[ApS]

Sounds right: using the last two letters in your registration number, and working backwards, it'll come out that "AA" was about 1988. That was also about the time the state also started required unpowered sailboats to "pay-up" for the temporary, but unregistered use of NH's wind.

Airwaves wrote:

"...I think the one time fee is all that is probably necessary because there are easily hundreds of thousands of these boats in NH already, and probably thousands more sold every year in NH. It would more than fund the establishment of a database and add to the MP budget...My personal choice for a penalty for not getting the decal is pretty Draconian. If a vessel is found floating around in the water capsized that does not have a decal it is seized by the state and sold to help recoup the cost of the SAR that was launched..."

1) With the new decals being reported "flimsy", this couldn't be applied to every capsized boat, particularly those involved in NHMP investigations.

2) Maine "just nixed [2005's] kayak/canoe registration fee".

"A lot of people in the state were annoyed with this. No surprise there that this was attached to a budget bill. Goes to show that you really do need a lot of support to avoid this type of legislation, not just boaters."

And while we're "annoying people", a kayak registration requirement should be rushed through the Legislature—to be effective in 2010—and see what happens to other Legislation.

3)

"Fees tend to be more punitive for canoe and kayak owners than motorboat owners. [These] boaters typically own more than a single canoe, kayak or raft. As a result, they pay a disproportionate share of boating fees as compared to the owner of a single, much more expensive powerboat. There is also a high rate of turnover of whitewater boats...

"Registration laws increase the operating costs for organizations. Thus the overhead increases for church and civic organizations, university programs, tour operators, commercial angling outfitters and whitewater outfitters, which might chill participation in the sport and the market."

"Registration requirements deter tourism. Since only a small handful of states require the registration and numbering of canoes, kayaks and rafts it creates an inconvenience and added cost for paddlers visiting a state with registration requirements. This discourages paddlers from coming to the state spending money for campgrounds, motels, food and gas eventually causing a decrease in tourism revenues and thereby negatively impacting the state economy.

"Registration does not increase or improve paddlesports safety. For instance in Connecticut, a bill was introduced in 2003 under the premise that it would improve safety; however, a study by the American Canoe Association found that the number of paddlesports fatalities in Connecticut has averaged 1.6 over the past 6 years. A registration requirement will not reduce the number of fatalities below 1.6 from the entire population of the state. Further, in a 1998 study, American Whitewater found that there were less than 2 fatalities per 100,000 participants. Again, registration will not reduce that rate since it is below the threshold for legislative efficacy and response."

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/co...r_registration

(The above link is not to the pre-eminent organization among the paddlesports).

Disclaimer:
Though I presently own three "manually-powered craft", I haven't put them in the water these past several years. My BIL does bring an inflatable kayak to Winnipesaukee in his RV; however, any visitor from a state that doesn't require registration isn't going to have a decal!

I'd say make it a voluntary measure those who desire payments to increase the MP budget—purchase a decal.

BTW:
One recent year, the NHMP budget included the purchase of a former oversized Coast Guard boat that throws a wake that's a menace to every canoe out there!