Does A Inflatable Boat Need To Be Registered

BOAT REGISTRATION & TITLING FAQs

1. Practice I need to register or title my gunkhole?

REGISTRATION

Boats that must be registered:

Any gunkhole powered past a gasoline, diesel or electric motor.
Vessels documented past the U.S. Coast Guard for recreational purposes. Documented vessels are large pleasure boats, such as yachts.
Boats such as sailboats that use gasoline, diesel fuel or electric motors for auxiliary power.

Gunkhole - the Commission defines a gunkhole as: Every description of watercraft constructed or sold for the primary purpose of being used as a ways of transportation on the water. The term does not include:

Surfboards and other like nonpowered contrivances used primarily every bit swimming aids.
Commercial craft subject to Federal manning and inspection requirements.

Go to our Registration/Titling page to detect out how to register or title a boat.

UNPOWERED BOATS

Unpowered boats are boats without motors such every bit sure kayaks, canoes, rowboats, sailboats, rafts or inflatable boats. Unpowered boats are not required to exist registered – unless used at a Fish & Boat Commission admission area or lake, or at Pennsylvania land parks and country forests; or required by the owner.

Commission admission areas
DCNR listing of PA state parks
Register or title a boat in PA

Another option for unpowered boats (but) is a Apply (Boat Launch) Permit from the Fish & Boat Commission, or a Launch or Mooring Allow from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Country Parks.

Permits can likewise be purchased at huntfish.pa.gov, our secure e-commerce site.

TITLING

Any boat purchased, transferred or sold, must be titled if the gunkhole is:

Powered by an inboard motor, including personal watercraft, 1997 model yr or newer.
Powered by an outboard motor, 14 feet or longer, 1997 model year or newer.
Currently titled in Pennsylvania.
Currently titled in another land when Pennsylvania becomes the land of primary uses.

In one case a gunkhole is titled, it must remain titled by all time to come owners.

Any boat can be voluntarily titled. Boat titling assures the heir-apparent of a boat that the seller has articulate ownership of a boat offered for sale. Some lenders won't finance a gunkhole without a title, so securing a loan to purchase a boat may be easier if the boat is titled. Titling is also a deterrent to boat theft. Boat dealers and other purchasers are more than certain that someone offer a gunkhole for sale has the legal correct to practice and then.

2. What is the departure between a registration and title?

A boat registration is similar to a automobile registration. A registration card is issued and must be carried on the boat as proof of registration. It is valid for and renewed every ii (2) years. Registrations elapse March 31 of the second year. Registering your boat allows you to boat in all other states and Canada. A boat must exist registered in the state of primary use. Registration is not a secure buying certificate.

A boat championship is similar to a car title. A boat title is a legal certificate proving ownership; a registration does not prove ownership. Titles are often required by lenders to show the seller has clear buying of the boat. A championship needs to exist purchased only in one case. Boat titles are only issued past the Fish & Boat Commission.

3. Where tin I get a registration or title?

PA boat registrations and titles are issued exclusively by the Fish and Gunkhole Commission.

In most cases, new boat owners volition want a Temporary Registration and so they can utilize their boats while registration documents are candy. Temporary registrations are issued by approved Boat Registration Agents, county treasurers and Commission region offices. To find locations, consult our online listing, or telephone call price-costless: 866-262-8734.

Once there, you must complete an Awarding for Boat Registration/Title, REV-336. This form and other registration and titling forms are available at many marine dealers, county treasurer offices and Committee regional offices. Most forms are also bachelor online or you tin can view Commission region office locations.

4. Can I utilise my gunkhole while I'm waiting for my registration to be candy?

In virtually cases, new boat owners volition desire a temporary registration so they tin use the boat while the application is candy. Just canonical boat registration agents can result a temporary registration.

five. How much does information technology cost?

REGISTRATION FEES

Fees cover a ii-year period, which expires March 31 of the 2d year.

Unpowered Boats - 2 years

$22

Motorboats under 16 feet

$26

Motorboats 16 feet to less than 20 anxiety

$39

Motorboats 20 feet and over

$52

Commercial Rider

$50

Transfer of Registration Fee - same owner with a current registration buys a new boat

Agent Fee(for issuing temporary registration)

$two

TITLING FEES

Document of Title (new or corrected)

$xv

Lien recording

Duplicate

$five

LAUNCH PERMIT FEES

Unpowered boats only.

ane year

$13.97

ii years

$23.97

*Pricing includes $1.00 agent fee and $0.97 transcation fee.

