Boat name and hailing port decals
Your boat name, and your hailing port if you want it, in letters 4 inches tall or more. Type it, see it on a hull at true size, and order the pieces you need.
Live previewType your boat name and watch the decal update.
- Made to order on 3M vinyl listed for watercraft and marine graphics.
- No proof step: the preview is what prints, so check the spelling.
- We make the lettering. Placement rules come from the Coast Guard and your state.
- Free U.S. shipping on orders of $99 or more.
Names and hailing ports on boats
A boat name on the hull is lettering with a size rule only in one case: a documented vessel. For those boats the Coast Guard asks for the name and hailing port in letters at least 4 inches tall (46 CFR 67.123). Where it goes depends on the boat: the name on the bow and stern, and the hailing port on the stern, or both together on a clearly visible part of the hull for a vessel documented only for recreational use. For other boats the name is yours to choose, so pick a size you like.
How the size works
A taller letter makes the decal wider, which is why the price steps up with the width. The preview shows the real width and height and the price for your exact text before you add it to the cart.
Before you order
- This is not your registration number. Your state's number has its own rule. See boat registration number decals and the rules summary.
- Copy the name and port from your document or hull. We print what you type.
- Check the placement rule for your boat. We make the lettering. Where it goes is set by the Coast Guard and your state.
Questions about boat names
How tall are the letters?
You pick 4 or 5 inches. Four inches is the smallest size the Coast Guard asks for when a documented vessel's name and hailing port are lettered on the hull (46 CFR 67.123). If your boat is not documented, no federal size applies to the name, and 4 inches is still a readable size from the dock.
Can I put the name and the hailing port on one decal?
Yes, as long as it fits in 18 characters, for example SEA BREEZE, TAMPA FL. For a longer name or a hailing port on its own line, order two decals, one for each line. The price is per decal and depends on its width, which the page shows as you type.
What is a hailing port?
For a documented vessel it is the home port shown on the Coast Guard document, written as a city and state. Check your own document for the exact wording before you type it.
Is this the same as my registration number?
No. The registration number your state issues has its own rule: plain block letters 3 inches tall or more on both sides of the forward half of the boat. Use the boat registration number page for that.
What is the vinyl?
We use 3M vinyl that 3M lists for watercraft and marine graphics. Apply it to a clean, dry, smooth surface and follow the film's own application instructions.
Do you send a proof?
No. The live preview is what prints, so check the spelling before you add it to the cart.