To change the name of a boat, you file with whichever authority registered it: a state agency if the boat is state-registered, or the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) if the boat is federally documented. The paperwork and fees differ, documented vessels face naming restrictions that state boats don’t, and after the paperwork clears you’ll need to remark the hull and update your radio license, MMSI, and any emergency beacons.
Start by confirming which category your boat falls into. Vessels of at least five net tons wholly owned by U.S. citizens are eligible for federal documentation, and many larger recreational and commercial boats use it.1eCFR. 46 CFR 67.5 – Vessels Eligible for Documentation Everything else is state-registered.
Renaming a State-Registered Boat
Contact your state’s boating or motor vehicle agency and request an amended registration or title application. You’ll need the boat’s Hull Identification Number (HIN), the current name, the new name, and standard owner information. Submit by mail, in person, or online if your state offers electronic filing.
Processing fees generally fall between $7 and $27, though your state may set its own amount. Once approved, you’ll get an updated title or registration card showing the new name. The process resembles changing the name on a vehicle title.
Renaming a Federally Documented Vessel
File USCG Form CG-1258, “Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; Redocumentation.”2U.S. Coast Guard. Application for Initial, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; Redocumentation Enter the new name, put the old name in parentheses, and include the vessel’s Official Number and your information as managing owner. The NVDC charges $84 to exchange a Certificate of Documentation, and fees are nonrefundable.3U.S. Coast Guard. National Vessel Documentation Center Table of Fees
Submit the form, supporting documents, and fee to the NVDC by mail or through the online portal. Current forms and instructions are on the NVDC website.4US Coast Guard. National Vessel Documentation Center – Instructions and Forms Backlogs are common, so plan ahead. When the application clears, the NVDC issues a new Certificate of Documentation showing the new name. Your Official Number does not change.
If the Vessel Has a Recorded Mortgage
You cannot exchange the Certificate of Documentation without written consent from the mortgagee. Submit USCG Form CG-4593 signed by or on behalf of the mortgage holder alongside your CG-1258.5eCFR. 46 CFR Part 67 Subpart K – Application for Documentation, Exchange or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation, or Return to Documentation The NVDC charges an additional $24 to process the consent.3U.S. Coast Guard. National Vessel Documentation Center Table of Fees Skip this step and the application stalls.
Naming Rules for Documented Vessels
State-registered boats face virtually no naming restrictions beyond whatever the state agency imposes. Documented vessels do. Federal regulation requires that the name:6eCFR. 46 CFR 67.117 – Vessel Name Designation
- Use only letters of the Latin alphabet and Arabic or Roman numerals.
- Not match, even phonetically, any word used to call for help at sea, so “Mayday” and “Pan-Pan” are out.
- Not contain or sound like obscene, indecent, or profane language, or racial or ethnic slurs.
The NVDC enforces these during review. A rejected name means filing again.
Remarking the Hull
Once the paperwork is approved, the hull markings need to match. Recreational documented vessels must display the name and hailing port together on a clearly visible exterior part of the hull. Commercial documented vessels must display the name on the port bow, the starboard bow, and the stern, with the hailing port marked on the stern. All markings must be in legible Latin alphabet letters or numerals at least four inches high, made with durable materials.7eCFR. 46 CFR 67.123 – Name and Hailing Port Marking Requirements
State-registered boats are generally not required to display a name on the hull at all. The state-issued registration numbers and validation stickers still need to be shown correctly, but those aren’t affected by a name change.
Updating Radios, MMSI, and Beacons
A rename creates a mismatch between your boat and the databases that search-and-rescue teams use during an emergency. Fix them promptly.
If your vessel has an FCC Ship Station License for its VHF radio, update the name through the FCC’s Universal Licensing System by filing FCC Form 605 with the “Administrative Update” purpose code. Filings must be electronic.8Federal Communications Commission. FCC Form 605
Your Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) is tied to the vessel name in the same rescue databases. If your MMSI was issued by a private organization like BoatUS, contact them directly. If the MMSI is linked to your FCC license, the Form 605 administrative update should cover it.
For an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) used aboard, update the registration with NOAA at beaconregistration.noaa.gov, or by phone during business hours. NOAA asks that beacon registrations be renewed every two years anyway, so a rename is a good time to check the rest of the record.9National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. U.S. 406 MHz Beacon Registration – Frequently Asked Questions
Insurance, Marina, and Lienholder
Call your boat insurance provider. Policies are tied to the vessel’s identity, and a name mismatch between your documentation and your policy can create problems during a claim. Update any marina or dockage agreement, since those contracts reference the vessel by name. If there’s an outstanding loan or lien, notify the lienholder so their records stay aligned with the Coast Guard’s or your state’s.