In Vertical Block Letters Three Inches and More High
In the state of California, Your Vessel Registration Number must:
Be painted on or permanently attached to each side of your boat/vessel’s bow.
Be written in plain, vertical block letters and numbers that are more than three inches high.
Be properly arranged so you can read it from left to right.
Contrast with the color of the background so that it is easy to see and read.
Have spaces or hyphens that are the same size as letters other than “I” or numbers other than “1”.
You can do that with our vinyl stickers for your vessel number options.
If your vessel is documented with the Coast Guard, then you do not have to register it with the state of California.
Placards for Just About Any Kind of Vessel Number
Whether your vessel is documented with the Coast Guard or registered with a state, or both, our placards can help. Those who document their vessels can take advantage of our vessel documentation plaques. These are in compliance with all USCG rules and regulations.
By that same token, we also offer vinyl stickers for vessels that are registered with states, too.
Of course, we also offer plenty of fun and durable t-shirts, drinkware, and more. All of that has a fun nautical theme. They’re easy to enjoy whether you’re at sea or port.
In the event that your vessel is documented with the Coast Guard, these laws may be applicable to you:
- 67.142 Penalties.
(a) An owner or operator of a vessel with a fishery endorsement who violates chapter 121 of title 46, U.S. Code or any regulation issued thereunder is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation.
(b) A fishing vessel and its equipment are liable to seizure and forfeiture to the United States Government—
(1) When the owner of the fishing vessel, or the representative or agent of the owner, knowingly falsifies applicable information or knowingly conceals a material fact during the application process for or application process to renew a fishery endorsement of the vessel;
(2) When the owner of the fishing vessel, or the representative or agent of the owner, knowingly and fraudulently uses a vessel’s certificate of documentation;
(3) When the fishing vessel engages in fishing [as such term is defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)] within the Exclusive Economic Zone after its fishery endorsement has been denied or revoked;
(4) When a vessel is employed in a trade without an appropriate trade endorsement;
(5) When a documented vessel with only a recreational endorsement operates as a fishing vessel; or
(6) When a vessel with a fishery endorsement is commanded by a person who is not a citizen of the United States.
(c) In addition to penalties under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the owner of a vessel with a fishery endorsement is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of up to $100,000 for each day in which the vessel has engaged in fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone, if the owner of the fishing vessel, or the representative or agent of the owner, knowingly falsifies applicable information or knowingly conceals a material fact during the application process for or application process to renew a fishery endorsement of the vessel.
[USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76576, Dec. 7, 2000]
- 67.143 Restriction on withdrawal of application.
A vessel owner making application pursuant to § 67.141 may not withdraw that application without mortgagee consent if a mortgage has been filed against the vessel. Consent of the mortgagee is evidenced by filing a properly completed original Application, Consent, and Approval for Withdrawal of Application for Documentation or Exchange of Certificate of Documentation (form CG-4593).
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993]
- 67.145 Restrictions on exchange; requirement and procedure for mortgagee consent.
(a) A Certificate of Documentation issued to a vessel which is the subject of an outstanding mortgage recorded pursuant to subpart Q of this part or predecessor regulations, may not be exchanged for a cause arising under §§ 67.167(b) (1) through (5) or 67.167(c)
(1) through (8) without the consent of the mortgagee, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to a vessel which is subject only to a mortgage filed or recorded before January 1, 1989, which had not attained preferred status as of that date.
(c) When the owner of a vessel applies for a Certificate of Documentation and the consent of the mortgagee is required under paragraph (a) of this section, the applicant must submit a properly completed original Application, Consent, and Approval for Withdrawal of Application for Documentation or Exchange of Certificate of Documentation (form CG-4593) signed by or on behalf of the mortgagee to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49847, Sept. 30, 1994; CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995]
- 67.149 Exchange of Certificate of Documentation; vessel at sea.
(a) When exchange of a Certificate of Documentation issued to a vessel is required pursuant to subpart L of this part and the vessel is at sea, the owner may affect the exchange while the vessel is still at sea by:
(1) Complying with the requirements of § 67.141; and
(2) complying with the requirements of § 67.145, if applicable.
Note:
A Certificate of Documentation is issued upon compliance with the applicable requirements, however, the requirement to mark the vessel with its new name or hailing port in accordance with subpart I of this part, if applicable, is waived until the vessel reaches its first port of call, wherever that may be.
(b) The documentation officer prepares a new Certificate of Documentation and forwards it for delivery to the vessel’s next port of call. If the port of call is in the United States, the Certificate is forwarded to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard Sector Office. If the port of call is in a foreign country, the Certificate is forwarded to the nearest American Consulate. The new Certificate is delivered only upon surrender of the old Certificate, which is then forwarded to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-2006-25556, 72 FR 36330, July 2, 2007]
- 67.151 Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; special procedure for wrongfully withheld document.
When the owner of a documented vessel alleges that the Certificate of Documentation for that vessel is being wrongfully withheld by any person the owner must:
(a) Submit to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, a statement setting forth the reasons for the allegation; and
(b) Upon the determination of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center that the Certificate is being wrongfully withheld, apply for replacement of the Certificate in accordance with the requirements of § 67.141.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
Subpart L—Validity of Certificates of Documentation; Renewal of Endorsement; Requirement for Exchange, Replacement, Deletion, Cancellation
- 67.161 Validity of Certificate of Documentation.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subpart, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a Certificate of Documentation but no trade endorsement thereon, issued to a vessel which is the subject of an outstanding mortgage filed or recorded in accordance with subpart Q of this part or any predecessor regulations, remains valid for purposes of:
(1) 46 U.S.C. chapter 125;
(2) 46 U.S.C. chapter 313 for an instrument filed or recorded before the date of invalidation, and an assignment or a notice of claim of lien filed after that date;
(3) 46 U.S.C. 56101, 56102 and 57109; and
(4) 46 U.S.C. 56301.
