Federal Law prohibits a documented vessel from displaying state registration numbers, except for in states that issue yearly registration certificates on vessels that are documented. There is understandably a lot of confusion between documentation, state title, and registration, particularly concerning the regulations for display of vessel names, hailing ports, official numbers, and registration numbers/decals. Failure to comply with the formal regulations of vessel identification may result in severe penalties and can make it more difficult to transfer ownership of the vessel. The two standard procedures to mark your vessel are as follows:

Vessel without a Certificate of Documentation

• The vessel's state registration numbers and decals must be clearly marked on the outside of the hull.

Vessel with a Certificate of Documentation

• The vessel's name and hailing port (city and state) must be at least 4" in height and marked together on the exterior part of the hull. The official number found on the Certificate of Documentation must be permanently affixed, in 3" letters, to a clearly visible interior structure of the hull, where it cannot be damaged or altered.