What type material is the hull made from? In 50+ years I don't think I've had stickers peel off any boat. You can buy custom stickers from many sign shops, the grade of vinyl and the adhesive can be chosen for how long you want it to last.
when I worked at the sign company we must have painted a few hundred registration letters on inflatables. one shot paint, look for the vinyl banner primer. (or find a sign company, we used to charge $20, however that was in the late 80's)
The only negative with painting is if and when I sell the boat it may be difficult to take it off.
Every State has their own crazy rules on how big the letters need to and some States insist they cannot be readily removed. I am legally able to simply attach a 2x4 and have been using that system for 10 years. I had mine painted on until last year when a rough storm got boat fender/bumper rub between boat and dock. I bought adhesive stick on's and will see how they work. Guess they're cheap enough. Haaaaa...just noticed the Zodiac has the State decal on wrong end.
The only negative with painting is if and when I sell the boat it may be difficult to take it off.
I just bought a inflatable boat. I am in Los Angeles area. Well I don't know California rule but went ahead and bought these number plates from boatnumberplate.com/ These will be permanently attached. As ondarvr says, when you sell your boat, the registration number will go with it just like selling cars. ( I tried to attach a picture of the actual registration plate but I was not allowed to because this is my first post.) The size of the letters are 2" x 2".
Installing the plate.
Thank you. Yes it's Saturn SD518, 18'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gbDyS5CSmw
On my first sib I used a couple of pieces of cutting board like material and I just stuck the numbers on without glue...didn't fall off. On my next sib I used the same boards for the numbers but glued the registration sticker on the tubes...the stickers are coming unglued. Texas law reads like the boards would not be legal but no one has yet to say anything about them.
I don't have the boat on a trailer. I am planning to inflate and deflate it everytime. Last time I inflated it the registration stickers were peeling as well.