Documented vessels and their dinghys

[Loco Gato]

I seem to remember, in the deep dark recesses of a few remaining brain cells, that a dinghy to a documented vessel needs no state registration. I recall painting " tender to " Boat Name"", on the hull. Right or wrong or is there a new ruling. Unable to find anything anywhere and the C.G. phone prompts are.....
Merci

[MasterMariner]

Originally Posted by Loco Gato

I seem to remember, in the deep dark recesses of a few brain cells, that a dinghy to a documented vessel needs no state registration. I recall painting " tender to " Boat Name"". Right or wrong or is there a new ruling. Unable to find anything anywhere and the C.G. phone prompts are.....
Merci

I want to say of you say it's a lifeboat you need not register it just need to have the vessels name on it.

[markpierce]

In California, dinghies which are motor-powered or eight-feet-or-longer sail powered, require to be registered. It's irrelevant whether the mother boat is US-documented or state-registered.

Manually-powered dinghies/vessels don't require registration.

Consult California's DMV website or its booklet "ABCs of the California Boating Law."

[webejammin]

Originally Posted by markpierce

In California, dinghies which are motor-powered or eight-feet-or-longer sail powered, require to be registered. It's irrelevant whether the mother boat is US-documented or state-registered.

Manually-powered dinghies/vessels don't require registration.

Consult California's DMV website or its booklet "ABCs of the California Boating Law."

Yes, in Washington state too

[Sailmonkey]

Same in Texas

[Nauti-Nauti]

Different States have different rules. As an example, "Tender To" WILL NOT work in California, Maryland, Florida, etc.

[Hannah on 'Rita T']

A dinghy to a federally documented vessel needs to have the vessel's documentation number and a slash or a hyphen 1 after it, according to the Coast Guard in St. Thomas, who was unhappy we didn't have those numbers on our dinghy. That designation might cover you in some states, but not Maryland where you need a state sticker that essentially says you don't need a sticker for the documented vessel and a dinghy sticker for the dinghy.

[Cheechako]

Yeah, the "tender to" thing worked for a while, but I wouldnt rely on it with the money hungry states now days.... unless you are a foreign visitor passing through.

[Don L]

registration requirements are all State determined, has nothing to do with Documented or not!

[Amapola]

In Florida, a documented vessel and dinghy both must have a Florida registration.

[jeremiason]

In genreal , every US State considers your tender a separate vessel for licensing purposes. The best thing to do is consult your local state to find out the requirements. In my home state if the vessel has a motor or was over eight feet you had to register it. Again, every state has different definitions of what needs to be registered.

The only place the "Tender To" works is internationally and actually the T/T designation is not required, only the documentation number of the host vessel.

As far as proper markings required for a tender...


33 CFR 173

(d) Each number displayed on a tender exempted under §173.13 must meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and have a space or hyphen that is equal to the width of a letter other than “I” or a number other than “1” between the suffix and the number. (Example: DC 5678 EF 1 or DC–5678–EF–1.)

In reality, we have been cruising for two years in Mexico and Central America with the "Tender to" designation and we have had no troubles. Or maybe they just ignored us, since no one in authority has ever questioned it, even during routine bordings.

[MasterMariner]

Call it a life boat? No registration req.

[J_m]

Originally Posted by webejammin

Yes, in Washington state too

Actually in WA state we were told by the licensing office when we registered our boat that below a certain size (forget what that is -- something like < 14ft and < 10HP) ) a dingy in WA does not have to be separately registered as long it is only used as a tender to get from the boat to the shore etc.

I have since read that if it used in certain waterways (federal waterways) it does need to be registered.

http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420082.pdf
Tenders
A vessel’s tender (dingy, small boat, or inflatable) is used
exclusively for transportation from the documented or
registered parent vessel to and from shore. The tender is
a separate vessel and must be properly numbered and
registered except when both of the following apply:
• If the motor is less than 10 horsepower
• If the tender is properly identified with the parent
vessel’s registration numbers followed by the number
“1” displayed on both sides of the bow.
(Example: WN 1234 ZZ 1 or WN-1234-ZZ-1)

[bobconnie]

I was always told that a dingy without a motor,with only oars, could be unlicensed, We carried a hard dink with out a motor for yrs and never had a problem ?? It had the words BnC- 2 on it ! name of boat was BnC, seemed to not bother anyone !! Have things changed so much in the last couple of years ?? Just asking ?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by bobconnie

I was always told that a dingy without a motor,with only oars, could be unlicensed, We carried a hard dink with out a motor for yrs and never had a problem ?? It had the words BnC- 2 on it ! name of boat was BnC, seemed to not bother anyone !! Have things changed so much in the last couple of years ?? Just asking ?

Nope in Texas the dinghy, if under 14' and propelled by wind or oar need not be registered. If at any time an outboard is attached it needs to be registered