Displaying the Registration Number and Validation Stickers
The registration number and validation decal must be displayed as follows.
- Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed on the forward half of each side of the vessel and placed to be clearly visible.
- Number must read from left to right on both sides of the vessel.
- Number must be in at least three-inch-high, bold, BLOCK letters.
- Number’s color must contrast sharply with its background.
- Letters must be separated from the numbers by two-inch spaces or hyphens: MS 3717 ZW or MS-3717-ZW.
- No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
- The validation decal should be placed in line with and within six inches following the registration number on the port (left) side of the vessel.
Personal watercraft also are required to display the registration number and validation decal. Note that the decal is displayed only on the port (left) side of a vessel.
