boat registration

milbst

New Member
Is it necessary to register a sunfish and have the numbers on both sides of the boat?? I dont think Ive ever seen this on a sunfish. I live in Pa. Or is this only needed to use the boat in state park lakes?
 
It all depends on the state you live in....Here in New York, you only need to register your boat if you are going to put a motor on it. I am pretty sure that some other states (but not many) require all boats to be registered.

Mike Fortner
Rochester Canoe Club
 
I don't think you neeed to register a 'non powered' boat in PA, but you need an Launching Permit to use a non-registered boat on PA state park waters and also on waters controlled by the PA Fish and Boat Commission. Looks like the fee for both is the same. Here is a link to the PA Boat and Fish commision web page with more info.

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/faqregt.htm

This link explains how the registration must be displayed on a boat and it seems to imply the numbers are not needed on a Sufish type boat, but the sticker is.

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/boatcrs/03boathandbook/legal1.htm
 
I'm pretty sure the PA boats only have their stickers on the starboard side. MI is a state that requires almost everything to be registered, and the sticker and letters/numbers go on both sides. Different states have different agencies tracking as well. Thanks to registering boats like Sunfish and canoes with a trolling motor, Michigan is #1 in the US in registered boats, more than FL or CA!!
 
call your local DMV and/or state parks people they can tell you for sure. here in texas if it doesn't have a motor but is over 14' you have to register it. you will still have to register your trailer. Call the DMV they'll set you straight.
 

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