By Arnie Hammerman, best4boats.com.
If your dinghy’s registration numbers are peeling, fading, or falling off entirely, you’re not alone — and there’s a better solution than trying to paint or stick individual decals back on. A hands-on gear column from Best4Boats walks through a practical, long-lasting fix using custom-made number plates that glue directly onto inflatable or rigid tenders, with real-world results after four years of use.
As Arnie Hammerman writes for Best4Boats:
Several years ago, I needed to replace the registration numbers on my tender which is a 9′ 1″/2.76m’ AB Aluminum RIB. The numbers that were on there appeared to be painted on a very old patch and were flaking off. I went online looking for a solution and found a company that by coincidence is based in Everett, WA which is where I keep my boat, Boatnumberplate.com creates custom boat number patches that can then be glued onto your tender. I ordered a set of number plates, and they arrived in a few weeks.
The article details the full installation process — from removing old decals and lightly sanding the surface to applying Hypalon glue in thin coats and pressing the plates into place with a putty knife to force out air bubbles. Hammerman shares a useful tip from an inflatable repair professional: cut the paint brush bristles at a slight angle for a thinner, more even glue application. He also notes that for non-structural jobs like number plates, single-part glue works fine and makes future removal easier if you ever need to swap them out.
For boaters heading into registration renewal season — or anyone whose dinghy numbers have seen better days — it’s a straightforward weekend project that pays off for years.
