Andrew,

The last sentence is the key point here.

"However, if the vessel is 16 feet or more in length, it is required to be registered and titled."

An H16 falls into this category.

Here's what I went through. I knew I had to get the trailer registered one way or the other but didn't think I had to worry about a title or registration for the boat. Keep in mind this is an 81 H16. It has been through at least three owners that I know of.

In the process of dealing with the trailer registration, the girl at the tax collectors office asks me if I am going to register the boat and I say no, it doesn't have to be registered. She informs me that yes, even if it is a non motorized sail boat 16' or over, it must now be registered, so I hope you have a title and previous registration. Nope!

I had to have fish and wildlife commission come out and do an inspection on the boat. Run the numbers to see if it had ever been registered, measure the boat, take photo's etc... see you can't get it registered without a title and neither I or the last two guys that owned the boat had a title.

So now I have applied for a title which will take 8 to 10 weeks and he tells me that while he has recommended that a title be issued, as he's sure it's not a stolen boat, I am at the mercy of the state and they may or may not issue a clear title. If not, I can't get it registered and I will be in violation of the law. He also said that technically, if he wanted to be an butt, he could really make it difficult for me and especially the guy who sold me an untitled boat.

All that said, the guy was super helpful and was much more pleasant to deal with than the idiots at the tax collectors office. He said this was such a big waste of his time that could be spent on things that actually make a difference.

He also said I might want to pass along the info since there are obviously many people in the same situation, and are not aware of the newly revised law.

Just passing it along.