we were boarded

[sanctuarysam]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

And you need to have the USCG documentation number posted as a part of a clearly visible structural part of the boat in numbers at least 4" high, that would be highly noticeable if disfigured, removed, or damaged. (might be three but I think it's four.)

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.

The name and hailing port of a recreational vessel must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. The vessel name of a commercial vessel must also be marked on the port and starboard bow and the vessel name and the hailing port must also be marked on the stern. All markings may be made by any means and materials that result in durable markings and must be at least four inches in height, made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals. The "hailing port" must include both a place and a State, Territory, or possession of in the United States. The state may be abbreviated.

fyi.....

[sailingdog]

Thanks Sam, I have that all written down someplace, as my boat is USCG documented. I knew that four inch lettering came to play someplace.

I was mainly posting it as a reminder to those who have USCG documented their new-to-them boats, and haven't put the numbers in place. If the boat was previously documented, the numbers are likely still in place, but if it was state-registered and you're documenting it instead, you'll need to add the numbers somehow. I had a copper plate with the numbers on it made up and then epoxied/bolted the plate to interior of the boat. By epoxying the plate in place, I made it so that it would be obvious if the plate were removed, since you'd need a hatchet to remove it now.

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

We need a lot more papers than you...ask Tom and Marc, what I have to show every time we enter a new marina.

It's true, but I think things go faster in smaller ports. You talked with the guy at Sines for about five minutes and produced a bunch of paper; at Vilamoura, it took fifteen minutes and there seemed to be a lot of laser printing and copying going on.

The strange thing was that I didn't feel any safer in Portuguese waters than here in Canada.

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

We need a lot more papers than you...ask Tom and Marc, what I have to show every time we enter a new marina.

It's true, but I think things go faster in smaller ports. You talked with the guy at Sines for about five minutes and produced a bunch of paper; at Vilamoura, it took fifteen minutes and there seemed to be a lot of laser printing and copying going on.

The strange thing was that I didn't feel any safer in Portuguese waters than here in Canada.

By the way, my boat is federally registered and I have to carry proof of this, plus ownership transfer documents, plus insurance documents (some marinas require this; it isn't a government thing.) I need no VHF documents unless they find out I'm being a bad operator (leaving the mic on, farting on air, that sort of thing), and I carry a Toronto Harbour Licence and a Pleasure Craft Operator's Card, the latter of which will be mandatory in a couple of years. I got mine in 1999.

[Giulietta]

Marc,

Vilmamoura took longer because we had to deal with the boat transfer from Cascais to Vilamoura, and that takes some faxes printed etc. Vilamoura is now her base port. Sines was transit.

If you remember, in Vilmoura I did not take the papers!! remember? they have them as part of the file already.

You feared not, because you had Fred protecting you!! (G)

My Unrestricted Coastal Skipper licence dates from 1985 !! eheheehehehe getting old I am...

[sailingdog]

Giu-

What do you mean getting...

[truckinduece]

I was checked over while waiting my turn to get my boat off the trailer. 2 guys looked every thing over with my boat on the trailer right there at the launch and found I didn't have a covering on a battery terminal. One of the guys went to the coast guard truck and brought back a roll of electrical tape. I covered the terminal with him watching while the other guy filled out the paperwork and gave me my sticker. All and all it went better that I ever thought.

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

Marc,

Vilmamoura took longer because we had to deal with the boat transfer from Cascais to Vilamoura, and that takes some faxes printed etc. Vilamoura is now her base port. Sines was transit.

Because I am federally registered, this isn't an issue in Canadian ports. While I have my home port painted on the back of the boat, I don't have to "transfer" to any other Canadian port. I just show up. They are more interested at distant marinas in seeing the insurance than the ship's registry papers!