The incredible government goes on and on.

If you get the NEW 2009 statutes, the law has clearly changed and all of the old opinions are worth nothing. Just read the law and stop asking for opinions.

All vessels over 16 feet must be titled.
All vessels over 16 feet must be registered, with a short list of exceptions that does not include cats. Kayaks, canoes, and racing shells are exempt.

Recent events:

I called DMV and asked for a Tallahassee ruling. The head person at the Tampa office called me and said Tallahassee says we are exempt from registration. When I asked her to explain why she referred to her "DMV handbook" from 2008, clearly out of date.

On the Dunedin Causeway this week a priest with a 21 foot canoe was told by a Sheriff and then a FWC officer that he definitely MUST have reg numbers or he will be cited. This is absolutely incorrect and I will approach the beach Sheriff today and ask him to quote the statute the canoe is violating.
However, it does point out their intentions. These officers did not dream this up. They were TOLD to do this by their higher-ups.

I called Capt. Roger Young of FWC to tell him of his officers incorrectly hassling canoe people, of the DMV quoting incorrect laws leading people to "violate" new ones, and FWC & Sheriffs threatening tickets. I pleaded for him to offer us a way to get everyone on the same page and to offer us a way to title and register boats that have been undocumented for up to 30 years.

No response. Typical, eh?