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Number Engraved in Woodwork

KS Dave

Dastardly Villain
Blogs Author
Apologies if this has been asked before, but I tried searching to no avail. Our E26-2 has a giant number engraved right next to the door to the head. This doesn't match anything in the HIN. Any idea what this number might be? Do others have this on their boats?

WoodEngravedNumber.jpg
 

goldenstate

Sustaining Member
Blogs Author
It may be a coast guard vessel registration number.
I believe there is a requirement for a permanent record of the Vessel # in the interior of the cabin. Mine has a similar one.
 

KS Dave

Dastardly Villain
Blogs Author
Ah-ha. Thanks! I'm brand new to the boating world and didn't think about that. I confirmed by looking it up on CG website. Apparently this boat was named "My Molimo" at one time. Hmmm.

Glad they chose a subtle place to engrave it. :rolleyes:
 

nquigley

Sustaining Member
Ah-ha. Thanks! I'm brand new to the boating world and didn't think about that. I confirmed by looking it up on CG website. Apparently this boat was named "My Molimo" at one time. Hmmm.

Glad they chose a subtle place to engrave it. :rolleyes:
It's cheap to renew with the USCG each year - don't get sucked into ads from 'services' offering to renew via them ... for several hundred $$. You can do it yourself via the CG website. You will first have to transfer the documentation number to be in your name: you'll need proof of purchase/ownership (e.g., State boat registration document?). As I recall, it cost a little more to do the initial name change than the annual renewal fee. It's a separate process (and small fee) to get the CG to record a vessel name change. To avoid confusion, I recommend renewing (re-starting) the annual documentation process first, and then do a name change later (if you want), after the CG has that number registered in your name. Good Luck!
 

Teranodon

Member III
It may be a coast guard vessel registration number.
I believe there is a requirement for a permanent record of the Vessel # in the interior of the cabin. Mine has a similar one.
Interesting. My CG number is in the lazarette, barely visible. I've been boarded a couple of times, and it hasn't been a problem. They just want to see the life jackets and fire extinguishers. Never even asked about my elaborate pumpout locking system. Of course, around this area, the Coast Guard, police, etc. are pretty mellow. The people you don't want to mess with are the customs and immigration guys, especially in Canada. They can't take a joke.
 

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Documentation also gets you out of the grip of the DMV (although they may need some convincing paperwork for that). It doesn't get you out of the grip of Unsecured Property Tax, if your state has that.

It does get state registration numbers and stickers off your bow, proving you are high class . Expired stickers were a cause of tickets, back when harbor authorities had full staff and nothing better to do.
 

nquigley

Sustaining Member
Interesting. My CG number is in the lazarette, barely visible. I've been boarded a couple of times, and it hasn't been a problem. They just want to see the life jackets and fire extinguishers. Never even asked about my elaborate pumpout locking system. Of course, around this area, the Coast Guard, police, etc. are pretty mellow. The people you don't want to mess with are the customs and immigration guys, especially in Canada. They can't take a joke.
My number is deeply engraved in a piece of wood that's epoxied to the hull liner in the aft lazarette.
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
It does get state registration numbers and stickers off your bow, proving you are high class . Expired stickers were a cause of tickets, back when harbor authorities had full staff and nothing better to do.
One small cautionary note: states probably differ in what proof must be displayed for state vessel registration, and this applies to USCG documented vessels also.
In Oregon, a documented vessel must display the little 3" X 3" Biennial (current) Oregon registration sticker, but only on both sides of the stern, on the side of the boat, within 12 inches of the deck line and 12 inches from the edge of the stern. Washington boats have a similar scheme, but I am not sure where they specify that the stickers are attached.
Betcha.... that most other states have something similar in their boating regs. Probably. Best to always check with your state's licensing agency.
 

Kenneth K

1985 32-3, Puget Sound
Blogs Author
One of my boat's POs stealthily hid the number under the galley.

20200521_193032.jpg

I wanted to display them a little more prominently, though the location might be a problem if I start installing more electronics.

20170529_184003.jpg

If I ever got hassled about them being removable, I planned to hope that enough time had passed to leave some teak discoloration underneath.
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Is it necessary to include a US prefix when displaying the documentation number, say on the transom?
The format for this is set, pretty rigidly, by the USCG. Also the interior placement and sizing and "attachment". It does not go on the outside of the hull/transom like a state registration number, for instance.
On the outside of the boat, your boat name and hailing port are your boat's identification, and there are sizing requirements for those.
 

Papidoos56

1973 E32-2
I too am in the process of renewing the documentation on my newly acquired 32. It too has an engraved wooden plaque inside and I do know that you need to download the USCG Application for Initial, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation, Redocumentation Form #1625-0027 AND a USCG Bill of Sale which needs to be notarized.
 

KS Dave

Dastardly Villain
Blogs Author
I saw that. I'm curious what you do if you can't trace back to the last documented owner? How can you have it notarized? Can you do an affidavit of a fact or something? Our state doesn't require notarized bills of sale for watercraft.
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
I saw that. I'm curious what you do if you can't trace back to the last documented owner? How can you have it notarized? Can you do an affidavit of a fact or something? Our state doesn't require notarized bills of sale for watercraft.
A note about state titles vs USCG documentation. .. they are not the same. There are positives and some cautions about either type of ownership document.
 

KS Dave

Dastardly Villain
Blogs Author
A note about state titles vs USCG documentation. .. they are not the same. There are positives and some cautions about either type of ownership document.
From what I can find, the only reasons to maintain USCG documentation are traveling in international waters, don't want to display state registration numbers, or financing a boat. None of those apply to me. I'll keep my reg numbers and my Kansas sticker and be happy on my little lake.

Thanks everyone for input on this.
 

Papidoos56

1973 E32-2
A note about state titles vs USCG documentation. .. they are not the same. There are positives and some cautions about either type of ownership document.
I called and spoke with someone regarding that very situation. The last owner can sign a Bill of Sale in front of a notary as an authorized agent. You do not need to have the documentation but if you know the number they can pull it up.
 

Papidoos56

1973 E32-2
From what I can find, the only reasons to maintain USCG documentation are traveling in international waters, don't want to display state registration numbers, or financing a boat. None of those apply to me. I'll keep my reg numbers and my Kansas sticker and be happy on my little lake.

Thanks everyone for input on this.
I wouldn't bother either if I wasn't Coastal.
 
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