Boat Reg Numbers-Above Bow Rail OK?

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I'm going to register a boat I bought from New Jersey. The original #'s were above the bow rail, below the windshield. I would like to put the new #'s just foward of this spot but not sure if this is OK in NY. All numbers seem to go below the bow rail, towards the front of the boat. This area on my boat is tilted down a great deal and may make my numbers hard to read at a distance. The DMV websight was not helpful. Any thoughts?
Chris
fw.jpg
 
The DMV states the numbers must be attached to the HULL..........I assume that if you attach them to the deck or above the rub rail.........it may cause a problem.

I've always put them below the rail.......towards the bow.
 
I don't see a issue with keeping them where they were.
It will cover the marks.
 
This is from the New York DMV website. The numbers were wrong where they were previously. Note that they must be on the BOW of the boat.
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Does my boat require a registration?
The law requires you to register any boat that is motor-driven and is operated on public waterways in NYS. The boat requires a registration even if the motor is not the primary source of propulsion. If you operate the boat in NYS, you must register the boat with the DMV. After you register your boat, you receive a registration certificate that indicates the registration number assigned to your boat and a set of registration stickers.

You must paint or attach the registration number to each side of the bow of the boat. The characters must be:

block letters not less than three inches high,
a color different from the hull and easy to see,
legible from 100 ft. away during the daylight hours,
the only number on the front half of your boat.
You cannot transfer the registration number to another boat.

The registration sticker shows the month and the year that the registration expires. Attach each sticker in line with the registration numbers on each side of the hull, and three inches toward the stern of the boat.
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Edited to post link:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmvfaqs.htm#BOATS
 
I have to play the Devil"s Advocate here.
Although mine is a different style boat than what you have....My numbers are just below the side Cockpit windows on each side. Never had any problem with them being there.
Now.....The Law says "You must paint or attach the registration number to each side of the bow of the boat."

Okay.....Where does the "Bow" end?

"The DMV states the numbers must be attached to the HULL"

Isn't that area below the window part of the hull? If it isn't....then what is it?
 
I always assumed the "hull" was the portion below the rub rail.......the deck was above the rail.
 
Actually as long is it's easily readable and they don't have to look for it I don't think any LE would mess with you over this. They may use it as an excuse if they think you are doing something else though.
 
It looks like the numbers were just above the rub rail and below the bow rail. I see what the DMV website says, but I don't think you'll have any problem putting them in the exact same place. I doubt that anyone will give you a problem as long as they are easily readable.
Worst case scenario: you run into some harda$$ with a rule book and a tape measure; plead ignorance and move them.
 
On registration sticker backing paper....I recall it said the sticker must be affixed to the hull...toward the stern ??
 
Don, I think they mean towards the stern of the registration numbers.
 
"I always assumed the "hull" was the portion below the rub rail.......the deck was above the rail."

And I agree with that also......but isn't the deck part of the hull? I guess not and probably my thought is carrying it a bit to far....
But here's another thought....Maybe they're not even referring to a boat?....lol.......

Kingston upon Hull - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaKingston upon Hull (pronunciation (help·info)), almost invariably referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the East Riding of Yorkshire, ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_upon_Hull -
 
quote:
Originally posted by imrich

Don, I think they mean towards the stern of the registration numbers.

Click to expand...


Thats was I was trying to say..........thanks ! :) :) :)
 
I stick with my first answer, I think original spot is fine. I have seen plenty of boats with them there,
I have seen dinghys with in the middle. I think you get into definitions here.
I think as long as they are visibile and legal, noone will bother you. In fact I think they are more
visible where you have them than under the rub rail. I think most of the times they are below the rub rail
since noone washes hard there and they are sort of out of the sun. Where you have them, they will take alot of abuse!
 
Don.....go to work! or go on your little boat!
Hey, if you have nothing to do, take little boat over to Barb's house and get my dinghy!
Throw it up behind my boat.
Thanks!
 
But please...
Three Inch
Block Letters
Contrasting with "hull color"
Space or Dash between "NY", the numbers, and the letters after the numbers.

At least Florida does a disservice. The registration is printed FL1234AB and comes with an instruction to display that number. The State and Federal rules require the Space/Dash, but that's not what the owner sees.

And some of our dealers do a disservice too. They order a custom set of improper numbers and send them to the owner. Dealer sent them, they gotta be right, right?
 
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