I'm currently building a 15' square-ender drift boat. I'm wondering if I need to get numbers for it.

I'll be using it on rivers of course but also in the Sound and lakes with a 15hp motor.

From past experience, am I going to get hassled to get this small boat registered?

Thanks,

SF

If the Boat has a serial # you shouldn't have a problem. So when building put one on.

If you use it in the sound with a motor you will most definately need to register it...

Will you get Hassled?

Probably

DMV has all the paper work to fill out, For tax purposes keep the value of the boat to a minimun, Any motor gas or electric the boat must be registered

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How do I title my boat, what fees are due and what supporting documents are required?
To title/register your vessel, you need to provide the model year and make of vessel, purchase price and purchase year, overall length, hull identification number (if any), Coast Guard number, or document (official) number. All owners must be present to sign a title application. You will need to submit the ownership documents such as out-of-state titles or registration certificates (if registration only state), or Washington state certificate of title, if vessel has not been titled/registered before and was purchased new of July 1, 1985 the original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin. If the vessel is federally documented through the U.S. Coast Guard, a copy of the Certificate of Documentation papers are required. All owners listed on the Certificate of Documentation must be present to sign the vessel application. If you are registering your vessel for the first time in Washington state, registration charges will include: $23.00 for vessels under 16 feet and vessels exempt from excise tax plus $2 bringing the total fees to $25.00. The $2 fee funds the new Derelict Vessel Removal Program. For more information:Derelict Vessel Removal Program

Vessels exempt from excise tax are:


Vessels used exclusively for commercial fishing purposes;
Vessels under 16 feet in overall length;
Vessels owned and operated by the United States, a state of the United States, or any municipality or political subdivision thereof;
Vessels owned by a nonprofit organization or association engaged in character building of boys and girls under eighteen years of age and solely used for such purposes;
Vessels owned and held for sale by a dealer, but not rented on a regular commercial basis.
Additional fees for vessels 16 feet and over is excise tax based on .5% of the fair market value (purchase price if it reflects fair market value), unless exempt from excise tax. The registration period is July 1st through June 30th of the following year. Excise tax will be assessed from July 1st of the current registration period, unless the vessel just entered the state, was just purchased, or is under 16 feet. All vessels will be subject to sales/use tax, unless you paid sales/use tax to another state or the boat is being used exclusively in bare boat charter. If you qualify for partial or full waiver of sales/use tax, call your local Department of Revenue Office
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What size boats with a motor are required to be registered?
All vessels with propulsion machinery are required to be titled/registered including sailboats 16 feet and over without any propulsion machinery. For information on other exemptions, please contact your local county auditor's office or closest vehicle licensing office.


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What are federal waters?
Federal waters are Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Lake Washington, Lake Union, Lake Sammamish, Columbia River, Snake River, Lake Washington Ship Canal, Capitol Lake, Pend Oreille River, Walla Walla River, Yakima River, and other bodies of water effected by the ebb and flow of the tide and are on or bordering federal land. For further clarification of federal waters, please contact the local marine law enforcement office in the jurisdiction.


Is that vauge enough for you... that is straight from the horses mouth... washington dmv

Are oars considered propulsionary machinery... hmmmm

forgot the most important part....

The Department of Licensing oversees the titling and registration process. While most vessels must be titled and registered, there are some exceptions. In general, those vessels with a motor of 10 horsepower or less, under 16 feet in overall length and used solely on non-Federal waters are not required to be titled or registered.

Piper, that 10 hp or less was done a way with many years ago, and it was under 10 hp, that why the started making the 9.9 because when the under 10 hp law was in effect was when sail boats didn't have to regester if under 10 hp,i've seen drift boats get nailed for haveing a electric on them in the snoqulmie, personal water craft have to be registered and there under 16 ft,

that last blurb came directly from the dol website...???

here\'s a link

I think you are best off titling it.

As you are building the boat, keep all your receipts. The sales tax you pay for the materials is deductable from the use tax that you will be charged upon registration. You want to be able to document a low value upon construction completion. I suggest that you keep you eye peeled for similar boats in the nickle ads.

I built one and licensed it as I as putting a 15 on it. No problem at the local grocery store licensing agent. It was llike fill out what you can on this form and pay us $35...easy and painless.....I was told that the 9.9 rule was still in effect for fresh water but not on the salt as previously mentioned.....congradulations.....it is very satisfying to build it , float it, and put fishy blood in it

Thanks for all of the replies. It sounds like I should register the boat.

Considering it is under 16' and will not have a motor most of the time, I was hoping to avoid it. But it sounds like I should get numbers if I'm going to be in the salt or other navigatable waters running a 15hp. Do they patrol that pretty heavily?

It is hard to put in a lot of time and effort making a wood boat look really good and then slap block number decals on the side. Oh well, I built it to fish out of, not hang on a wall.

Thanks again,

SF

You Can paint them on using your own font as long as it is legible and stuff like that.