FL Boat Registration it's Offical

Just titled my F18 and had the pleasure of having to register it. Now I get to go buy some tacky numbers to go with the tacky registration sticker.

can you put it on the beam?

Now you're gonna make me look illegal. Damnit!

Robi - start working on cool fonts for the letter and numbers to match their graphics......

I bet the law states they have to be on the bow (not boom or beam) and readable from some distance. AL law states min height of the letters/numbers and location on the boat.

Dave, how much did they charge you and was that based on the "value" of the boat (depreciated) or the original, new sale price? Did they want to see a bill of sale? Can I get a -low budget- bill of sale...?

Dude, you were born looking illegal.

Tim, they charged me $62.00 (which seems harsh) and a county fee of $2.75. I'm hoping that is because it's getting titled too. I don't think I pay that much for the skiff and bass boat, yep I might be a redneck. I do love my bass fishing.

Ouch! I hope $25 of that is for the title! Come to think of it, I don't think I have my title laying around, so I'll probably have to get a new one too.

BUT, I just remembered, my boat is really only 15' 11 3/4", God Bless that cut back bow! Nicely done Matt!

So I don't have to register it, right?

;^)

This is what Jill sent me a little while ago regarding this issue:

We have been approached by many people regarding registering boats in Flordia. Each time we have had an inquiry we have contacted the tag agency to get the "up to date" information. Each time we have gone to the supervisor level and been told that you do not have to register non motorized boats in the state of Florida. However, you are suppose to title them, this is where the state gets their tax paid if you have purchased a new or used boat.

Today, I had someone come into my office with a Florida Statute in hand, procedure VSR-14 WHICH STATE....just the opposite. It says that anything
over 16 feet has to be registered UNLESS Chapter 327.02

A. A Vessel operated, used and stored exclusively on private lakes and ponds.
B. A Vessel owned by the United States Government.
C. A Vessel used EXCLUSIVELY as a ship's lifeboat.
D. A non-motor-powered vessel less than 16 feet in length or a non-motor-powered canoe, kayak, racing shell, or rowing scull, regardless of length.

Now the intent of this statue has always been to exempt beach catamaran
sailboats. And when you call up the tag agency, which I did right away,
they will most of the time tell you that you do not need to register your cat....WHICH THEY DID...BUT when we pushed the subject and told them what we were looking at....they had a big aha moment and read the law.

What this means for you:....if you interpret this to include your cat
because it is a racing boat...then you do not have to register it. If
you do not interpret that...then you are suppose to register and title your boat.

This in turn will be that you will be required to pay your state sales tax on the boat.

Currently, nether the tag agency or law enforcement seems to have a good definition of what falls into this category. I just wanted to pass this information along because I have confirmed for many people over and over, after checking with the tag agency over and over, that you did not have to register your boats.

Please pass this information to the masses and someone can post it on Cat sailor if you would like.

Thanks Dave, I'm going to -interpret- my boat to be "less than 16 feet" and/or two racing shells, racing very close together...

;^)

I'll wait for a ticket.

Better watch out Pete. Funny. one year at Ruff Riders the game wardens met us at the stop in the middle of nowhere and gave tickets. They will get you someday LOL

Doug

What a wuss, bowing to the man.

OK, here's something to try - have your boat documented by the Coast Guard. This might only work for the 20 foot boats, because it relies on a volume measurement (5 net tons, not to be confused with weight or displacement).

If the boat is documented, you must affix the documentation number permanently to the hull (here it would be fine on the beam) and have the boat name and hailing port displayed. But you won't need the state title and numbers. You may still need a state sticker with a nominal yearly state fee. Renewing the documentation each year is free.

My F-27 is documented, here in the MD the situation is as described above. I was too lazy to go through the calcs, but the formulas are on the USCG site. This would be kind of a funny way to get around this...

Hawaii is $10 a year.

Karl, you should petition the F18 class rules to make reg numbers mandatory so that you won't feel left out!

Here is what Florida's current statute 328.48(4) says about location and style for hull numbers

The numbers shall be placed on each side of the forward half of the vessel in such position as to provide clear legibility for identification... The numbers awarded to the vessel shall read from left to right and shall be in block characters of good proportion not less than 3 inches in height. The numbers shall be of a solid color which will contrast with the color of the background and shall be so maintained as to be clearly visible and legible; i.e., dark numbers on a light background or light numbers on a dark background.

I am glad i have a 5.5 meter boat, and hopefully they don't have a metric conversion chart when handing out tickets...

(i fear this may get ugly)
Dave... any progress toward getting a title for your boat?

Dave, will u please also get a title for the boat you sold me? i will let you ask unlimited spin questions if you do

Dave, did you read more on that staute?

(1) LICENSE, PERMIT, OR AUTHORIZATION NUMBER RE-
QUIRED.—
(a) Except as provided in s. 372.562, no person shall take game, freshwa-
ter or saltwater fish, or fur-bearing animals within this state without having
first obtained a license, permit, or authorization number and paid the fees
set forth in this chapter. Such license, permit, or authorization number shall
authorize the person to whom it is issued to take game, freshwater or
saltwater fish, or fur-bearing animals, and participate in outdoor recre-
ational activities in accordance with the laws of the state and rules of the
commission.


You're kinda furry!.. i hope you have your permits! (and shots)