silly question / color of the numbers/letters on the boat

[finlander]

My new boat has a red upper half of the hull. The letters/numbers i bought at West Marine are red with a black outside border. I had no luck calling Lansing on this. Anyone ever have been stopped because of the color of the numbers/letters? I might even paint a white pin stripe around tha black edge. I wonder if they need to be visible from a distance, not just up close. Coast Guard did not know either. :? I would really like to use the set I bought butt ...I can return them and get some silver/black ordered, if i find out I cannot use these. Thanks.

[Mike Stinson]

http://boat-ed.com/mi/handbook/register.htm#number

The registration number and validation decal must be displayed as follows:

Number must be painted, applied as a decal or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow, as high above the waterline as practical.
Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
Number must be in at least 3-inch-high block letters.
Number’s color must contrast with its background.
Letters and numbers must be separated by a space or hyphen. Example: “MC 3717 ZW” or“ MC-3717-ZW.”
No other numbers can be displayed on either side of the bow.
Decal must be affixed on both sides of the vessel three inches following the last character of the registration number.

I hope this helps, seems like all Black or all white is kind of the standard, you can also buy these at Meijer or Ace Hardware

[Muskie Medic]

As long as they are three inches and contrast, you will be in compliance..
Todd F

[finlander]

I thought that Todd F. might answer this for me. :) I have read all the regs both on line and in that booklet. The red in the letters/numbers is a match for the hull color. The black border is what separates the two. Could this be an issue? One officer might let it go while the next...?

[Will Schultz]

Fin - That's not contrast IMO. If you can't read it from 50-75' then I would say there's a problem. That's about how close the ski boats come when I write down their MC numbers.

[finlander]

I am going to get West Marine to order the silver/black instead. Distance was my question. How far away do they have to be readable. Jetskiers-makes me think of the upcoming season and carrying a video camera. Seems they shy away if you raise and aim it their way. Hope those people are learning and will behave from now on. Was it on Murray that had a problem boater a couple of years ago? Anyways, thanks for the input.