Boat Identification
All boats involved in rowing must display a unique ID code at all times
Credit: AllMarkOne
The Regulations of British Rowing [6.5] state that all boats being used from Clubs for racing, training and recreation, including private craft, safety and coaching launches, shall be identifiable by the three or four letter code, as issued by British Rowing, together with a three digit fleet number (including zeros) as determined by the Club e.g. ABC123. This is also required in the Rules of Racing.
Lettering shall be in capitals, in a regular sans serif (Ariel ‘style’) font, with a minimum height of 6cm and clearly readable (in a contrasting colour) on both port and starboard bow, saxboard or vertical surface.
You can buy Boat ID stickers from http://www.nickosticko.me; other suppliers are also available.
Further Requirements and Guidance
- All craft being used must be identified as described above – racing and training boats, recreational boats, safety and coaching launches and private craft.
- The lettering must be fixed as high as possible on the boat (i.e. bow saxboards) to aid identification from a distance. Â Similarly, lettering on launches needs to be fixed to a vertical surface near the bow.
- Temporary lettering (e.g. made up from tape) or displayed in an Empacher slot is not acceptable.
- Clubs are responsible for ensuring all their craft and those privately owned by their members are identified and must keep, readily available, an up-to-date list of their fleet number/boat reference.
- Club members with private craft who move clubs must change the identification code to that issued by their new club before taking to the water.
Note – The Port of London Authority regulations require boats to be identified by a ‘name’. This Boat identification system is acceptable to the PLA as a substitute for a name.

