The $5 is an "agent's fee", Town clerk, boat yard, whoever. No fee at the state. You can go to DMV or MP HQ. Because of NH Constitution Article 28-a (unfunded mandates) The Town Clerk/Tax Collector also gets $1.00 for collecting the tax/fees.
When you register with a local agent, the tax goes to that town and the reg fee goes to the state. When you register with the state, you save the $5, but your local town gets nothing to support beaches, docks, etc. The Gilford Island Association has long encouraged members to register locally so they can point to that money when upgrades are needed in Glendale. Towns around the lake may get $100's of thousands in this way. Of course, MP gets funding from reg. fees too.
Spread the wealth: do a boat in each place: home, M'boro, Glendale, W'boro. There's an extra convenience in Gilford when you mail to Town Hall. You can get Registration, Glendale dock, parking and guest passes all in one envelope. Next door, you get seasonal fire permits.
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