Thinking of Warm Days

[Rogan]

Every january I start going mad being indoors. Good time to plan outlandish adventures though. I dug up some pics from the end of the season last year. Looks so warm!
These were taken with a 18-70mm lens, so yes I was standing that close.

[codprawn]

Is there any reason why you have a number plate(licence plate) on the side of your boat???

[Polwart]

Codprawn,

registration / number plates are commonly required to use boats in inland water (presumably the great lakes here) but also in the UK e.g. windermere and loch lomond.

It helps them work out where to send the speeding fines

[Barfly]

yeah, in Belgium we need also a registration plate! but not on open sea...

[limeydal]

In the US. they are very strict about displaying your registration number.(Issued by the Dept of Motor Vehicles)
The first 2 letters are the state followed by ID numbers.
They have to be set out on the bow in block letters at least 3" high in a contrasting colour. The state decal is then placed 3" aft of the numbers.
As well as this you must carry your actual registration whenever on the water. If you dont have a current decal or "tag " you will get pulled over and ticketed very quickly
The State decal (blue sticker ) was obtained annually;(but now Bi-annually I think) and costs about $10.00
Because over here inflatables are not as common as the UK ;many SIB/RIB owners go for the cheaper method of just sticking numbers to a plate and hanging it on the bow.
In fact as its so expensive to get suitable cut lettering over here,it was cheaper for me to send to the UK for mine and got them done in flexi-vinyl, which seems to work great so far
cheers Dal

[Barfly]

Originally Posted by limeydal

In the US. they are very strict about displaying your registration number.(Issued by the Dept of Motor Vehicles)

What's the first two numberplate "05"? Your vignet for 2005?

[limeydal]

You got it
Also the annual decal colour changes each year, so the enforcement types can spot you from afar.
Several services can stop you for failure to comply; so have to watch out for the Coastguard/ Bay lifeguards/harbour police to name a few
cheers Dal

[Rogan]

In Chicago we also have a multitude of authorities. They seem to have problems communicating with each other though. The Chicago water Police will tell ya one thing while the Life Guard Patrol will say another. We listen to Coast Guard almost exclusively.

[codprawn]

Looks like that little boat of your flies with a 40hp - I have a 3.1m with a 15hp 4stroke and that's pretty rapid!!!

[Rogan]

Yes it does! Hard to keep her in the water! Getting onto plane is just a flick of the wrist away at all times. Check out this clip http://checkerboardhydepark.com/Wave%20Jumping.mov