Launch permits or boat registration in your state.

[lowangle al]

In Pa, non motorized boats need to have either a launch permit or boat registration to use state owned boat launches. If I'm not using a state boat launch I'm not sure if I need one, but, I was recently told by a fish commission officer that if a body of water has a state launch you are required to use it, so I guess I do.

I was out recently at a Pa. state park lake and as I was paddling back to the launch I noticed two state vehicles parked there. The officers were waiting for me and asked about my launch permit. I said I wasn't aware that I needed one since I'm from out of state. Luckily I only got a warning as the fine and costs were almost $500.00. The officer took a picture of my Ak drivers license and told me if I didn't buy a permit he would send me the citation. I bought a permit for my Bell Seliga as soon as I got home. It was only 12 bucks a year so not too bad and I was happy to pay it. I have at least four boats that I've use on state waters this year and the expense isn't the biggest problem. The problem I have is with putting stickers on my wood canvas boats. Maybe it's no big deal but the thought of it bothers me.

Now I can only take my one boat that has the permit on state water. The officer said the permit is also accepted in other states that require them. So now I wonder if I need a permit in New York. I've also been to Maine and plan to go to other nearby states, like New Jersey and possibly a trip Florida. It is also possible that my name is in a database for getting the warning and I may not get a second chance again. What are the regs in your state?

 

[Neophyte]

I get launch permits for my boats in PA. I don't put the sticker on the boat but I do carry them with me. I've been stopped once and it was not a problem, once I showed the launch permit they were happy to send me on my way. I recall another thread here where other PA residents had similar experiences. You can also register a canoe/kayak if it has an HIN, we did this with my wife's kayak but there doesn't seem to be much of a benefit. Cost is the same.

PA is the exception rather than the rule, most states don't require a registration or launch permit. New York, for example, does not require non-powered boats to be registered. See the link below.
https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/register-a-boat

You're also good in New Jersey, see the section on How to Title and Register a Boat.
https://www.nj.gov/mvc/vehicles/boating.htm

 

[Penns Woods]

Alan, Thanks for that good information, you mentioned stuff I wasn't aware of. Probably saved me some money and aggravation.

 

[Gamma1214]

I bought a permit when I visited Allegheny Islands state park and I had it in my pocket. If asked, I'd have told them that I wasn't about to destroy my beautiful stripper by attaching their sticker (they'd have to read this forum or my blog to appreciate the irony of that position).

If pushed (and to save $500), I suppose I would have stuck it on & peeled it when I got home but it wasn't an issue.

The way the Fish & Boat laws are written, he's wrong about the necessity to use a state-maintained launch if one is available but, of course, a state park would require a permit regardless of how you gained access to the water.

To the best of my knowledge, all 50 states have reciprocity for launch permits just as the do for car license plates so the permit (in your pocket or stuck on with tape so it could be moved from boat to boat?) should satisfy the surrounding states as well.

At least PA doesn't require fugly registration numbers like on power boats. I know some states do and I'm not sure how I'd deal with that

 

[Neophyte]

Gamma in PA you technically need a separate launch permit for each boat. However, there's nothing indicating on the permit which boat it's for. So what you do with that is dependent upon your comfort with mild dishonesty I guess. I usually get a permit for each boat because I only have three, the cost isn't a huge issue for me, and it goes to support parks I enjoy.

 

[Alan Gage]

Iowa requires registration for anything over 12' as I recall (another reason for short kayaks being so popular). You're also supposed put the registration sticker on your canoe as well as unique hull ID numbers at least 3" tall, just like a power boat. Minnesota, just a few miles north, has similar regulations (but without the hull numbers). They're required no matter where you paddle in the state. An Iowa sticker will work in MN and a MN will work in Iowa as far as I know.

I've registered some of my boats but rarely (pretty much never) put any of the stickers on them. I've never put the hull numbers on a canoe or kayak, just the registration sticker. I'm generally paddling on small lakes and rivers that are not patrolled. The only time I've been ticketed was when I foolishly paddled a large river in Minnesota on Memorial day weekend. The DNR was out in a patrol boat and ticketed me and my friend. I had loaned my friend the boat for the day which meant I got to pay both of the tickets.

I don't get real worked up about it because, what's the use?, but I do find the whole system a bit aggravating. At one point I had 16 canoes and kayaks, most of them cheap old junkers. That means that legally I'd have to pay to have each of them registered. That's a lot of stickers and registration papers to keep straight (not to mention a bit expensive at registration time)!

I wouldn't feel so bad about it if I lived in Minnesota, which has a lot of canoe friendly waters, amenities, and water trails. But Iowa doesn't really have any of that. When I pay money to register my canoes I can be pretty sure where that money is going and it's not to make my life as a canoeist better.

Alan

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Oh, now you got me started...

Several years ago, there was a movement to require registration for canoes and kayaks. It appeared to have been fueled by the powerboat crowd, as they claimed we should be paying "our share for use of facilities" ie ramps and docks. We managed to get that stopped, as it was easy to prove that the vast majority of us don't need or use any such facilities.

It was either the next year or the one after that, the state decided we all needed an invasive species sticker to fund the fight against invasive mussels and other aquatic vermin. The fee for paddlecraft was only $5 for paddlecraft and $10 for motorized so that didn't provoke a fight, but again the motorheads cried foul so it was soon raised to $7 for paddlecraft.

