneath the boats name. In MI the majority of people with cruiser boats regardless if they are documented put their hometown under the boat name, regardless if it is near the water. It is very common to see towns like Bloomfield Hills or Warren under the name of a boat even those those towns are miles from the lake. Ian and sort of laugh because tradition is that your port of call is what should be on the boat, but as far as MI goes I don't think a lot of boaters know that tradition:D Since our port of call is differnt weekly we opted to leave it off the boat.

actually, 'port of call' is actually a port at which a ship collects supplies.... not it's home port.

If your vessel is documented it must have the name in letters at least 8" high that are in contrast to the hull color so they are ledgible. The home port (regardless of where it is) must be in letters at least 4" high.

I'm getting ready to name my boat "Outta line" and my buddy's Check Mate has Port of Osage Beach on it under his name. I was wanting to do it just for conversation starter to meet new people that might live near by or on the docks, partycove or poker runs ect. Just wanted to check on the dos and dont's. So it looks like anyone can do it.

It's a federal law for documented boats. Basically, any vessel with a financed amount over $100,000 is required by 99% of lenders to be doc'd

My documentation says name should be 4" tall and the home port is 2" tall.

Is that a new doc? I haven't doc'd a boat in about 2 years, but it used to be larger. What kind of boat do you have? Your info says 27 Ftn and 32 Skater. The Fountain doesn't meet doc reuirements and I don't think the 32 Skater does either. It has to do with length AND tonnage

The 27 is documented. MisSpent Youth out of Cornelius NC.

The 32 isnt but I think I am going to next week. Same attorney said that she could do it as well.

It is just a 2 year old doc. for me, but was documented when I bought it out of VA.

WHAT VESSELS MAY BE DOCUMENTED?
A vessel must measure at least five net tons and, with the exception of certain oil spill response vessels, must be wholly owned by a citizen of the U.S.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY VESSEL MEASURES FIVE NET TONS?
Net tonnage is a measure of a vessel's volume. It should not be confused with the vessel's weight, which may also be expressed in tons. Most vessels more than 25 feet in length will measure five net tons or more. For information about how tonnage is determined, including a web-based interactive form that calculates tonnages, visit the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center's web site at the Marine Safety Center's Tonnage Page.

WHAT ARE THE VESSEL NAME AND HAILING PORT MARKING REQUIREMENTS?
Documented vessels do not display their official numbers on the outside of the hull, but are identified by the name and hailing port. The application for documentation must include a name for the vessel composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals and may not exceed 33 characters. The name may not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; may not contain or be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets. Once established, a vessel's name may not be changed without application, fees, and the consent of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center. There is no rule against duplication of names for documented vessels, so hailing ports are helpful in identifying vessels.

HOW DO I MARK MY VESSEL?
The official number assigned to documented vessels, preceded of the abbreviation "NO." must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals at least three inches high on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious and cause some scarring or damage to the surrounding hull area.

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.

Are there tax advantages to documenting, and is that why most do it?

What is the cost generally for documentation?

$500 bucks for me to document.

I dont know about tax advantages - but the state pulls the info on boats from the wildlife registry. It is illegal to register a Coast Guard documented boat with the state. So unless you are truthful (most are) about disclosing personal property then they would never know. I have bad luck so I have never tested this theory, but in theory it could work.

4" letters is what I was told when I documented. The graphic person also had said the same thing although I am not saying you should trust that. I had 4.5" of space so that's why it came up, 8" at LOTO I rarely see...

Just bvought a documented boat and re documented in my name. I was told that the coast Guard will notify the state and I should expect a tax bill from the state. So the state will get theirs.

I see the same around here all the time. Way more common for me to see the town that people live in, rather than the town they have a summer home in.