These plates were issued to owners of boats, mostly pleasure craft

They were issued between 1948 and 1974

Size:  1948 to 1966  -  5" x 3"

Size:  1967 to 1974 - 6 1/4" x 3 1/2"

They were issued in PAIRS.

They were to be attached on each side of the hull, to the rear of the boat registration number (see example below)

As of the expiration (December 31, 1974) and discontinuance of boat license plates with the 1974 issue, a vinyl "year of expiration" - Hull Validation Decal was then issued , which was to be placed forward of the boat hull numbers - see example above.  This continues to this date (2010)

See HULL VALIDATION DECALS below

"Click" On The Photo To Enlarge It

YEAR	NUMBER	COLORS	PHOTO
1948		Black on White	NEED
1949		Gold on Silver	NEED
1950		Black on Silver	NEED
1951	461	White on Black
1952	5703	Black on Silver
1953	6290	White on Black
1954	1344	Black on Yellow
1955	9322	White on Black
1956	625	Black on White
1957	15586	White on Maroon
1958	8070	Black on Silver
1959		Dark Green on Yellow	"LJO"
1960	14110	White on Black
1961	23600	Black on Silver
1962	22417	White on Red
1963	26328	White on Black
1964	28066	Yellow on Olive Drab
1965	31725	Yellow on Black
1966	31678	Black on White
1967	31207	Blue on Cream
1968	46351	Yellow on Dark Blue
1969	50646	Yellow on Dark Green
1970	25458	White on Maroon
1971	16062	Black on Mustard
1972	73261	White on Maroon
1973	45012	White on Dark Gray
1974	80442	White on Black

Annual BOAT LICENSE PLATES were discontinued when the 1974 issues expired on December 31, 1974.

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I want to thank John Andree, MLPCA #294, ALPCA #3589, for the following information which he has researched over the years:

HULL VALIDATION DECALS

John writes:

As far as my research goes, Hull Validation decals were first issued in 1963, and valid for a three (3) year period (1963-64-65).  This continued on a three (3) basis (1966-67-68), (1969-70-71), (1972-73-74), (1975-76-77), (1978-79-80) and (1981-82-83).

In 1984 they began issuing annual decals, with either the Hull Registration Number on the decal, or a sequential serial number.  This practice continues to this date (2010).

There are two (2) different colors for the 2005 decal.  The first issues were BLACK on a WHITE background, which caused a problem with visibility because of the white background on the decal being the same color as most boat hull colors, which were mostly white.    Later in 2005, the hull decal colors were changed to WHITE on a BLUE background.

Hull Decals were issued in pairs.

I have extras of EXPIRES 1968, 1971 & 1974 Hull Validation Decals

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MICHIGAN WATERWAYS "RENTAL BOAT" SAFETY INSPECTION TAGS

John Andree writes:

M y earliest tag off this type is dated 1953, and they are all annual issues.

They were issued in the black on silver aluminum format through 1967, and all had "MICHIGAN WATERWAYS" on them.  They were 5" x 2" in size.

In 1968 the size changed to 5" x 2 1/2"and they were now "painted aluminum".  The designation "MICHIGAN WATERWAYS" was also changed to "MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION - WATERWAYS DIVISION".

I'm not sure about 1969, but in 1970 the wording had changed to "MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES - WATERWAYS DIVISION", and in 1977, there was another change in the wording, to "MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES - LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION".

1981 was the last year of annual inspection tags. The 1981 tag was used through 1985, with a simple date sticker added to it.  The 1986 issued tag was used through 1996, again with date stickers.  I am not sure of the date of the next issue, but I have seen several, as late as 2007, and they were blue in color.

"LL"  -  Thanks to Larry Leslie, MLPCA #295, ALPCA # 2944

"LJO"  -  Thanks to Little Joe Olson, MLPCA #145,

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Thursday, February 11, 2010 05:03 PM