State Registration with CG Documentation?

[unbusted67]

Hello do I need a state reg along with my cg documentation? This is for the State of Maine.

[Hannah on 'Rita T']

Don't know about Maine, but in Maryland we had to register to get a sticker that said we didn't need a sticker.

[misfits]

You do not need state registration in ME if documented

[Tony B]

Seems like most states these days require state registration whether you have CG Documentation or not.
Someone from Maine will chime in soon and let you kknow if maine requires it. My money says it does.

Also, most states only require you to put your state sticker on the boat and not necessarily the Registration Numbers if you are Documented.

[Tempest245]

Here's what Maine Says.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Registration

I would read this as a Yes. Since you're not " required" to document as a recreational vessel.

Edit: According to the Boat-Ed. book...you do not.. but you pay the excise tax.
http://www.boat-ed.com/assets/pdf/ha...ook_entire.pdf

But, I'm not from Maine..

[skipmac]

Cannot help with Maine's rules but I can confirm that in most east coast states if you take your boat there and stay longer than 90 days they will require you to register in that state. Doesn't matter if you are a permanent resident elsewhere, if you have your boat documented and/or registered in another state, have no other ties to the state you are traveling through. Stay there 90 days they want you to pay the registration.

The good news, it usually isn't much. In FL, depending on the size and value of the boat typically $50-$100.

[Tempest245]

Here's a source that says No:

Maine Boat Registration - MarineTitle.com

[Tony B]

Boat-Ed.com and MarineTitle.com are NOT the state of Maine.
If you get fined, I'm sure neither one will come to your rescue.
The choice to register in Maine is yours.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by Tony B

Boat-Ed.com and MarineTitle.com are NOT the state of Maine.
If you get fined, I'm sure neither one will come to your rescue.
The choice to register in Maine is yours.

As mentioned above, "MarineTitle.com" is not the official website of the State of Maine, so isn't the best source. The last notice on their site does mention what sounds like a maximum "60 day visitation period" for out-of state boats. Looks like you pay sooner or later. The only way to avoid it would be to leave state waters each time before the requisite number of days came up - and be able to prove it to an inquiring harbormaster.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Tony B

Also, most states only require you to put your state sticker on the boat and not necessarily the Registration Numbers if you are Documented.

It's illegal to place state registration numbers on a US-documented boat.

[J Clark H356]

It is illegal to put the State numbers on a documented boat, but not the sticker. I am documented and have a state of Tennessee sticker on my port most stern window. Went to FL last winter and didn't register with FL because my TN sticker was good for ninety days. I was offshore and out of Florida waters always within the 90 days, so even though I was sometimes Fl, offshore, back in Fl, I believe I complied with the law there as I was never in FL more than 90 days at a a time. If I had been there longer than 90 days, even with a TN registration and documented, I would need a FL Sojourner permit based on what I believe to be true. It would have gone on my mast base on the port side. Still no numbers for FL. I think the Sojourners permit is around $100, so compared to the cost of getting there and back, it is an inconsequential cost.

I don't know about Maine, but know there are several states that are similar to Florida.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by markpierce

It's illegal to place state registration numbers on a US-documented boat.

I didn't realize that. I always thought it was optional. I never have put on the numbering because why would I want extra 'stuff' on my hull. I do have to place the sticker on though. That is required by the states so I assume it is in accordance with USCG regulations.

Thanks
Tony B

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by markpierce

It's illegal to place state registration numbers on a US-documented boat.

For Fed Documented boats most States require the boat to be State registered also and a sticker to be affixed, not the State registration numbers, but just a single registration sticker.

[CaptTom]

Ayuh. You have to pay the excise (and if necessary, sales) tax, but no registration fee. I've just renewed mine. You will need the sticker, no numbers.

The town tax collector put up a notice at our marina saying the Maine tax sticker is required for any boat in Maine more than 30 days, but I haven't confirmed that by researching the statutes. I thought it was 60 or 90.

[motaman9]

Originally Posted by psk125

As mentioned above, "MarineTitle.com" is not the official website of the State of Maine, so isn't the best source. The last notice on their site does mention what sounds like a maximum "60 day visitation period" for out-of state boats. Looks like you pay sooner or later. The only way to avoid it would be to leave state waters each time before the requisite number of days came up - and be able to prove it to an inquiring harbormaster.

Since when are harbormasters tax collectors? That seems a bit "overstepping their bounds" to me. Our harbormaster says good morning, good night, keeps an eye on the boats, conducts marina maintenance and keeps non-owners out of the marina....end of job description...

This whole state tax on CG documented vessels is getting out of hand....based on the current growing rate of state greed, am I correct in that cruising boats would have to be registered in as many as a dozen states per year based on your travel patterns? Granted some states give you ninety days (like Florida) so you'd possibly have four different state registrations, (at up to $400 per year) and seriously, is one boat that much of a strain on the states services that the absent boats that have paid taxes don't make up for the present ones from other states? A sort of reciprocal tax adjustment? One state registration or CG documentation should be enough to satisfy any tax greedy bureaucrat. I can MAYBE see your home state where you spend a lot of time wanting its hand in your pocket but every state along the way for each thirty days?!?!? Ridiculous!!!! If boaters as a community don't start standing up against this sort of thing some day it will be 50% or 100% tax rates each and every year....then only the very rich will be able to own a boat....maybe we will be lucky enough we can just get jobs working on those boats??? Anyone want to be John Kerry's wind surfboard polisher???


SV KITTY HAWK