During all of this and beyond, it has never been proven that hardshell canoes transport any invasives. In fact, when I asked at one inspection station, it was admitted that they never see any contamination on a canoe. Bilgwater and trailers seem to be the big problem, along with, apparently, inflatables. The issue of felt sole wading shoes or float tubes that flyfishers use has never been given serious consideration to this day.

In the meantime, Idaho requires a sticker on every boat, and no, that sticker is not recognized by neighboring Oregon. And neither does Idaho recognize any other state's permit. But Oregon's invasive permit requirement makes more sense. The permit goes with the paddler, from boat to boat.

As one who is financially fit enough to absorb the cost of permitting a fleet of paddlecraft (including those I have for kids&grandkids) I don't complain publicly for myself. But I consider it a counterproductive burden on families with less disposable income. And it smacks of elitist abuse, brought on by the powerboat lobby (yes, that exists).

Leaving my soap box now just to say if you come to paddle in Idaho or Oregon (among others) your boat will be inspected at the border and you will be required to buy a permit.

 

[gumpus]

I couldn't put a sticker on a wood/canvas boat either. In your case I'd carry the permit and a roll of scotch tape in a ziplock bag.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

BTW, Idaho requires a sticker on all inflatables over 10'. But the sticker can be attached to a hard tag and zip tied to a handle on the boat (inflatables only). See the disparity their?

 

[Tryin']

Indiana requires a permit for human-powered craft on state parks, state-managed lakes, state forest and Division of Outdoor Recreation lakes. The permit is per boat and good at all properties.

Annual permit is $5 per non-power watercraft.

If you are registered/permitted in another state, you are good for 180 days in Indiana.

 

[stripperguy]

Here in NYS, anything that has a motor, electric or gas, requites a registration.
Non motorized boats, canoes, k***ks, SUP's, rowboats, even sailboats, need no permits or registrations.
There is required safety equipment depending on the time of year and the type of boat.

Any NYS boat launch is free (or rather prepaid by residents via taxes and permits) but some require free boat washing to preclude invasive species transfer.
AFAIK, there is no law or statute that requires hand launched boats to use designated launches.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Just FYI, Yellowstone/Grand Tetons have their own permit that is required regardless of any state permits you might have.

 

[ppine]

In Nevada we do not register canoes and have few boat launches. Mostly we just launch from the bank. In some western states there are many boat launches but they don't have any requirements. Oregon requires a conservation stamp for non-powered craft.

 

[Sedges]

GA does not require registration of non-motorized craft. Paddle or oar. Sailboats over 12 feet must be registered. Launch fees depend on the site. Boatramps on National Forest and some on Corps of Engineers lakes have a fee. Tag goes in the parked car. State Park entrance fee usually covers the launch area. Federal and state agencies usually have an annual permit available.

There was a time when day use permits for National Forest recreation sites (picnic, swimming, boat launch) could be checked out at local libraries. It was great for low-income families and was a well used program, especially for local swimming areas on the Chattahoochee National Forest.

 

[yknpdlr]

Stripperguy is absolutely correct about NYS boating law. At least one state campground I know of that is located on a lake (8th lake) will allow free entry to pass through the campground if you only plan to launch a canoe to go fishing (it is no secret that 8th Lake has very good trout fishing, BTW). it is a carry pass-through campground 7th-8th Lakes during the 90 miler race. It is also free entry if you only want to access the miles of hiking trails accesable from the backside of the campground. Unlike many others, 8th Lake campground is not gated in the off season, and you may freely enter the grounds.

One of my long time canoe race paddling partners lives in southern PA. At first when I came down to train with him on the Susquehanna River or nearby larger lakes, he would get the required launch permit, but he hasn't bothered to do so in years.

I got my first canoe (Grumman aluminum) while I was stationed in the Air Force in Ohio. I had to get the awful registration numbers and stickers. After I moved to the Adirondacks I ripped them off, but you can still see the outline in bare aluminum. I have threatened to buff them out, but I don't really use that canoe for myself anymore and leave it in storage, so no mattter.

 

[Patrick Corry]

The problem I have is with putting stickers on my wood canvas boats. Maybe it's no big deal but the thought of it bothers me.

Me too! I have spent too much effort on restoring my wood canvas canoes to permanently mar the paint or varnish with a state decal. Here's what I do: I mount the decal onto a piece of thin aluminum flashing metal or similar, drill a hole, then remove the center outwale screw and slide the number plate behind the outwale and replace the screw. No damage, and it's removable for places where I paddle and don't want to see it! The 2021 tag was nice and small, '25 not so much, and '26/'27 much bigger! I haven't mounted this year's tag. I'm just tying it onto the end of the center thwart of the canoe I happen to be using that day, and hanging it over the side. No hassle yet this year at my PA state park. Oh... and I only mount a sticker on one side of the canoe, always the left side, so I remember to display that side of the canoe when I see the ranger boat heading my way!

 

[VA paddler]

Maine resembles the NYS regs that Stripperguy mentioned. You need a hull ID # and an annual registration/sticker for anything with a motor. Cost is dependent on the size/year/value of the boat and engine. 1956 12' Starcraft with 15hp for the lake is like $15-$20. 1995 Grady White with 150hp for saltwater is like $75. No motor, no cost. No cost at launches. I have never seen a warden or marine patrol going around looking for missing or expired stickers, though. 60% of sticker funds go to ME DEP; 40% goes to ME Game & Inland Fisheries. I'm good with that.