Salt water fee?

[dave603]

When I registered the boat this year they asked if I intended on using it in Salt water.
I was never asked this before and the fee is higher that fresh water.
Anyone else notice this?

And how would they tell the difference if I did trailer it to the ocean once or twice?

[Dave R]

When I registered the boat this year they asked if I intended on using it in Salt water.
I was never asked this before and the fee is higher that fresh water.
Anyone else notice this?

And how would they tell the difference if I did trailer it to the ocean once or twice?


In was told by the DMV registrattion helpline person that you opt for either "inland" or "tidal" when you register and for reasons unclear, if you select "inland" you are fine for either fresh or salt water, but if select "tidal", you cannot legally use the boat on inland waterways. She said it was something to due with Coast Guard laws, but could not explain in any detail.

I looked up the NH statutes for "boat registration" and could not find anything that confirmed what she said...

Here's the only wording from a statute that seems at least somewhat applicable:

"V. All vessels and their registered tender operating on New Hampshire's tidal waters shall comply with United States Coast Guard equipment requirements in 33 C.F.R. part 175 and 46 C.F.R. part 25, exclusively. "

FWIW, mine's been registered as "inland" since I bought it and I have been boarded by the Coast Guard on the ocean with no issues found.

[Rich]

FWIW, mine's been registered as "inland" since I bought it and I have been boarded by the Coast Guard on the ocean with no issues found.

Did they ever find that stash of plastic baggies hidden under your helm seat? :cool:

[Dave R]

Did they ever find that stash of plastic baggies hidden under your helm seat? :cool:

Nope, that's not my scene, maybe someday when I'm in a nursing home with time to kill...

They did make me open the engine hatch so they could verify my engine did not have have any non-USCG-approved parts on it though; very thorough inspection, compared to marine patrol. They were also very professional and polite and they were impressed that we had four properly-sized PFDs for the four of us aboard, and two throwable PFDs, immediately at hand in the cockpit. This stop took place last May, just outside Annapolis Harbor, a fantastic place to visit by boat.

[Rich]

We all know you keep your scan tool stored there, always at hand! 😎