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Registering the Dinghy

ted_reshetiloff

Contributing Partner
So Escape Plan (E-38) is a Coast Guard Documented vessel so I dont have her registered with the state of Maryland. I pay I think $10 for a sticker from the state though. State registrations for cruising boats are worthless in any foreign port anyway but I wonder what the story is with tenders? If my dinghy (10' Zodiac High Pressure floor w/6hp) is strictly used as a tender to my Coast Guard Documented vessel do I really need to bother with state registration? I will be cruising New England waters this summer and using the dinghy a lot. Do I simply need to paint on the dinghy "Tender to Escape Plan"? The MD state registration process is not that big of a deal and not that expensive but I have a lot to get toghether in the next few weeks coupled with a busy dinghy racing schedule such that I dont need more crap on my list....
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
The only correct answer is something related to "RTFM."
;)

For instance, in my little state, all boats 12 feet and over have to display registration stickers, documented or not. These are paid for every other year and the fee is based on boat length.
Smaller boats (under 12') also need to be registered and display stickers if they are powered (as opposed to oars or sails).
It's often a little different for every state.
I do know that the T/T designation is used by cruisers just to identify their dinghy to attempt to discourage theft.

Best,
LB
 

Guy Stevens

Moderator
Moderator
Depends on the state

Florida Will and does pop you for doing exactly what you are proposing....

From the FLA web site.

Titling of Dinghies
A dinghy, not in the water, does not have to be titled/registered if it is used for emergency
purposes. WARNING: the FMP and other law enforcement agencies routinely ticket dinghy
owners who are caught using their unregistered dinghy to go from shore to their vessel.
Since most dinghies have engines, they would have to be titled and REGISTERED,
regardless of the length of the craft or regardless of the fact that they may be rubberized
rafts.

In 2008 It looked like this list. With Phone numbers so you can check yourself.

State Reciprocity Validation Decal Required for Documented Boats

Alabama
(334) 242-3673, #4 90 consec Yes, if used for pleasure
Alaska
(907)463-2297 90 days No
Arizona
(602)942-3000 90 days No
Arkansas
(501)223-6378 90 days No
California
(916)657-8013 120 days No
Colorado
(303)791-1954 60 days No
Connecticut
(860)566-1556 60 days Yes
Delaware
(302)739-3498 60 consec No
Washington D.C.
(202)727-4582 6 months Yes
Florida
(850)488-4676 90 days Yes
Georgia
(770)414-3337 60 consec Yes
Hawaii
(808)587-1970 90 days No
Idaho
(208)334-4180 x279 60 consec No
Illinois
(217)782-2138 60 days Yes
Indiana
(317)233-5096 60 consec Yes
Iowa
(515)281-6579 60 days Yes
Kansas
(316)672-5911 x127 60 days No
Kentucky
(502)564-3074 Not req'd if not perm resident No
Louisiana
(504)765-2898 90 days No
Maine
(207)287-5209 60 days No
Maryland
(410)260-3220 30 days Yes
Massachusetts
(617)727-3900 60 consec No
Michigan
(517)322-1460 60 days Yes
Minnesota
(612)296-2316 90 consec No
Mississippi
(601)432-2068 60 days No
Missouri
(314)751-4509 60 consec Yes
Montana
(406)846-6000 90 consec No
Nebraska
(402)471-0641 60 consec No
Nevada
(775)688-1511 90 days No
New Hampshire
(603)271-2333 30 consec Yes
New Jersey
(609)292-6500 180 days Yes
New Mexico
(505)827-0612 Not req'd if not perm resident Yes
New York
(518)474-0445 90 days Yes
North Carolina
(919)662-4373 90 days NO, but can
North Dakota
(701)328-6300 Req'd if primary use (6 mos) No
Ohio
(877)4-BOATERM 60 consec Yes
Oklahoma
(405)521-3221 60 days Yes
Oregon
(503)373-1405 x254 60 days Yes
Pennsylvania
(717)657-4551 60 days Get valid decal, pay fee every 2 yrs.
Rhode Island
(401)222-6647 90 days Yes
South Carolina
(803)762-5034 60 consec No
South Dakota
(605)773-3541 90 days No
Tennessee
(615)781-6618 60 consec Yes
Texas
(800)262-8755 90 consec Yes
Utah
(801)297-750 14 days Yes
Vermont
(802)828-2000 Valid. sticker 30-90, reg. after 90 Yes
Virginia
(804)367-1000 90 days No
Washington
(360)902-3770,#5 60 consec, then apply 2x for 60 day permit Yes, if used in federal wtrs.
West Virginia
(304)558-5351 60 days No, but can
Wisconsin
(608)266-2141 60 consec Yes
Wyoming
(307)777-4683 90 consec No


