Registration, Titling and Documentation

Virtually every engine-equipped boat operating in U.S. waters must be registered with a state boating agency or with the federal government. An estimated 12 million boats are registered in the U.S.

Registration numbers consisting of a two-letter state code and a combination of letters and numbers are displayed on both sides of the bow. Registration is usually renewed every year or two.

Boat registration goes hand-in-hand with state efforts to enforce navigation and pollution rules and it also aids in identifying lost or stolen boats. Fees collected usually fuel state boating programs. Not all states require that boats be titled, so it can be difficult to determine ownership if a state-registered boat changes hands out of state.

Federal documentation is a national form of registration administered by the U.S. Coast Guard for boats over 5 net tons (usually about 30 ft.). Its chief benefit is that mortgages, bills of sale, liens and titles can be registered at the federal level, making them easy to trace. Lenders favor this approach and may require it for boat loans. Only boats owned by U.S. citizens qualify for documentation.