(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to a vessel which is subject only to a mortgage filed or recorded before January 1, 1989, which had not attained preferred status as of that date.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
- 67.163 Renewal of endorsement.
(a) Requirement for renewal of endorsement. Endorsements on Certificates of Documentation are valid for 1 year, except for Recreational Endorsements on Certificates of Documentation, which are valid for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years. However, a Certificate of Documentation with a Recreational Endorsement and a Commercial Endorsement will only be valid for 1 year. Prior to the expiration of an endorsement, the owner of a vessel, which is not exempt from the requirement for documentation under paragraph (c) of § 67.9, must apply for renewal of the endorsement(s) by complying with paragraph (b) of this section. The owner of a vessel exempt from the requirement for documentation under paragraph (c) of § 67.9 must either:
(1) Apply for renewal of the endorsement by complying with paragraph (b) of this section; or
(2) Place the Certificate of Documentation on deposit in accordance with § 67.165.
(b) Renewal application. The owner of a vessel must apply for renewal of each endorsement by executing a Vessel Renewal Notification, Application for Renewal (CG-1280) certifying that the information contained in the Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remains accurate, and that the Certificate has not been lost, mutilated, or wrongfully withheld. The completed CG-1280 must be sent to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(c) Requirement for renewal of recreational endorsements. A Certificate of Documentation for a recreational vessel and the renewal of such a certificate will be effective for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years for such a Certificate of Documentation for such vessel or the renewal thereof.
Note:
Renewal of endorsements on a Certificate of Documentation may be denied if the vessel owner is the subject of an outstanding civil penalty assessed by the Coast Guard.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017; USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021; USCG-2023-0305, 88 FR 77901, Nov. 14, 2023]
- 67.165 Deposit of Certificate of Documentation.
(a) Option for deposit in lieu of renewal of endorsement. In lieu of renewing the endorsement(s) in accordance with § 67.163, the owner of a vessel which is exempt from the requirement for documentation under paragraph (c) of § 67.9 may deposit the vessel’s outstanding Certificate of Documentation with the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) Reporting requirement. The owner of a vessel whose Certificate is on deposit in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section must make a written report to the National Vessel Documentation Center when:
(1) Exchange of the Certificate is required upon the occurrence of one or more of the events described in § 67.167 (b), (c), or (d); or
(2) The vessel is subject to deletion from the roll of actively documented vessels upon the occurrence of one or more of the events described in § 67.171(a)(1) through (8).
(c) Validity of document on deposit. A Certificate of Documentation placed on deposit in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section is valid for the purposes of:
(1) 46 U.S.C. chapter 125;
(2) 46 U.S.C. chapter 313;
(3) 46 U.S.C. 56101, 56102 and 57109; and
(4) 46 U.S.C. 56301.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
- 67.167 Requirement for exchange of Certificate of Documentation.
(a) When application for exchange of the Certificate of Documentation is required upon the occurrence of one or more of the events described in paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) of this section, or the owner of the vessel chooses to apply for exchange of the Certificate pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section, the owner must send or deliver the Certificate to the National Vessel Documentation Center, and apply for an exchange of the Certificate in accordance with subpart K of this part.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation together with any endorsement(s) thereon becomes invalid immediately, except as provided in § 67.161, when:
(1) The ownership of the vessel changes in whole or in part;
(2) The general partners of a partnership change by addition, deletion, or substitution;
(3) The State of incorporation of any corporate owner of the vessel changes;
(4) The name of the vessel changes;
(5) The hailing port of the vessel changes; or
(6) The vessel is placed under the command of a person who is not a citizen of the United States.
(c) A Certificate of Documentation together with any endorsement(s) thereon becomes invalid immediately, except as provided in § 67.161 and in paragraph (f) of this section, if the vessel is not at sea, or upon the vessel’s next arrival in port anywhere in the world if the vessel is at sea, when:
(1) The gross or net tonnages or dimensions of the vessel change;
(2) Any beneficiary with an enforceable interest in a trust arrangement owning a vessel changes by addition or substitution;
(3) The trustee of a trust arrangement owning a vessel changes by addition, substitution, or deletion;
(4) A tenant by the entirety owning any part of the vessel dies;
(5) The restrictions imposed on the vessel change by addition or substitution;
(6) The legal name of any owner of the vessel changes;
(7) A self-propelled vessel becomes non-self-propelled or a non-self-propelled vessel becomes self-propelled;
(8) The endorsements for the vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution;
(9) A substantive or clerical error made by the issuing documentation officer is discovered; and
(10) For a vessel with a coastwise endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 12119, one of the events in § 68.80 or § 68.111 of this chapter occurs.
(d) Although a Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remain valid, the owner of a documented vessel must apply for exchange of the Certificate upon an election to designate a new managing owner of the vessel in accordance with § 67.113.
(e) Although a Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remain valid, the owner may apply for exchange of the Certificate if:
(1) The restrictions imposed on the vessel change by deletion; or
(2) The vessel attains a special entitlement under subpart J of this part.
(f) A Certificate of Documentation which becomes invalid pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section remains valid for the purposes of filing a new mortgage or amendment, assignment, assumption, or subordination agreement for 30 days after the date it would otherwise have become invalid.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-2001-8825, 69 FR 5401, Feb. 4, 2004; USCG-2005-20258, 71 FR 61418, Oct. 18, 2006; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]