Rick-
Thanks for your assistance today. Here's the list of suggestions for places to put the documentation numbers - as promised. Take care.

Art & Betsy Fowler

DOCUMENTATION SUGGESTIONS!

1. Had numbers carved on a piece of teak about 12" X 4." Epoxy it to the port side of the cabin wall (opposite galley side) next to the companion way stairs opposite the nav station.(this from Noelo@ix--also who added: the new fuel tank has been put in-thanks for your suggestions. Next project is the stuffing box!)

2. Numbers painted in the battery area under removable steps that cover the engine access. Had an I-30 with numbers painted inside the storage area in the cockpit. Both boats had inspections by Coast Guard and passed. (Vetterdrm)

3. Had numbers engraved on 3/4" thick teak board. Used fiberglass mat & epoxy to fix it to the hull. Put it on hull on port side under V-berth. It's obscure yet easy to get to see. Epoxied the hull and mat that I sandwiched between the hull and board with the numbers. Just pressed board against the hull until epoxy oozed out the sides! (MJSharp)

4. Placed documentation number in the chain locker, port side just under the deck. It is "clearly visible" when you open the chain locker door. Vessel has never been inspected, so don't know if that location so squeaky clean or not. Got the impression from somewhere that it wasn't necessary to have it out in the cabin for everyone to see. (Jim Joubert)

5. You can buy the necessary stick-on numbers & either cover them with several coats of epoxy resin or cover them with a layer of fiber glass applied with epoxy resin. Probably other methods, but these have worked OK for me. (Bill Higdon)

6. Used stick-on numbers covered with fiber glass and resin on the hull at the back of the small locker above the hanging locker, between the main bulkhead and the bulkhead for the forward lower.

7. My documentation number is under my cockpit hatch cover so when you raise the locker door it's right there. (RobertB244)

8. Ours is carved into a piece of wood and mounted on the inside of the closet. (Linda and Roger McL)

9. Paint cleaned of fiberglass (probably fiberglass cleaned of paint!)in starboard locker. Doc. number applied vertically with black, then paint glassed over. Remains unseen, mostly behind hanging clothes. (MKKropf)


10. Absolute is documented. Numbers are black "stick on" type, like CF numbers. Stuck on the hull interior & glassed over. Location is in storage area behind the port side back support cushion, just forward of the chart table. No comment regarding this location has never been made by the USCG during safely inspection. (Steve Schneider)

11. The solution was to fiberglass the raised plastic number on the inside of the starboard locker, in the cockpit. I roughed up the surface, glued the number upside down, so it can be read as you look into the locker, then fiber glassed over it. I am convinced that the normal stick on vinyl numbers would be more than adequate, provided they are glassed over. You could apply the number in a similar manner, at many locations on your Islander. It works fine, but I have never been inspected by the USCG or Customs. (Walt Parsons)

12. Traditionally the numbers are carved in a wooden structural member. It doesn't have to be in the rib of the salon, can be in a locker.

FG boats like the I36 have a great spot in front of the mast. I made a 1" x 28" mahogany board with 3" numbers (carved by Master carver Douggie Templin, ret.) running down affixed to the glass liner directly in front of the mast with great jobs of 5200. Coast Guard OK s it every yearly inspection. Deal is the heat trick won't soften the 5200 without burning the board and ripping the board off would take a lot of gel coat and material
with it. Numbers carved real deep in board. Board edges beveled & finished to match interior wood. Swinging the door just barely clears the board. Edges beveled at same radius as wood trim on counter surrounding mast. Looks really bitching and it's a cool spot because you're not looking there often, but it's technically "clearly visible." Dumb crook might not even notice it.
(Mark Wyatt)