Registration Fees

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Steveo

This is the statement on the NH Boat Registration site:

You must have a New Hampshire Certificate of Registration and validation decals to operate your vessel legally on public waters in New Hampshire. This includes motorboats of any size (including those with electric motors) and sailboats or sailboards 12 feet in length or longer. The only exceptions are:

* Sailboats and sailboards under 12 feet in length
* Other small, non-motorized vessels such as canoes and kayaks
* Vessels registered in other states using New Hampshire waters for 30 or fewer consecutive days
* Vessels owned or operated by the U.S. government


What still is missing in this is what about rowboats, there is no mention

Because of the new thread on rigging a canoe for sailing, it should be pointed out that a sailing canoe is exempt from registration. (No mention of length, and "a canoe" can be p-r-e-t-t-y long!)

Referencing canoes as sailboats:

* Other small, non-motorized vessels such as canoes and kayaks

After receiving a written warning from an NHMP officer regarding my sailing kayak, I received a written response from Director Dave Barrett that kayaks can be included under "canoes".

As proof of my argument, I'd offered a photo of the International Canoe class—essentially a "decked" canoe with a sail.

Referencing sailboats just over 12':

bigdog:
Manufacturers "round-off" measurements: You'll need to measure it yourself, and take a photograph as proof, but your "12-foot" sailboat may not require registration.

Following the necessary fiberglass restoration—over time, I could save quite a bundle by sawing 4-inches off the bow of my littlest sailboat!

Referencing the tape measure:

Stopped by the NHMP in my 20-foot sailboat, I was asked for a tape measure!

Fifth-amendment violation, anybody?

Referencing lights after dark:

Earlier NH Boating Guides (available free at marinas and registrars) show a full-sized kerosene lantern displayed by a non-paddling paddler. How do you paddle while holding a lantern?

The Coasties allow a flashlight beam displayed on the sail (in a timely manner) ; however, this action permitted by the USCG is not applicable to Lake Winnipesaukee.

For small sail craft, I wouldn't recommend night-time boating on the lake at all: Most sail craft aren't equipped with lighting anyway, and could be lost among the lake-shore's normal stationary night-time lighting. There are times you couldn't be expected to be seen—at all—especially should the weather change unexpectedly.

IMO, the distance required for a navigation light's visibility is subject to debate: Arguably, there are some super-bright white LED lights available today that would probably work just fine.