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Here's the actual regulation; I had no trouble getting the hailing port,
"Severna Park MD" across the transom in the required 4"
letters. And I think the government issue block lettering on the transom
looks much more elegant than the garish psychedelic names one sees
along the topsides a lot. But then I've always been a curmudgeon.
Incidentally, I had a problem of where to remount the interior 3"
number plaque after putting the solid aluminium sisters across the mast
brace in the cabin. Wound up putting it on the forward bulkhead of the
Vee berth.<br>
<br>
Bob Kirk<br>
Isobar #181<br>
<br>
P.S. I agree with Gordon White's warning about testing cute names
in a simulated distress situation before you burden your boat with
them. (Muckle Flugga excepted, of course.) But those are probably
the same folks who paint a psychedelic name on the side.<br>
<br>
<font face="Courier, Courier"><u><div align="center">
VESSEL MARKING INSTRUCTIONS<br>
<br>
</u></div>
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 <b>not less than four inches in
height</b>.<br>
<br>
<u>[...]<br>
<br>
RECREATIONAL VESSEL MARKINGS</u>: The name and hailing port must be
marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.<br>
<br>
<u>OFFICIAL NUMBERS</u>: The six or seven digit official number
awarded by the U.S. Coast Guard must be permanently marked in block type
Arabic numerals not less than three (3) inches high on some clearly
visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be
preceded by the abbreviation "NO.", and must be affixed in a
manner which would make alteration, removal, or replacement
obvious.<br>
</font>[...]<br>
<br>
<font face="Courier, Courier">F. <u>HAILING PORT</u>: Insert
name of place and state exactly as it is or will be marked on the
vessel. The hailing port must be a place in the United
States. Commonly known abbreviations are acceptable. (e.g., NY,
NY)<br>
<br>
</font>[Up until a few years ago, you either had to choose your mailing
address or the seat of the Coast Guard District - Norfolk, in my case
- for the hailing port. In that way there are a lot of dry land
hailing ports. This newer rule let's you pick anywhere, so I could choose
Annapolis, for instance, where Isobar is actually moored, but those
stick-on letters are still holding well.]<br>
<br>
[...]<br>
<br>
<font face="Courier, Courier">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 consent of
the Coast Guard. There is no rule against duplication of names for
documented vessels, so hailing ports are helpful in identifying vessels.
The hailing port, which must be marked on the vessel, must be a place in
the U. S. and must include the state, territory, or possession in which
it is located.<br>
<br>
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