DMV Registration Stickers

Does anyone else, besides me, have problems with the registration stickers coming loose or coming off of your hulls while sailing. I've experienced problems with these stickers over the years and one of them came off completely on my port hull this past saturday. When they're loose I apply contact cement and that seems to help. Our boats are fast and sit low in the water, especially the leeward hull when we're trapped out.
I wonder if I need to have that one sticker replaced by the CA DMV.

Vermont sticks so hard we have to sticker over the older ones The state is so small we dont register most sailboats tho.

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H18, H17 & Various motor boats

Read my post I fought the law parts one and two
The Wildlife Officers can go Barney Fife in a quick minute
Your state might replace the sticker if it does not stick for free
Seems funny that a BOAT sticker comes off in the water
Gary

Gary - They don't just come off - They peel back. I normally catch it before it peels off completely and then re-attach with contact cement. The registration stickers they give us for our vehicle licence plates are extremely durable, but the larger stickers they give us for our boats are not quite as durable. Speed and water is a real challenge for these stickers. I've had some problems in the past to a lesser extent with my CF numbers, but never with the stripe (also a sticker) that's on the outside along the length of my hulls.
I'm always careful when applying these stickers - no bubbles...I think I'll try using contact cement on these registration stickers in the future when I apply them.

Rich,

Maybe sand the sticker area a little? Might be a well waxed surface that the sticker is having a hard time adhering to?

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Matt, Thanks! I'll try that next time.
I had suspected that it was a more common problem - leeward hull deeper in the water when trapped out at higher speeds, but It looks like it was just my own personal problem.
Thanks, again.
Rich

I've seen some on the boom before. Don't know if it's acceptable, but it would solve the problem.

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Clint Ellis
#16918
1982 H18
[email protected]

Clint - Now that you mentioned it, I too have seen that before. I think on some photos of hobies on the internet. I'm not sure if it's permissable to do that in Calif. If so, I'll do it. If not, I'll try Matt's suggestion - sanding the sticker area.
Thank you.
Rich

Here is the DMV regulations - It clearly states that the CA registration numbers need to be fixed to the vessel preferably at the bow on a non-removable portion of the hull so this would rule out putting it on the boom.
I even had one officer at Santa Cruz Harbor years ago give me a hard time for there was not the correct spacing between the CF numbers and the CF numbers and the registration sticker.

Link - ABCs of the California Boating Law

http://dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Abc/registration.pdf

"Display of Numbers and Stickers"

"Numbers and stickers issued at the time of registration must be placed on each side of the forward half of the vessel, usually on the bow, in the manner indicated below. (See diagram at web link) If placement of a number on a flared bow would result in difficult reading, the number should be placed on some other part of the forward half of the vessel where it can be easily read.

For personal watercraft, the numbers and stickers must also be affixed on each side of the forward half of the vessel on a non-removable portion of the hull. On inflatable boats or vessels so configured that a number will not properly adhere or cannot be clearly seen, the number should be painted on or attached to a backing plate along with the registration sticker. The registration stickers must be securely affixed 3 in. aft of, and in line with, the registration numbers. The number must be visible from each side of the vessel. No other numbers, letters, or devices may be placed in the vicinity of the state-assigned number.

To separate the numerals from the letters, spaces the width of the letter “C” or hyphens may be used between the prefix and the number, and between the number and the suffix. Letters and numerals must be at least three inches high, of block character, and of a color which will form a good contrast with the color of the hull or backing plate. In determining height and contrast, any border, trim, outlining, or shading around the number shall not be considered." CF 5576 JS [ ]

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Dwight Manning
Hobie 20 #916 San Jose CA 2000 Alter Cup
Hobie 20 #16 San Jose CA (Jordan) 2000 Alter Cup
Hobie 18 #916 Santa Cruz CA 1989 Worlds Boat
Hobie 16 #16 San Jose CA (Jordan) 2005 Custom Main
Hobie 16 #54466 Calling Lake Alta Tequila sunrise

Thanks Dwight. Just as I suspected. I'll try Matt's s suggestion and use a little sandpaper on the sticker area and be a little more careful the next time I wax my hulls.
Thanks for researching this.
Rich

tape around the old sticker then peal it off and sand then you get no outside sticker sanding. Also clean the area with rubbing alcohol or dawn dish soap. That gets all wax off the surface.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Thanks Hobie18rich. Great suggestions!
And thank you for advising my wife and I about all those great lakes in northern and central CA for our kayaking trip last year in late Springtime. We had a great time.
Rich