S/V

[jeremiason]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

In most states it is true that non-motorized vessels need not be registered. In California you don't need to register if the boat is propelled by oars or paddles:

KETTLEWELL you are right about oars, but anything with sails over 8 feet and ANYTHING with a motor has to be registered with the DMV.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/boatsinfo/boatreg.htm

[Bash]

Originally Posted by jeremiason

That is not true in all of the US and is a state by state case.

In California for instance, all vessels over 8 feet are required be registered, with or without and engine, for instance Laser Sailboats.

That's not entirely true. Here's an excerpt from the DMV website:

The following vessels do not have to be registered in California:

Vessels propelled solely by oars or paddles.
Nonmotorized sailboats that are eight feet or less in length.
Nonmotorized surfboards propelled by a sail and with a mast that the operator must hold upright.
A ship’s lifeboat (a dinghy is not a lifeboat).
Vessels currently and lawfully numbered (registered) by another state that are principally used outside California.
Vessels brought into California for racing purposes only (exempted only during races and tune-ups).

[Kettlewell]

By the way, I don't recommend using T/T on your dinghy with your mothership name as that is just an invitation for thieves to rob your boat in some places. First they steal your dinghy, and then they know which boat to go visit as it is unoccupied while you are ashore.

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by Bash

That's not entirely true. Here's an excerpt from the DMV website:

The following vessels do not have to be registered in California:

Vessels propelled solely by oars or paddles.
Nonmotorized sailboats that are eight feet or less in length.
Nonmotorized surfboards propelled by a sail and with a mast that the operator must hold upright.
A ship’s lifeboat (a dinghy is not a lifeboat).
Vessels currently and lawfully numbered (registered) by another state that are principally used outside California.
Vessels brought into California for racing purposes only (exempted only during races and tune-ups).

Don't forget: in California, documented vessels are exempt from state registration. Unfortunately for me, there is no similar exemption in Washington State.

[Kettlewell]

Don't forget: in California, documented vessels are exempt from state registration. Unfortunately for me, there is no similar exemption in Washington State.

Having a documented mother ship doesn't exempt the dinghy from being registered in the state of primary use.

All of this varies from state to state--you really need to check the specific rules for the state, and don't rely on the wisdom of local practice, which is often wrong. Go directly to the state web site and look up the local laws.

[David_Old_Jersey]

AFAIK, a prefix like S/v or SS etc is not part of the vessel's actual name (unless it has been deliberately / accidently?! made part of the name on a registration document)....it's kinda like the Mr / Miss / Mrs prefix to own name - descriptive of something to provide info to others.