Many larger boats are federally documented and therefore not required to display bow numbers. On a boat without bow numbers you will always find a boat name and hailing port which is registered with the coast guard(basically their numbers). This method of registration would allow a boat to be recovered in a foreign country if it was stolen and brought there(it is basically a much stronger ownership position)
I brought my 32' boat here and used it without bow numbers or issues from the NHMP for one season before selling it.
EDIT: beat me to it too, but I added a few details.
When purchasing a documented vessel you would need to update the ownership info with the documentation office of the USCG or register it. It does cost a little more upfront but you don't need to register each year after that, you just return a form and they sent you a sticker which is affixed to your documentation certificate. That is how it was done up until '04 anyway.
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