Bought a new boat (thinking to buy a boat) and wondering whether the boat needs to be registered or not? Buying a boat is one thing (work), and registering & titling is another big thing (work) to do. Let’s find out what boats require registration in general?
Registration is required for all motorized boats (any boat with a motor), including a sailboat, kayak, canoe, etc. with a motor. Although a few states may vary slightly based on the boat size and HP, most states follow the same rule registration is required for all motorized boats.
Although registration requirements vary from state to state, there are no significant changes in the rules. Most states require a boat to be registered to that state if it has a motor to it. And most states don’t need a non-motorized boat (a boat without a motor or man-powered boats) to be registered to that state.
Whatever boat you have, if it has a motor such as jet ski (all PWCs), jet boat, pontoon boat, Jon boat, etc., it needs to be registered, and there are few exceptions in some states. There are basically two exceptions that put a brake from registering a boat.
Most states stipulate that a boat should be registered in a state where it is intended to use it the most (used principally) or docked or moored. To know whether a boat can be registered in other states other than where you live, check my article on that click here.
Some things that can restrict a boat from registration
Sometimes, whether a boat requires registration or not depends on two factors; that is the boat length and the horsepower of the motor it has (only in some states). Only some states require boat registrations based on those two factors, and most states require a boat to be registered if it has a motor.
- Boat length – In some states, larger boats require registration. If your boat exceeds that threshold, it needs to be registered. Registration for most of the sailboats is based on its length.
- For example, Montana state requires registration for a boat if it exceeds 12 feet in length, and in New Mexico, registration is required for a boat if it exceeds 10 feet in length.
- Similarly, there are so many states that follow the same rule, but boat length doesn’t matter for a motorized boat because many states require a boat to be registered if it has a motor.
- Horsepower – There are some exceptions for a motorized boat. In some states, big horsepower boats require registration. If your boat exceeds that threshold, it needs to be registered.
- For example, Washington state requires all motorized boats above ten hp need to be registered. Generally, very few states don’t require registration for a motorized boat.
But those two are not the restrictions followed by all the states; every state will have its own version of the rules. Some other things that restrict a boat from registration are listed below.
- Some states don’t require a boat to be registered if they are operated in privates waters. For example, in Georgia, vessels used exclusively on private ponds or lakes are exempt from registration.
- Some states don’t require a boat to be registered if they are used for racing purposes. For example, in Hawaii and Oklahoma, vessels used exclusively and solely for racing purposes are excluded from registration.
Like that, every state will have some exception form registering a boat. And in most common, all motorized boats need to be registered, and there are very few exceptions in some states based on its length and HP it has.
Do boats without motor need to be registered?
Registration is not required for a boat without a motor. But some states require sailboats to be registered with or without motor, and a few states require non-motorized boats to be registered based on length. But most states don’t need registration for boats without motors.
In general, registration is not required for boats without motors such as kayaks, canoe, rowboats, paddleboats, sailboats without motor and regular boats without motors, etc. Registration is required for motorized boats. A boat without a motor is not a motorized boat.
That’s why a boat without a motor doesn’t require registration in most states. But there are some exceptions to that. Meaning some boats without a motor requires registration, and it is mostly based on the boat length. If they exceed that length, it requires registration: otherwise no need.
Some states, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, and Tennessee, require registration for sailboats regardless of the size of the sailboat (length) and with or without motors. And Some states require registration for sailboats based on length. If they exceed that length, it requires registration, such as
- California – above 8 feet
- Connecticut – above 19 1/2 feet
- Georgia – above 12 feet
- Louisiana – above 12 feet
- Missouri – above 12 feet
- New Hampshire – above 12 feet
- new Jersey – above 12 feet
- North Carolina – above 14 feet
- Oregon – above 12 feet
- Texas – above 14 feet
Some states require registration for non-motorized boats such as kayak and canoe based on its length. If they exceed that length, it requires registration in some states, such as
- Florida – above 16 feet
- Iowa – above 13 feet
- Minnesota – above 9 feet
- South Dakota – above 12 feet
Like that, some states require a non-motorized to be registered to that state based on some factors. However, most states don’t require non-motorized boats to be registered.
So, most probably, you need not worry about this unless and until if you are buying a sailboat or if you are buying a big sized (in length) non-motorized boats such as a kayak or canoe.
Do boats with trolling motors need to be registered?
Registration is required for a boat with a trolling motor because a small electric motor propels the boat, which satisfies the condition of a motorized boat. So, a boat with a trolling motor requires registration, although it has less power compared to other motors (outboards or Sterndrives).
Even a non-motorized boat such as a kayak and canoe needs registration after adding a trolling motor to it. It needs to be registered because a motor propels the boat, which satisfies the condition of a motorized boat. For example, Massachusetts, Iowa, Georgia, etc. require a kayak or canoe with a trolling motor need to be registered.
But there are few exceptions for that, as I mentioned earlier, if it doesn’t exceed a particular length or used in private waters, or if it has less HP, then registration is not required. It will most likely vary from state to state, so it depends on the state where you live.
Do boats with electric motors need to be registered?
Registration is required for a boat with an electric motor because an electric motor propels the boat, which satisfies the condition of a motorized boat. So, a boat with an electric motor needs to be registered.
And there is no much difference between a boat propelled by an electric motor and a motor powered by gas or diesel. Nowadays, all the electric motors are giving the same output as a motor powered by gas or diesel in low and medium ranges (up to 30 hp or 40 hp).
With that being said, electric motors are becoming more robust day by day, so a boat with an electric motor needs to be registered as well. But there are few exceptions for that, as I mentioned earlier, if it doesn’t exceed the threshold (in length) or used in private waters, or if it has less HP, then registration is not required.
The takeaway
Finally, most states follow one rule in common: all motorized boats need to be registered. And with few exception factors such as if the boat is smaller in length, used in private water, has less HP, used for racing purposes, etc.
If you are buying a small-sized (in length) non-motorized boats, you probably don’t need to worry about registration because many states don’t require registration for a small-sized non-motorized boat such as kayak, canoe, etc.
However, if you add a small motor (trolling motor) to any boat, it requires registration with some exceptions. Since registration requirements vary from state to state so, make sure to check the state (where you live) registration requirements for a boat thoroughly.