Are you struggling to come up with a name for your boat? Or, do you have a few ideas and just can’t narrow them down? When you do come up with a name for your boat, we offer the kinds of placards that make staying in compliance with marking requirements easy. If you’re new to vessel documentation, there are actual rules for naming boats. Follow these rules and you can come up with a boat name you’ll be proud to be associated with for a long time to come. After that, reach out to us to get your placards done right.
Rules for Naming Boats That Have Been Documented With the USCG
When it comes to naming Coast Guard-documented vessels, the process is distinct from that of state-registered boats. Documented vessels are primarily identified by their name and hailing port, rather than displaying official numbers on the outside of the hull.
For recreational vessels with Coast Guard documentation, federal law mandates that the vessel’s name and hailing port be clearly displayed on an exterior part of the hull. The markings should be in a visible spot for easy identification.
Vessels carrying commercial or other endorsements are subject to additional requirements. In these cases, the vessel’s name must appear on both the port and starboard bow, as well as on the stern. The hailing port, however, only needs to be displayed on the stern.
Boats with a square bow face slightly different regulations. The name should be positioned on a visible part of the bow without risking it being damaged or obscured. As with other vessels, both the name and hailing port must also be placed on the stern. All markings need to be durable and easily readable, using Latin letters or Arabic/Roman numerals at least four inches in height.
The hailing port must include both the city and state, territory, or possession within the United States, with abbreviations permitted for the state. Additionally, boat names are subject to specific rules: they can’t exceed 33 characters or resemble distress signals, offensive language, or racial slurs.
It is possible that Coast Guard-documented vessels can share the same name. This makes the inclusion of a hailing port essential for distinguishing between vessels.
Here at Vessel Placards, we provide placards that ensure your boat meets every regulatory standard.
The Personal Significance of a Boat Name
Naming a boat is about much more than fulfilling a legal requirement. While proper vessel documentation requires a name, the process of choosing one goes far beyond compliance with the rules.
For many, a boat is an extension of their identity. It’s a reflection of their personality, values, and sense of adventure. The name can speak volumes about who the owner is or what they aspire to achieve, whether it’s through a pun-filled title that brings laughter to everyone who sees it, or a more serious, meaningful name that holds deep personal or family significance.
A boat name can act as a bridge, connecting the owner’s lifestyle to the wider community of boaters. It sparks conversations, brings smiles, and adds a layer of personality to your time on the water. Some names might be tributes to loved ones, while others pay homage to special events or places that shaped the owner’s life.
Choosing a boat name is your chance to make a statement—one that reflects not just your boat, but you.
How Vessel Placards Can Help You Navigate the Process
At Vessel Placards, we offer the kinds of placards that keep you in compliance with the authorities. We believe that you should be able to stay in compliance while your boat looks its very best. To that end, we offer placards that are in mahogany, stainless steel, and marine-grade HDPE.
Each of these are durable enough to stand the test of time. We know that most vessel owners don’t really think about the placards for their vessels often. That’s how things should be. We make it so that you don’t have to. No matter what material your placards are made of, they will make the kind of addition to your vessel that elevates it aesthetically (all while keeping your vessel in compliance as well.
You don’t need to have your vessel documented with the USCG to take advantage of our placards. For example, we also offer options for state-registered vessels, too.
More Than Just Names for Your Boats
Yes, we can provide placards for your vessel’s name. But, we can do so much more than that, too. You can find placards here for your vessel documentation number, as well as documentation in Canada. These placards can be made out of different materials, so as to find the one that best meets your aesthetic and your needs.
To see what we offer, click here.
