If you’re seeking guidance on the process of renaming a boat, you can accomplish this through the “Change of Vessel Name or Hailing Port” form in vessel documentation.
By adhering to all established rules and regulations, you can effectively rename your boat using this form. Following the completion of the form, it should be submitted to our vessel documentation center.
It’s essential to remember that renaming a vessel is not permissible if there are any outstanding liens recorded against it. Additionally, if your vessel holds a mortgage of record, you must seek permission from the relevant mortgagee or financial institution before proceeding.
For more comprehensive information about renaming a boat, please access this link.
The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 46 Volume II (which regulates Documented Vessels in the United States) states:
- 67.329 Unauthorized name change.
The owner of a documented vessel may not change or allow the change of the name of that vessel without exchanging the vessel’s Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part. The new name of the vessel must be marked on the vessel upon receipt of the new Certificate of Documentation.
- 67.117 Vessel name designation.
- (a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
- Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
- When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
- (b) The name designated:
- Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
- May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
- May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
- (c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
- (d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998]
- 67.123 Name and hailing port marking requirements.
- (a) For vessels other than those covered in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the port and starboard bow and the stern of the vessel. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern of the vessel.
- (b) Vessels with square bow. For vessels having a square bow, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the bow in a manner to avoid obliteration. The name and hailing port must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern.
- (c) Recreational vessels. For vessels documented exclusively for recreation, the name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.
(d) The markings required by, paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, which may be made by the use of any means and materials which result in durable markings, must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.