CONTINUING EDUCATION
America’s Boating Course provides basic
boating knowledge, a foundation for a continuum
of training and education from
courses, seminars and on-the-water experiences.
We are always learning, and the ever
expanding development of safety equipment
and boating systems will bring you
more enjoyment for recreational boating.
You will want to stay current with these
developments by subscribing to boating
magazines, joining clubs and organizations
that advance boating proficiency, and
attention to advances by the boating manufacturers.
States often sponsor lectures and
classes which will help you stay current.
Coincident to this course, you will be
provided with the respective state information
about local laws and regulations,
and introduced to local boating conditions.
Some of the information will be redundant
to Federal Requirements, but presented to
help ensure compliance.
BOAT REGISTRATION AND
TITLING REQUIREMENTS
As you learned in section 7, Government
Regulations, there are two methods of registration
for U.S. recreational vessels:
• Vessel Registration: state-issued Certificate
of Number.
• Vessel Documentation: federally documented
with the U.S. Coast Guard
All undocumented vessels equipped
with propulsion machinery must be registered
in the state of principal use. A Certificate
of Number will be issued by the state
upon registration and the number must be
displayed on your vessel. Consult your state
specifications regarding display, including
placement, color and shape/size of letters
and numbers. The State Validation Sticker
provides visible expiration date information.
Be sure to review the state regulations
for proper display of the annual State Validation
Sticker on the vessel’s hull next to
the Registration Number.
The Certificate of Number (annual state
registration certificate) must be carried by
the operator whenever the vessel is in use.
The registration requirement is typically
expanded by states to include non-motorized
vessel, even stand-up paddle boards.
If your vessel is documented, state regulations
will included any requirements for
State Validation Stickers and requirements
for obtaining the Sticker when visiting for
extended periods of time. The time period,
reciprocity, is typically equal to the time
period specified for visits to your home state.
Reciprocity will be reviewed coincident to
discussion on your specific state.
The requirement for hull identification
numbers (HIN) on all vessels provides
an imbedded number on hulls for useful
purposes such as showing ownership and
more recently tracking of vessels which
were immersed or otherwise damaged in
hurricane Sandy. The 12 digit number provides
manufacturer data, a number for the
product and year/month of manufacture.
It is imbedded / stamped into the starboard
quarter or transom at time of manufacture.
For home-made vessels, states provide a
numbering service to develop the HIN for
permanent attachment and subsequent
documentation of the vessel.
BOATING EQUIPMENT
Life Jackets. The Federal requirement
for US Coast Guard approve life jackets is
amplified by most states. This will include
minimum age for children to wear life
jackets while boating, and need for wearing
“impact rated” jackets while engaged in
94 Chapter Two
Section 8: State and Local Regulations
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