WA boat register?

[fish0n]

Is it true that in washington your not require to register a boat if its under 16' in length and has a motor under 10hp? And in what cases are you required to register a boat trailer?

[ondarvr]

That's the old rule (very old), the new rule is any boat with a motor needs to be registered, even electric.

[ondarvr]

I almost forgot the trailer question. Any trailer needs to registered in WA, size makes no difference.

[MacEFL]

This is why it is important to find out the correct answer for ones self! I cut and pasted this from the Washington State DMV website

Any boat or other water vessel that is 16 feet or longer, has a motor larger than 10 horsepower, or is used on federal waters must be registered in Washington (http://www.dmv.org/loading-page.php?mainnav_id=50&stateid=47&state=Washington&section=Boat+Registration&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dol.wa.gov%2Fvehicleregistrat ion%2Fregisterboat.html) through the Department of Licensing (DOL). Smaller boats must be used only in nonfederal waters to be exempt.
If you have a boat registered in another state, it can be used in Washington's waters provided its primary use is in its state of registration. Commercial vessels with a valid marine document, as well as self-propelled boats, are also exempt from Washington boat registration.
All vessel registration and titling transactions may be handled in person at a DOL Vehicle Licensing Office (http://www.dmv.org/loading-page.php?mainnav_id=50&stateid=47&state=Washington&section=Boat+Registration&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffortress.wa.gov%2Fdol%2Fdolprod% 2Fvehoffices%2F). You'll need to supply the boat's make, year, purchase price and purchase year, length, hull identification number (if any), registration number, or document number. Any boat or other water vessel that is 16 feet or longer, has a motor larger than 10 horsepower, or is used on federal waters must be registered in Washington (http://www.dmv.org/loading-page.php?mainnav_id=50&stateid=47&state=Washington&section=Boat+Registration&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dol.wa.gov%2Fvehicleregistrat ion%2Fregisterboat.html) through the Department of Licensing (DOL). Smaller boats must be used only in nonfederal waters to be exempt.
If you have a boat registered in another state, it can be used in Washington's waters provided its primary use is in its state of registration. Commercial vessels with a valid marine document, as well as self-propelled boats, are also exempt from Washington boat registration.
All vessel registration and titling transactions may be handled in person at a DOL Vehicle Licensing Office (http://www.dmv.org/loading-page.php?mainnav_id=50&stateid=47&state=Washington&section=Boat+Registration&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffortress.wa.gov%2Fdol%2Fdolprod% 2Fvehoffices%2F). You'll need to supply the boat's make, year, purchase price and purchase year, length, hull identification number (if any), registration number, or document number.

[ondarvr]

OK, you can find "some" places in WA that don't require it to be registered. The problem is, a large majority of the areas people fish require it to be registered, that includes most rivers, lakes and the salt. If you only fished a lake, or a part of a river that didn't require it then you would be OK. I have seen maps of areas where you need it and don't, for the most part you need it.

[ratcitycat]

From what I was told by the WA state parks and Coast Guard was that if the body of water recieves any sort of federal aid of any type whatsoever than it must be registered no matter size of boat or type of motor . If you row ,paddle or kick it (manuel power) then you are okay under 16ft.
This aid could also mean that if the body of water is bordered by federal land than the rule applies that you gotta register.

[ratcitycat]

Want to add that if you power your pontoon or floattube or rubber raft,you gotta register it if the federal rule fits.

[Eddie L]

Wahington Federal waters
Some Federal bodies of water 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.