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Ask the Department of Fish and Wildlife for May 20
Last updated: May 20th, 2012 03:10 AM (PDT)

ASK WDFW

What boats are required to be registered?

Vessel registration applies to all vessels except vessels less than 16 feet that have no propulsion machinery of any type or vessels that are used on nonfederal waters and are 10 horsepower or less.

Vessels properly registered in another state or country or that have a valid number under federal law and using Washington waters for 60 days or less are also exempt from registration.

Vessel registration applies to all vessels on Coast Guard-regulated waters regardless of size. An inflatable raft also must be registered if used on Coast Guard-regulated waters and a motor is installed on it.

A vessel can be registered at a local county auditor’s office or any vehicle/vessel subagent location.

Information for this feature comes from wdfw.wa.gov/help.

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