Boat registration

I just put a 8 hp kicker on my Drift boat. I have the trailer registered. Do I need to number the boat and register it now that I have a motor. I have heard it was 10hp and up but can't find it anywhere. Anyone got this one?? Thanks.

i think so

I have been looking for the same info the last few days. This is what I found, but I'm still not sure what I need once I put the gas motor on the boat that's different than just having the electric on.
http://www.boat-ed.com/wa/course/p4-1_boatnumbers.htm
I know there are many rules that come with gas power. Flares, fire extinguisher, whistles, etc, that are not required on an oar powered dingy. If someone knows where to find that info please let me know.

Also, where do you find a listing of federal waterways?

This was discussed in the recent past.
From your link......
Boats that do NOT need to be registered.

Vessels that are not propelled by a motor (canoes, kayaks, etc.) and sailboats under 16 feet in length without a motor
Vessels that are less than 16 feet in length and have a motor of 10 horsepower or less and are used on non-federal waters only
Properly registered vessels owned by residents of another state or country that use Washington waters for 60 days or less

Here are a couple of links to look at. Most waters in the state are considered navigable, including the rivers. A lot easier to register the vessel than to spend time trying to find waters where you don't need registration.

Depending on your age (born on or after Jan. 1, 1955), a boater education card will also be needed.




http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=308-93

http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/registerboat.html

Steely, the answer is no unless you use the boat near or in navigatable waters. I bought my drift boat with an 8 h.p. kicker and do have it registered just in case I get near the sound.

It's inexpensive, total I think is around $40 for the year.

One small loophole is that many "16" foot driftboats are actually 15 1/2' long. This is indicated on the owner's document from the manufacturer. I believe my 16x54 willie is 15' 4". Still wouldn't matter on navigable waters if I had a kicker however.

If you are going to take it on waters where the Coast Guard has jurisdiction you need the registration. I just went through this with a 16' (15 1/2") Willie. Lk Washington and Sammamish are navigable waters as is the sound so if you plan on going there you will need the registration. Some people may choose to dispute the need but I don't want the hassle.

Here's a link to work done by USGS for WA DNR.

http://wa.water.usgs.gov/projects/navriver/

Lots of rivers are navigable. Best to bite the bullet and register the vessel.

I registered my 14' Clacka.

The water way has to be navigable by the coast Guard, not just navigable, to be Federal, Lake Chelan is navigable, but is excluded Try this link www.uscg.mil/d13/docs/cg_Navigable_Waterways.pdf

Thanks for the list, Doug.
Skagit, Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Cowlitz are on this list as well!

Mini rant: Did I mention that when I registered my boat I had to bother Steve at 3 Rivers to appraise it in writing so that I could have the privilege of paying a $300 use tax for a boat I have owned for 4 years in Oregon because Oregon doesn't have a sales tax, even though I paid the taxes on the money earned to buy the boat? Mini rant over.

Although not totally applicable in this case, there is also an exception for yacht tenders. I have a 10' zodiac with a 10hp outboard that does not need registration providing it is used exclusively to ferry between shore and the big boat.

I registered my little boat ( 12' with electric motor, lakes only) the first 3 years I had it and got the tags in the mail. Then the 4th year I finally thought about it before I paid, I knew I didn't need them - just bought them each year when I bought the other boats tags without thinking.
I never put a tag or number on the little boat though. So registering the boat once the 8hp gas motor goes on is no problem, but do you have to have the numbers and tag on the hull of a 12' with an 8 hp on a federally navigable waterway? And what are the requirement differences between no power and gas powered?
Is there an actual list of gas powered safety requirements? I got in trouble once for not having a whistle on board, even though I had 2 types of air horn and 2 types of valid flairs in different spots on the boat. I haven't been able to find a list that differentiates between the two cases, with the coast guard, wdfw, sheriff, or state patrol.

Complete understanding of the regulations regarding this are not accessible to the mortal mind. So being mortal, I am wrong at times. My reading informs me that if it has a motor on it and is ever in federally regulated (Coast Guard) waters, then it must be registered. Don't forget to have the registration card on board. And, don't forget to put the carbon monoxide warning sticker inside the hull. (LOL, I have an open driftboat with an electric motor. How DIT.)

I thought the airhorn was enough. Maybe a green inspector, don't know. But a whistle is enough. Go figure.

whats funny is that all DOL personal are NOT all on the same page, in other words each person will tell you a different answer.

I tried to register my boat and 20hp Honda for the first time and they wanted to Tax me BIG TIME for either the value of the boat or the dollar amount that I paid and also 6 other no-nonsense fees,etc. that made me sick.

Guys with the BIG boat$$$$ will dish out hundreds for "first time" licensing.

I just spent $$$ on a new deep cell,fish finder,fishing license,etc. so I'm gonna wait a month or so to register entirely and just use my boat in lakes with my 50lb Minn Kota for now...