[Paddlewise] Registration of watercraft

From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 17:47:12 -0800
An FYI.  From a fellow who dug this out of the USCG archives.  He wants info to
update this if you have more current data.  This is from 1999.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
--

From: Hidden Valley Lake <heberling_at_earthlink.net> 
Date: Saturday, February 23, 2002 05:40 AM 

I've always been interested in avoiding putting numbers on my Folbots. When I
travel with my Folbots, I avoid states requiring registration. Searching for a
compilation of registration laws for all the states on the web, I found that
state registration of canoes and kayaks is a hot topic on the web (not only on
the Folbot Web Board). The best compilation I could find was in a USCG report,
"BOATING STATISTICS - 1999"
(http://www.uscgboating.org/saf/pdf/Boating_Statistics_1999.pdf) U.S.
Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard.

The report is 3 years old. Arizona was the only state I knew about that needed
updating.  If anyone finds any errors, please let us know. One thing missing in
this information is whether a state requiring registration would accept an
unregistered boat of a visitor from another state not requiring registration. I
don't think any would. A BoatUS web page has info about reciprocity laws for
each state (http://www.boatus.com/gov/f9.htm), but this only applies to
registered boats.

Boat registration requirements by state (Does not include sailboards which are
numbered in some States):

Alabama - All motorboats, sailboats and rental boats
Alaska - All watercraft except sailboats; unpowered boats if requested
Arizona - All watercraft, except inflatables 12 feet in length or less (UPDATE:
Arizona paddlers got legislation passed that ended the state's requirement to
register and number canoes, kayaks and rafts. The bill was passed over the
objections of the Arizona Department of Game and Fish.)
Arkansas - All motorboats and sailboats
California - All motorboats; sailboats over 8 feet in length
Colorado - All watercraft powered by motor or sail
Connecticut - All motorboats; sailboats 19.5 feet or more in length
Delaware - All motorboats
Dist. of Col. - All watercraft
Florida - All motorboats
Georgia - All motorboats; sailboats 12 feet or more in length
Hawaii - All motorboats; sailboats over 8 feet in length
Idaho - All motorboats and sailboats
Illinois - All watercraft, except non-profit org. owned canoes and kayaks
Indiana - All motorboats
Iowa - All watercraft except inflatables under 7 feet in length and
canoes/kayaks under 13 feet in length
Kansas - All motorboats and sailboats
Kentucky - All motorboats, except electric motors 1 hp or less
Louisiana - All motorboats; sailboats more than 12 feet in length
Maine - All motorboats
Maryland - All motorboats
Massachusetts - All motorboats
Michigan - All watercraft except manually propelled boats 16 feet or less in
length, and nonmotorized rafts, canoes, and kayaks
Minnesota - All motorboats except nonmotorized boats nine feet or less in
length, duckboats during duckhunting season, riceboats during harvest season,
and seaplanes
Mississippi - All motorboats and sailboats
Missouri - All motorboats; sailboats over 12 feet in length
Montana - All motorboats; sailboats 12 feet or more in length
Nebraska - All watercraft
Nevada - All motorboats
New Hampshire - All motorboats; sailboats 20 feet or more in length
New Jersey - All watercraft except non-motorized boats 12 feet or less in
length and canoes, kayaks, racing shells and rowing sculls
New Mexico - All motorboats and sailboats
New York - All motorboats
North Carolina - All motorboats; sailboats more than 14 feet in length
North Dakota - All motorboats
Ohio - All watercraft
Oklahoma - All watercraft
Oregon - All motorboats; sailboats 12 feet or more in length
Pennsylvania - All motorboats and non-powered craft using lakes or access areas
owned by the State Fish & Boat Commission
Rhode Island - All watercraft except rowboats, canoes, kayaks & ferries
South Carolina - All watercraft
South Dakota - All motorboats; all other boats over 12 feet in length
Tennessee - All motorboats and sailboats
Texas - All motorboats and sailboats 14 feet or more in length
Utah - All motorboats and sailboats
Vermont - All motorboats
Virginia - All motorboats
Washington - All motorboats except motorboats < 16 feet with motors 10
horsepower or less used solely on exclusive State waters; all sailboats >16 ft
in length
West Virginia - All motorboats
Wisconsin - All motorboats; sailboats over 12 feet in length
Wyoming - All motorboats and sailboats
Guam - All watercraft
Puerto Rico - All motorboats; vessels adapted to hold a motor
Virgin Islands - All watercraft
Am. Samoa - All watercraft
N. Marianas - All motorboats

Hope this is useful

Paul Heberling
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Received on Sat Feb 23 2002 - 17:47:30 PST

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