Guy
:)
 
Last edited:

Emerald

Moderator
Hi Ted,

I've got the same basic scenario, CG Documented and an Avon with motor, and I've never used the motor since I believe in Maryland, they want the full 9 yards regardless, and it always struck me as a real PIA to start by trying to title a 30 year old Avon that came with the boat and never had a title for the sole purpose of getting the numbers to use the motor :rolleyes:. However, that said, the only way to know for sure is to call. I've been digging on the DNR website, and they don't have any posted information addressing this specifically. The closest I could find was this little brochure - the implication is that all vessels with a motor must be titled and have numbers, but if you are willing to just row, you're OK:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/safety/recreationvessels.pdf

and then this page:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/registration/

Would like to know what you find out. It would be nice if it fell under one umbrella.
 
Last edited:

ted_reshetiloff

Contributing Partner
Its a new dinghy and I have some documents that should work at the DNR was just hoping to not have to deal with them. Guess I better make that trip.

I've never been a big fan of the DNR since about 10 years ago I found a dinghy drifting in the bay with no registration and wanted to claim salvage rights. DNR said I needed to run an ad in the local paper and see if anyone claimed it. After that I could get a title etc. So I ran the ad. No one called. I took the forms to the DNR and they then told me I needed to give them the dinghy and if no one came looking for it in 6 months then I could get it back. So I gave them the dinghy. You guess what happened to the boat....

Complete racket. Some DNR guy has a nice 10 ft inflateable and I'm out $50 for running my ad...
 

Captron

Member III
T/T Designation

It's a pita here in Fl alright.

As far as the boats labeled T/T 'Whatever' , I was thinking that if your dinghy is on the beach with your yacht name on it, then it might serve as a tip off to a thief that you're not aboard the 'Whatever' and thus represents a flag for which boat is unoccupied.

This is probably not an issue in the Bahamas where such crime is uncommon but it might be in Miami or the Caribbean.

I think it's the law of unintended consequences or some such that applies here.
:egrin:
 

lbertran

Member III
Dinghy Registration in Maryland

Hi, Ted-
We have our dinghy registered in MD because DNR requires any vessel using a motor to be registered. However, the registration stickers are free for any vessel using a small motor, I think under 6.5HP.
 

rwthomas1

Sustaining Partner
Registering a dink under 12ft is an absurdity in the extreme. They require it here in RI too. They make you pay a one-time registration on outboards as well. Question is, what do you do if you have FIVE dinks and THREE outboards like I do? The all see water at some point in the season so how does the State get the right to hit my wallet that many times? I just register one of them and forget it. I haven't had the numbers/sticker on my main dink in two years and never had a problem, even waving to the Harbormaster as he motors past. The dink number plates are on the big boat if they ever ask. RT
 

ted_reshetiloff

Contributing Partner
Im with you RT. I did register the dinghy. Will maybe get around to putting the sticker on and possibly some stick on numbers. What are the requirements overseas? A state registration/title is absolutley worthless trying to clear customs with. You cant CG document a dinghy. My guess is this only something we have to do here in the Peoples Republic....
 
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