Boat Numbers?

[Terrierman]

As a former Missouri State Water Patrol officer, let me state that while blocky is boring, it is the LAW. Both numerals and letters shall be in Block Form. All letters will be in Caps.

Guys and Gals this is not a way of self expression, this is the licenses plate on your boat and needs to be visible from distance without being able to read some sort of weird font. Your yearly registration sticker may be placed in front, behind or below the center of your numbers. As I said, go ahead and do this in your own personal style and see what that gets you. I was a State Police officer for 8 yrs. and I stopped every boat with numbers that were not placed according to regulations or had any type of deviance. It led to multiple arrest for everything from narcotics to felony arrest warrants. It is the means the police use to stop you that is not selective enforcement that they cannot do. You have broken the law no matter how slight and it is a means that they use to get to an end. Forget the Crud-ola and do it right.

I stopped for one of those voluntary inspection things a few years back up on Mark Twain Lake. Had everything in the boat they were looking for - life jackets, throwable cushion, fire extinguisher, airhorn, registration paperwork, everything. I felt really smart for a while. Until I actually got a warning ticket because my letters were too close together, had to take all the letters off, get new ones and install with the 2" spacing between the three groups of letters. Take Bill's advice on this one.

[GNSfishing]

As a former Missouri State Water Patrol officer, let me state that while blocky is boring, it is the LAW. Both numerals and letters shall be in Block Form. All letters will be in Caps.

Guys and Gals this is not a way of self expression, this is the licenses plate on your boat and needs to be visible from distance without being able to read some sort of weird font. Your yearly registration sticker may be placed in front, behind or below the center of your numbers. As I said, go ahead and do this in your own personal style and see what that gets you. I was a State Police officer for 8 yrs. and I stopped every boat with numbers that were not placed according to regulations or had any type of deviance. It led to multiple arrest for everything from narcotics to felony arrest warrants. It is the means the police use to stop you that is not selective enforcement that they cannot do. You have broken the law no matter how slight and it is a means that they use to get to an end. Forget the Crud-ola and do it right.

Well some people just have to learn the hard way regardless of what the state law is.

[eyedabassman]

Let me say this about that.

Boat identification numbers in Missouri have to be at least 3" in height. Solid color that is contrasting to the hull on the forward section of the boat. They must also be blocked shaped and presented with a 2" or 1 letter space between the letters and the numbers. ie

MO 8888 BC Or they may have a spacing as such MO-4444-BC They must also read from left to right regardless of the side of the boat.

Reflective, multicolor or non-uniform numbers are not permitted. If you want to get stopped here, by the State Patrol, just goof this easy deal up with goofy looking or crazy numbers, and you will get your wish.

Branson West Ayres Sign is without a doubt the best place to get your numbers made. Go in and talk to Kathy. She has been making boat numbers in the Kimberling City, Branson lakes area for 20 years and knows EXACTLY HOW THEY SHOULD LOOK. 417-272-3327

Thanks to all of you for your input. I will take Bill's advice and get it done wright!And i will give kathy a call when I get down there May first! I know I am going to miss some great fishing in April!

[dtrs5kprs]

Makes me glad I am boring...plain black letters from Wal Mart. Might go buck wild some day and swap them for white ones.

[rainbow]

I stopped for one of those voluntary inspection things a few years back up on Mark Twain Lake. Had everything in the boat they were looking for - life jackets, throwable cushion, fire extinguisher, airhorn, registration paperwork, everything. I felt really smart for a while. Until I actually got a warning ticket because my letters were too close together, had to take all the letters off, get new ones and install with the 2" spacing between the three groups of letters. Take Bill's advice on this one.

When my boat was new I did the same thing at Truman. We were in hurry to get there on vacation so I applied my block type white decals in a flawless straight line but..............too close together. The WP guy was really nice about it but wrote a warning. I was a PITA to get the old ones off. the rest of the boat passed fine but like Bill says they do check the numbers. nowadays with all the drunken boaters you need to be on the straight and narrow or you will get in trouble.

[balsabee]

http://www.iguanagrafix.com/

Another vote for iguana. He will make it look better than anything you will find around here and will meet legal requirements. Block form and CAPS.... proper spacing. You won't be disappointed.

[Bill Babler]

Since about 1980 when there were some privacy laws put into place a law enforcement officer has to have a reason to stop you. Unlike a game warden who may do so without probable cause.

You have to commit some type of a violation to be stopped, regardless of how slight or minor. It is called Police Work. To find something minor and see if there are other issues that may or may not be major. It is the way the police solve 10's of thousands of crimes.

It has been mentioned here several times about voluntary boat inspections that are done by the patrol. They can ask you if you want one or they can set up an inspection locations and stop every boat that comes thru, they cannot just select you and stop you for no reason.

This is why your registration and numbers are so important. The numbers violations are the number 1 reason the patrol use to stop boats, and has also been mentioned paper warning have been issued. Here is the bad deal. Even though we all want to comply with all the safety rules, if you for some reason have made any kind of error with the omission of any equipment and are stopped for a numbers violation, no matter how slight. Your problem will come from the missing safety equipment that may have slipped your mind today. That is a monetary fine, and no way to get out of it.

Because you have not complied with the guidelines for the numbers you have opened the door for everything including all of your personal records to be checked. Even records that do not pertain to water craft safety or even to your boat. You have just opened the door.

Folks its not hard to get this right. They even give you a handout that says "Do it just like this." still for some reason we do not.

Good Luck and safe boating this season.

[fishinwrench]

Just for the record..... The Hardline products in the link I posted above are approved by MSWP.

Even though they have a stylish appearance the font is easy to read, and the colors have a florescent quality that makes them as easy (or more easier) to read than block letters under various light conditions.

For moored boats on this lake, that can be extremely important since it is not uncommon for a boat to escape a hoist and go for a little float by itself at night. Those numbers will pick up any nearby porch/dock lights and could be the only thing you'll see when approaching the boat while it's adrift at night.

I've been installing them on every application for 7-8 years. And again, they were approved by the WP before any of the marina's around here began selling them.

They serve a valuable purpose that goes beyond keeping you compliant "to the letter" with the Nazi's. (pun intended).

[fishinwrench]

Oh, and they don't need a valid reason to pull you over. If they wanna pull you over they'll just do it, the list of valid reasoning for the stop is long enough to include plenty of things you cannot control.

"The driver appeared distracted".

"Heavy scent of fuel in the wake of the vessel".

"Passenger appeared concerned". (That one always cracks me up).

"Operating slowly, possible mechanical issue".

So...... IMO there is nothing at all wrong with NOT installing ugly old black/white block lettering on your pretty new boat.

[balsabee]

So...... IMO there is nothing at all wrong with NOT installing ugly old black/white block lettering on your pretty new boat.

Agreed....15 cent ugly butt numbers on a $50K bass boat. I'd take the warning/fine and the safety check.