The following boats are required to annals but are exempt from registration fees:

Motorboats owned or operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Motorboats endemic by public service organizations canonical by the Committee and used exclusively for training, teaching, water safety and other public service functions.
Motorboats owned by political subdivisions and quasi-public organizations, such as constabulary departments, volunteer burn departments and river rescue units, and used exclusively in the functioning of their work in enforcement or public safe.

half-dozen. Can I renew my registration online?

Yes. The renewal process can be completed online at huntfish.pa.gov. After completing the required fields, your boat registration will exist mailed to the accost that is currently on file with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Committee (accost will be displayed for confirmation). A $2 fee is assessed for each boat renewal done at huntfish.pa.gov.

New registrations and boat transfers cannot be completed at huntfish.pa.gov, these must be done by post.....download REV-336 for new gunkhole registrations and gunkhole registration transfers.

7. What forms do I need?

NEW REGISTRATION

Class REV-336 must be completed and signed by all parties. Proof of buying must be provided in the class of a title from Pennsylvania or another state, or the manufacturer's certificate of origin* and a copy of the bill of sale.

* An applicant for initial registration of a boat with a retail value of less than $2,000 that is being registered voluntarily may substitute the original receipt issued by a dealer or other retailer for the manufacturer'due south certificate of origin.

REGISTRATION RENEWAL

Form PFBC-730A is mailed to boat owners several months before the current registration expires. Bank check the form advisedly and right any errors. Indicate the estimated gallons of gasoline used from the previous boating season. Bespeak any duplicates you demand and return the form with the applicable fee.

Grade PFBC-730A is the automatic renewal application mailed each December. If the gunkhole owner doesn't receive this class or the registration has been expired for several years, then class PFBC-733 is the supplemental renewal form to use.

TRANSFER OF Buying

The last registered owner and applicant (new owner) must consummate and sign form REV-336 to transfer ownership of the boat. A bill of sale, signed by the last registered owner selling the boat, may be substituted for the seller's signature on form REV-336. Transferring ownership of a titled boat is just like transferring a car championship. The titled possessor must sign the back of the title and have it notarized. The new owner must complete, sign and submit class REV-336 with the applicable fee..

Pennsylvania State Sales Tax: Sales tax is six pct (6%), a local sales tax applies to boats and related accessories purchased by residents of Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties. Allegheny County residents are subject area to ane pct local sales tax, and Philadelphia residents are bailiwick to ii percent local sales tax. Credit may be given for tax paid in some other state.

viii. What if I lose my gunkhole decals, registration card or title?

A indistinguishable registration card is $iii; a duplicate title is $5. There is no accuse for replacement decals. Duplicate registration cards, decals and titles can be obtained only from the Commission Licensing and Registration Section. Apply form PFBC-732 for a duplicate registration card and/or decals and class PFBC-T1 for a indistinguishable title.

9. What if I never received my boat registration and decals?

If the Committee is notified inside 90 days of issuing a registration certificate and validation decals that the intended recipient has not received them within xc days, the Commission will effect a replacement registration certificate and a set of replacement validation decals at no toll to the client.

If the Commission does not receive notification within ninety days of issuing a registration document and validation decals that the intended recipient has not received them, the customer shall be required to buy a duplicate registration card at the price of $3 and shall be issued a ready of replacement validation decals at no toll.

Indistinguishable registration cards, decals and titles can be obtained only from the Committee Licensing and Registration Section. Use form PFBC-732 for a duplicate registration carte du jour and/or decals.

x. Exercise I need to study a change of address?

Yes. You must study the following changes within 15 days to the Licensing and Registration Department using course PFBC-732.

Change of address.
Alter of buying.
Lost, stolen, destroyed or abandoned watercraft.

11. What is a Hull Identification Number (HIN)?

All boats congenital for sale since 1972 take a Hull Identification Number (HIN) assigned by the manufacturer. The HIN is located on the exterior of the transom (rear) on the starboard (correct) side above the waterline. If the boat is homemade or congenital earlier 1972, the Commission will assign a HIN to the gunkhole.

