Registration Numbers
 

OK, so I need to get the registration number for my new boat put on it. I know that you can get away with a little bit of creativity on the numbers (my old boat had them painted on with a fade), but not sure how much. I actually got a bit of a warning about my old boats numbers by a sheriff once.

Anyway, if anyone has pics of their boats registration number I would love to see them. Looking for some ideas. Also, if you have ever been warned or ticketed about your reg. number graphic please post the pic and let me know. Not looking to be harassed while boating, but just plain numbers seems a tad boring.

Here is the boat I need to do.

Whatever you do just don't use square reflective mailbox numbers, i've seen it done a few times now. Vinyl graphics are pretty cheap and will probably last longer than you'll own the boat.

I believe wisconsin requires their letters to be of a block style and contrasting with the background color. I had mine cut out of chrome vinyl. The chrome really disappears on the boat.

I have never been hasseled for numbers, must have been the loud exhaust they got me for that distracted them from the bow!?:p

Anyway, for my last four boats I have done 2-color numbers so it shows up as one color with a border of the other around it. Picked a good font, but not too crazy, just a bit different, and canted it forward about 15 degrees on each side. In your case maybe do either blue / purple (can't tell what it actually is) over yellow, this way you have the yellow as a border and the darker color inside that. You could do it the other way around but I think the yellow would be too much up front. I'll see if I have any pics of my last bow numbers and I'll post it. Sylfaen with a slight cant always looks good and clean, but just different enough.

Hardline Products makes a nice kit available at just about any PWC/Motorcycle accessory department. I have used them for several years and on several vessels, and they work well; last long time.
Owner of the company is a member of OSO too.

http://www.hardlineproducts.com/boatreg.html

Go to your local sign store and have a vinyl sign made. There are plenty of fonts and colors to choose from. It goes on as one piece.

In Virginia, you are required to use block type numbers. But, like just about almost any other violation on the water, you have to be doing something really stupid (or act like a jerk) to get written up for it!!:) I know because the CG Aux. was doing free safety checks at our boat ramp and they failed my Formula because the numbers weren't block style.

This sounds nice. Please post a pic if you can find one.

I have mine painted on the side of mine. They are what I would call a nice looking blick style with a shadow background look to them. I have a white hull so it is easier to do on mine... I have a vinyl stencle made and used paint that matches the main purple on my boat.

Got a pic?

no.. im at work... but I can snap a digital pic of it... I will try and get that done tonight...

here they are.

most lake patrol do not think they can be that far back and down but they can and i was not about to mess up that flag with numbers

Very nice.

Pointerman, The law (Federal which the States have to follow) mandates you use a "Three inch block character in colors contrasting with the background. Numbers and letters are to be applied on the forward half of the vessel above the bond line."

Now as with most laws interpretation is key, so depending on the law enforcement official things can go either way. The interpretation of "block" character and "contrasting color" is where things get confused. Many law enforcement officials have taken on their own interpretations and you are at his/her mercy.

However, Most people don't get pulled over because of their numbers, they are usually doing something else real stupid and high profile, then it goes down hill from there!

How do I know this? It's my business. I am the owner of Hardline Products and we manufacture the majority of the registration letters & numbers made.

Go to our website at www.hardlineproducts.com, Boater's World or any Boat Dealer. We have allot of great color combinations that are UV treated and match your boat. Follow our step by step installation and it will be legal. We have several font styles that meet the Federal Guidelines when installed correctly.

I don't recomend using sign shops, the vinyl is not always outdoor rated quality, some fonts are not legal, color selection is limited, they are expensive and they do not include application instructions. Not to mention you have to wait a day or two. Why wait and pay more?

Any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Kevin Schulte.

I figured the expert would come out for this one. :D

linky no worky

Poodle has a comma on the end....


www.HardlineProducts.com

I succumbed to the spell checker. It added the comma.

K

Just ordered some stuff from Kevin at Hardline. Great guy with great service. He pulled something out of his archives in order to meet my specific need.

Thanks for the help Kevin!

I saw that coming :D :D

I went through this last year with our new boat. I found this site where you can put your numbers in and then select different fonts, shadow effects, colors, etc, and see what they will look like. Then I went to a local sign place and ordered the numbers in the font. I think the 3" letters cost .75 each and I needed 16 letters per side, 8 for the number and 8 for the shadows. They put them all on a single backing so I just had to slap it on and squeegee the air bubbles out. Go to this site and use the boat name section if you want to use shadows or other 2 color effects.

http://asp.yachtsee.com/newton/main.asp

I got a warning ticket once because "my hull numbers were too close together" - that was after I was pulled over for speeding and passed the safety check and was obviously in a hurry. Just give them whatever they want in your state and you won't be pulled over for it, at least then you'll know you're in the wrong. Don't give them a stupid reason. Definitely obey the contrasting hull color, they love that too. I had to write the CG that I had had my boating safety certificate since I was 11 and they dropped everything.

I use some zip ties and a nice piece of plastic to attach my #'s to the Bow rail where they belong.

Little hard to see in this Pic. But what the hell it's a great Pic!!!:)

Just run a documented boat and you can do away with the hull numbers completely.

-Greg

Not in New york. Boat still has to be registerd with #'s

I tried this one already and got a few tickets.

Fred

In Maryland I have to run the state sticker, but not any numbers.

-Greg

Fred we did that on one of the apaches and got in trouble because they were not affixed to the hull but I think we were in Florida at the time. Anyway, be careful.

Guys, the law states that your "Letters and numbers must be permanently attached to the forward half of the hull"

Zip-tieing them to the bow rail would be pushing the interpretation and subject you to getting pulled over. They want stickers or paint.

The state wants them permanently attached so you can't take your numbers from boat to boat.

Only dealers plates can be non- permanent, and I have been with a dealer who still got a rashing of sh*t because we had dealer plates and numbers displayed. -Imagine that...

My $0.02

K

As a boat dealer I can get away with the Zip Ties on the bow rail. I got pulled over in Florida twice. I was asked questions like. How big is your boat? and What size motors? How fast is it? and by the way do you have life jackets and a throwable device?:D