Boat Lettering

[Mike in Maine]

I think that I am going to use the vinal "stick-on" type of letters for my boat name and registration numbers. Is there any particular type of procedure for applying the letters? What size should I order for the boat name on the starboard transom and any ideas where to place registration numbers.
(2007 215cc)

Thanks M I M

Mike,

Before applying any decal you need to use 3M 94 primer which your dealer should have or you may be able to purchase online.

As far as registering your boat in Maine reference this excerpt from the Maine department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or click on the url contained in teh excerpt.

How to Register

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Augusta is the central office for boat registrations and registration records. Many Maine municipal tax collectors or town clerks, and some businesses, are registration and licensing agents for the Fisheries and Wildlife department.

If you are registering a boat at the Augusta office or in a town other than your own, remember to first pay your excise tax in the town where you live. Be sure you have a receipt that shows the excise tax has been paid, or your vessel cannot be registered at another location.

Registration Fees and Taxes

Boat registration fees charged by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are based on the vessel's horsepower:

0-10 horsepower: $10
11-50 horsepower: $15
51-115 horsepower: $21
Over 115 horsepower: $29
Personal watercraft: $29
Duplicate boat registration: $1
Duplicate boat registration and sticker: $2
Temporary transfer: $4

Along with a registration fee, you will also be required to show proof that you paid your excise tax to your hometown. If it's a new boat, you will also be required to show payment of 6% sales tax to the state. You can also register as a nonresident of Maine, in which case you'll pay the town where the boat is kept most of the time.

All boats and watercraft located in Maine are subject to annual excise tax, except the following:

A lifeboat or raft.
A dealer demo or dealer stock.
A commercial vessel that is not based in Maine.
A noncommercial boat based in Maine less than 75 days during the year. This refers to the number of days physically present in the state, not the number of days it was used.
A vessel 20 feet or less with no motor, like a rowboat or dinghy.
Lake and River Prevention Stickers

All motorized boats used on inland waters―lakes, rivers and ponds, not the ocean―must display a Lake and River Protection Sticker. These stickers cost $10 for boats registered in Maine and $20 for boats registered outside of Maine, and they're good for one year. The stickers fund a program to prevent infestation and control invasive aquatic plants.

Renewing Boat Registrations

Maine boat registrations must be renewed annually. They expire on the last day of the 12th month after the month the registration was first issued. For example, a boat registered any time in June 2006 will expire June 30, 2007. Once a registration period is established it does not change, even if you reregister late or let the registration lapse. If this same boat is not reregistered until September of 2007, the expiration will still be June 30, 2008.

Lost or Stolen Boat Registrations

If you lose your Maine boat registration, you can get a new one for $1, or $2 if you need a new registration sticker as well. You can obtain the replacements from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or any registered agent.

Displaying Your Registration

Any motorboat in Maine waters―inland or ocean―must have the registration certificate on the boat and available for inspection. The one exception is boats under 26 feet that are leased or rented commercially, such as kayaks. Registrations for those boats can stay on shore with the owner.

The registration number and validation stickers must be legibly displayed on each side of the bow of the boat:

Painted or permanently attached to the bow in a contrasting color to provide high visibility. The number must read from left to right, be at least three inches high, and be vertical block-character capital letters and Arabic numerals.

Changing Ownership

If you sell a boat or personal watercraft in Maine, you must remove and destroy the validation stickers and notify the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife of the transfer of ownership within 10 days of the transaction.

The validation sticker is not transferable to the new owner. The new owner must register the boat for the regular registration fees.

If you sell a boat that's covered by a current registration and purchase a new boat, a transfer registration can be obtained for the new boat for a $4 fee. This registration will be valid for the remainder of the original registration period. The old registration must be turned in at the time of application for the transfer registration.

Hope this helps.

Tom

Mike,

Sorry, I left the url out, here it is: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/licreg/index.htm

Tom

[Genelie]

If you do not plan on any fancy letters, than you can forget the pain in the bottom of doing the primer thing. Go down to your local hardware store, purchase the 3 inch reflective numbers....it has the same glue as the yearly stickers.....I have only lost one in 5 years....they stick real nice to our plastic boat.......no primer needed. If you are still not sure what I am talking about I will be glad to snap a picture and post.

[Mike in Maine]

Thanks alot guys, Tom I know about how to register the boat I was wondering about a good spot to place the numbers, above the "rub-rail" or on the upper portion of the hull. And Genelie thanks for the help but I was thinking of something a little fancy on the stern I've seen several web site where you can design and purchase boat lettering. I'm spending alot of $$$$ on my new toy so whats a couple of more $.

M I M

[nocturn]

Believe it or not, the best peel and stick registration letters I have found to date are the ones at Walmart. All I did was lightly rough up the Roplelene with ultra fine steel wool (0000) and put them on. The steel wool puts such fine scratches in the plastic, you can barely see/feel them but they are rough enough to hold the sticker. When the stickers are on, hit the ropelene with a buffer. They wont even come off with the pressure washer on them.

Mike, you might want to put the letters/numbers above the rubrail. If you're moored, the man might not be able to see them from the dock.
I put mine just above the rubrail equal distance between the rail and the beginning or roll over of the deck.

HtH.

[stogie]

I agree with the Wal-Mart letters/numbers for registration. Personally, I think they're the best. I guess you could use them to "name" your boat.

[Mike in Maine]

Wal-mart?
Wow! Stogie nice.............. very nice.
The "WYNN" You Da' man......
I LOVE VEGAS !!! It's a good thing I live far away. It's a good thing there is no ocean near bye. I wouldn't have a boat...................or a life.

M I M

[stogie]

If you need anything at Wynn, let me know. I've got quite a few contacts there. We like to hang out at Club Lure, Ultra Lounge.

[joeygumbo]

Forget the primer. Acetone is an organic solvent. Apply just before lettering and they will stick until you scrape them off. If you don't know where to find it look in your wife's bathroom it is also known as fingernail polish remover.