Additional State Boating Regulations

SECTION 1, NUMBERING YOUR BOAT:

You have just bought a boat or you are about to buy one.  One of those questions in your mind must be:  "Do I have to register my boat?  If so, how do I go about it?"  Here's the answer to your questions about numbering.

WHAT BOATS MUST BE NUMBERED?

All vessels which carry any means of mechanical propulsion must be registered.   This requirement includes all those boats with motors, form the tiniest electric trolling motors to the largest diesel powered rigs.  Also included are all mechanically propelled boats, regardless of length and whether fitted with inboard or outboard motors.

Sailboats which are twelve feet in length or longer also require registration, whether carrying any means of mechanical propulsion or not.

These numbering requirements exclude boats used exclusively for racing; those boats bearing a valid registration from another state, provided they are not used in Georgia in excess of 60 consecutive days; foreign vessels temporarily using the waters of Georgia; boats owned by the federal or state government or any sub-division thereof, provided such boats are used for non-recreational purposes; and, boats operated exclusively on private ponds or lakes not open to the public.

WHERE TO APPLY FOR REGISTRATION:

All registrations are issued through the Tucker office of the Department of Natural Resources.  Registration is commonly handled by mail by filling out an application for registration which may be obtained from any office of the Wildlife Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources or from most marine dealers, hardware stores, sporting goods stores or marinas.

HOW TO GET AN ORIGINAL NUMBER:

Pick up an application blank at any of the places mentioned above.  Fill the application out in its entirety and mail, along with a check or money order for the required fee, to:

Department of Natural Resources
Boat Registration Unit
PO Box 105310
Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5310

After submitting an application for registration a boat may be temporarily operated provided the operator can produce proof that a registration number has been applied for.

The certificate of registration is a pocket-sized plastic card and must be carried on board whenever the bot is in use.  This certificate will contain the number which must be displayed on both sides of the bow.  Certificates of registration expire on the last day of the owner's month of birth in the third year of registration.

HOW TO GET A RENEWAL OF NUMBER:

Application for renewal of your certificate of number should be made on a renewal application form.  This form, with instructions, will be mailed to the boat owner in time to permit application for a renewal to be made prior to the expiration of your current certificate.  Or, renewal can be made by phone for a small service fee.   Call (800)867-3542.

If a renewal form has not been received thirty days prior to the expiration date, the owner should obtain an application form, mark it "renewal" and sent to the Tucker office of DNR along with the required fee.  Renewals are valid for three years also.

Late renewals may require that your registration number be changed.  To avoid additional cost and inconvenience, renew your registration on time.

Registration fees for the three-year boat registration in Georgia are as follows:

• Boats less than 16 feet in length.                         $15.00
• Boats 16 feet to 26 feet in length                        $36.00
• Boats 26 feet to 40 feet in length                        $90.00
• Boats 40 feet and up                                         $150.00

YOUR VALIDATION DECAL:

The decal assigned must be displayed one on each side of the bow preceding the prefix letters of the registration number.  There must be a space separating the decal and prefix letters.

The decals indicate the year and month of expiration of your registration.  They are part of your registration and must be displayed as described above.  All decals issued for expiration in 1997 or later will appear as described.  The boat owner will receive two identical decals, which must be placed on each side of the bow.  Boat registrations which expire before 1997 will have only one decal, which should be on the port, or the left side, of the bow.

HOW TO APPLY FOR REPLACEMENT OF LOST OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES:

If your certificate of registration is lost or destroyed, you must apply for a duplicate certificate.  A duplicate will be issued upon receipt of an application accompanied by a fee of $1.  Applications for duplicate certificates are made on standard registration form.  Simply check the "duplicate" box.

HOW TO DISPLAY THE NUMBER:

The number assigned by the certificate must be painted on or attached to both sides of the bow of the vessel, and no other number is to be displayed in this area.  Numbers must read from left to right, be of block character, of contrasting color to the background, and not less than three inches in height.

On vessels so configured that a number on the hull would not be easily visible, the number must be painted or attached to a backing plate that will make the number clearly visible under normal operating conditions.

Every livery boat with a length in excess of 16 feet and more than 16 inches depth from the gunwale to the keel must carry aboard at all times a copy of the rental agreement authorizing its use and showing the vessel numbers and period of time for which it is rented.

The prefix and suffix must be separated from the number by a space or hyphen.  The proper way to display a number would be either of the two illustrations below:

GA 1234 AA
GA-1234-AA