Example of a Hull Identification Number

12. How exercise I brandish the registration number?

The numbers and letters must:

Be painted or permanently attached to each side of the boat's forrard half.
Read from left to right.
Be bold, block letters and numbers, at least three inches loftier, and exist a contrasting color to the groundwork.
Exist separated by a dash or infinite equal to the width of any letter or number except "I" or "ane."

Example of how to display boat registration numbers

The validation decal must be displayed within six inches of the number (earlier or following) on the same level. Follow these guidelines to remove the decals from the bankroll material:

Bend the 3"x 3" decals along the center score
Peel the decal abroad from the backing textile starting from the middle and working toward the outside edges.
Bend (do not fold) the 1"ten i" decal in the middle. Skin off the decal starting from the inside edge working toward the outside edge.

Annotation: The Commission does not supply the actual letters and numbers. The possessor is responsible for purchasing and displaying the registration number. Hardware stores and gunkhole dealers, for example, sell these kinds of letters and numbers.

13. Is my out-of-state registration valid in Pennsylvania?

In near cases, yeah.

It is legal to operate a boat registered in some other country on Pennsylvania waters. Boats must exist registered in the state of chief utilise. The state of primary use is the state where a boat is on the water more it is on the water of any other land. It does not matter where y'all alive. If you employ your boat more often in Pennsylvania than your home state, PA is your main state of use. The police allows for the occasional utilize of a boat in states other than those where the gunkhole is registered.

Out-of-country boaters with a boat validly registered in their habitation state are granted reciprocal privileges to gunkhole in Pennsylvania for up to threescore days. Persons who may utilize their boats in this state for greater than threescore days are required to register their boats in Pennsylvania.

Notation that different states may have different requirements. For example some states may allow unpowered boats on state parks and other country-owned facilities to gunkhole without a registration. In Pennsylvania, unpowered boats using country parks and Commission accesses are required to be registered or to accept a use (launch) allow.

14. Are there any other requirements or laws I should know virtually?

Yes. An overview of Pennsylvania boating tin be found in the PA Boating Handbook. Information technology provides detailed explanations of boating regulations, safety information and much more.

Print (paper) copies are also available, free of charge, at Committee offices, county treasurers and approved boat registration issuing agents. Telephone call 888-723-4741 to get any of these publications.

While not a regulation or law guide, our Boating FAQ may as well exist useful. It provides information almost boating in general, canoeing regulations and canoeing safety education.

15. Why do I have to report how much fuel I used?

Fuel usage reports from registered boat owners allow the Commission to recover a portion of the taxes paid when the fuel was purchased. The Commission uses this money to support its boating programs. Under-reporting, or not reporting any fuel, decreases the amount of money available to support boating facilities and canoeing programs in Pennsylvania. Registered gunkhole owners should try to be as accurate as possible when providing this information.

16. How practice I sell my boat?

The most important part of the sale is to certificate the transaction accurately past including dates, costs, descriptions, signatures, etc. You demand to sign the proper registration and championship forms every bit the seller, and the purchaser needs to do the same. For whatever registration and/or title application, all parties must complete and sign course REV-336.

17. Tin I register my homemade boat?

Bootleg BOATS MAY NOT Be SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN THIS Republic

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will merely accept applications from the original builder for their personal use for homemade boats that have been constructed from blueish prints, kits or parts of various boats past a generally recognized manufacturer. Building a boat from blue prints may crave a marine survey and stability examination by a certified marine surveyor. Customers may contact PFBC prior to construction for additional details.

The regulations are specifically outlined regarding the definition of a specially synthetic boat which is one of the following:

(i) A boat not originally constructed past a generally recognized manufacturer of boats under a distinctive proper name and non materially altered from its original construction, only assembled from parts of various boats or kits or both, and that would exist commonly known as a "homemade" boat.

(2) A boat that has been materially altered by the removal, add-on or substitution of essential parts derived from various other makes and models and that the Committee determines cannot be readily identified as a boat of a generally recognized make or model.

18. How many boats does the commission register?

The Commission provides a study that shows the number of boat registrations sold.