Bumping this up. On the subject of the small tri hull, do they have to be registered etc? Similar to a car? Just this could be a way of tracing ownership.
Mark.
Boats have hull numbers or Serial numbers on them placed there by the manufacturer. They serve the same purpose as a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on a motor vehicle.
Each state has laws which specify requirements for Boat title and registration. And those laws vary and differ slightly from state to state. But... generally speaking, to be registered, a boat has to first be titled.
Some factors which go into the determination as to whether or not a boat must be licensed are;
- boat length
- motor size (in horse power)
- intended usage
Some boats do not have to be registered. These would be boats or canoes which are under 16 feet in length and are only rowed or paddled manually. In most states, a boat with a motor of more than 10 horsepower would have to be registerd.
A boat can be titled and registered in any state and then kept in another one. Unlike car registrations which have to be in your state of residence, it is not necessary to re-title and re-register a boat if you move with the boat to another state.
A boat registration number is issued by the State Department of Natural Resources to the boat owner. It consists of two letters, followed by four numerals, followed by the two letter abbreviation for the state in which it is registered. Example: AG 1234 MD.
The boat owner afixes these letters and numerals (usually three inches high) to both sides of the bow, along with the annual validation sticker and any other special use stickers (such as Crabbing or Fishing licenses).
That same combination of registration letters and numerals stays with the boat each successive year, even if the boat is sold to someone else - as long as the new owner re-registers it in the same state.
