What's the minimum requirement...

[Phat Matt]

Allan,
I have a few Q's for ya on the requirements. My boat is CG documented. For the life of me I cannot find where/if the numbers are painted on the hull anywhere. The previous owner is a d***head and will not answer emails just asking him if they are on the hull or not. Is this a big deal? How about the beautiful pollution placard? Are cites really issued for not having that gem proudly displayed near the helm?
I don't think you need numbers if it is CG documented. Just a name and port.

[Boatcop]

Allan,
I have a few Q's for ya on the requirements. My boat is CG documented. For the life of me I cannot find where/if the numbers are painted on the hull anywhere. The previous owner is a d***head and will not answer emails just asking him if they are on the hull or not. Is this a big deal? How about the beautiful pollution placard? Are cites really issued for not having that gem proudly displayed near the helm?
On the Documented Vessel the numbers aren't supposed to be painted on. They are supposed to be attached to the interior of the hull (main hull, not the cabin or other "add-on" piece. The attachment has to be made in a fashion that will cause damage if they are removed or tried to be removed. Carved, etched, permanent plate riveted and epoxied, etc. Pretty much the same way the HIN is supposed to be applied. That number stays with the boat forever.
When the boat is sold, the number passes to the new owner, but the Documentation doesn't. The new owner has to apply for the Document in his own name. When the boat is sold the current Document is automatically voided.
Of course, the official name and hailing port have to be displayed on or near the stern of the vessel, and the original document has to be carried on board. If all three of those things aren't present (Name displayed, number attached, and original document in the current owner's name) we are to treat it as an unregistered boat.
This is the Pollution Placard:
http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknow...ge_placard.gif
Federal Law says it must be posted at or near the helm, where the operator can clearly see it from the normal operating position. If there is a remote switch for the bilge pump, it needs to be posted by that, too. (Boats over 26' only)
It's a Federal Law, so we don't worry about it, but the Coast Guard will zero in on it in a nano-second if you're boarded by them on the Lake or off-shore. Major and expensive ticket.

[Huckleberry]

Thanks for the replies. The boat has the name and hailing port on the stern, I just cannot find where he has affixed the CG Documentation number. I've had it documented in my name for about a year now, just can't find the dang number. So I can go to the local trophy shop and have them engrave a metal plate with the number and then epoxy it inside the engine compartment, and I'll be okay?
Those dang pollution placards are fugly! Velcro???

[LakeRacer]

Thanks for the replies. The boat has the name and hailing port on the stern, I just cannot find where he has affixed the CG Documentation number. I've had it documented in my name for about a year now, just can't find the dang number. So I can go to the local trophy shop and have them engrave a metal plate with the number and then epoxy it inside the engine compartment, and I'll be okay?
Those dang pollution placards are fugly! Velcro???
If I remember correctly the numbers have to be block style and at least three inches in height.

[LakeRacer]

For a coast guard inspection...
All I can think of is:
Fire extinguisher
Throw cushions
Flares - Flare Gun
Air Horn
Life jackets
Is there anything else??
Also if the engine compartment has a halon system, is an extinguisher still required?
Thought this would be a good reminder for everyone since it sounds like a crack down in havi town this weekend.
Call me a dickhead, but if you don't know all of the requirements it's time to take a safe boating course....at the very least, break out the rules and regs booklets for AZ, CA and Federal Waters and study them. I understand that you are asking here for help. But as you can see, you won't get all of the straight answers you need....except for BoatCop of course!

[Huckleberry]

If I remember correctly the numbers have to be block style and at least three inches in height.
Won't THAT look just special! :yuk:

[Boatcop]

LakeRacer (the Dickhead ) is right. This is from the Vessel Documentation FAQ:
The official number assigned to documented vessels, preceded of the abbreviation "NO." must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals at least three inches high on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious and cause some scarring or damage to the surrounding hull area.

[Patyacht]

When the boat is sold the current Document is automatically voided.
I don't think this is correct. The CG Doc Center has to be notified and there is a fee. If new owner is documenting the boat, the fee is incorporated in the new documentation but if new owner isn't going to document the boat, there is a cancellation fee to the seller. See this link and go to fee schedule: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/nvdc.htm
Also every state has its own requirements, so you best check each state that you will operate in. Boater education is now a big thing and many state are now requiring that you attend a certified course and have a special permit showing you have passed the course. Generally, it is age dependant and is being phased in over time. WA and OR are implementing mandatory boater education now. Link to State Ed Reqirements: http://www.boat-ed.com/
Also, some state require Documented Vessels to still be state registered and display the registration decal but not the state numbers like AZ, NV, CA or WA numbers. I know NV and WA require this so they can collect the annual excise tax.
Other Federal Requirements that you may need to comply with include the requirement to have a Discharge of Gargage Placard for vessels 26' or larger and a waste management plan for vessels 40' or larger. The bottom line since most of us trailer our boats to different states and different areas like lakes and oceans, we need to know and comply with the laws of the area we are operating in. I did not know won't cut it, especial if you've had a few cocktails.
For Federal and State Laws: http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/regulations.htm
For AZ: http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreat...ng_rules.shtml
For NV: http://www.ndow.org/boat/
For CA: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/boatsinfo/boat.htm
For WA: http://www.boat-ed.com/wa/handbook/
For OR: http://www.boatescape.com/
Hope this helps.