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California boat registration numbers
Short answer13 CCR 190.00 mirrors 33 CFR 173.27: 3 inch vertical block characters, contrasting color, forward half of each side, reading left to right, with letter-width spaces or hyphens between CF, the digits and the letters.
| Format | CF 1234 AB |
|---|---|
| Height | At least 3 inches, plain vertical block characters |
| Where | Each side of the forward half of the hull, reading left to right, above the waterline |
| Spacing | A space or hyphen the width of a letter between CF, the digits and the letters |
| Registration sticker | Per DMV instructions, next to the number on each side (typically within 3 inches, behind the number). |
| Sources | 13 CCR 190.00; 33 CFR 173.27 |
Also worth knowing
- Non-motorized boats don't need registration or numbers.
- Documented vessels show name and hailing port instead.
Why the spacing matters
Wardens read the number from a moving boat. CF 1234 AB reads in a second; the same characters run together don't. Cut vinyl gives you clean spacing and one-letter replacement if a rock finds it.
Checked September 2026 against 33 CFR 173.27 and the state rule cited above. Not legal advice.