District  01S   Division 11   Flotilla 02


The following is excerpted from the New York State's Boater's Guide. (clicking here will open new window)
THIS IS NOT THE COMPLETE CONTENT, nor should it be construed as such.  
Information pertaining to Education/Training is briefly touched upon here. We urge the reader to acquaint themselves with this information.
We refer you to the booklet, or its electronic version, for the full text with diagrams and pictures that
will help clarify the following:

(jump to Required Equipment)

PWC  Personal Water Craft
& Mandatory Safety Education Courses - What is your AGE?

Is it against the law to operate a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
Yes. New York State has laws that prohibit the operation of a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. More information is available from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. On April 1, 1999, the Zero Tolerance Law for vessel operators became effective.

[see Federal Boating Requirements]

Registration Requirements
Both Federal and State law require that any pleasure vessel,
whether propelled wholly or in part by mechanical
means (even if the motor is not the primary source of propulsion), which is operated on the waters of the state of New
York, be registered with the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles.
Owners of vessels which are documented exclusively for
pleasure with the federal government and which operate principally
within NYS, must also apply to Motor Vehicles for a
registration certificate and are required to display validation
stickers. The following vessels are exempt from state
registration requirements: vessels operating commercially
with either a U.S. or foreign document; vessels legally registered
in another state (up to 90 consecutive days maximum);
lifeboats (not including tenders and dinghies); competition
race boats; and non mechanically propelled vessels.
You CANNOT transfer the registration number to another boat.
[Attaching the Registration Numbers to the boat]

Certificate of Registration
The registration certificate is your proof of current
registration. It may also be your only proof of
ownership unless the vessel is titled or documented.
Vessel operators, whether they are the
owner or not, must carry the vessel’s original certificate
of registration on board at all times. Likewise, the 
documented vessel must also carry
its documentation at all times when the vessel is in use.


Validation Stickers
Two validation stickers will be issued at the time of registration. These stickers
will display the month and year of registration
expiration. Validation stickers are to be affixed to the hull,
in line with, and no further than three inches aft of, the registration
number. On vessels documented for pleasure with 
the U.S. Coast Guard, the validation stickers
should be placed approximately in the same location.

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Hull Identification Number (HIN)
Federal regulations require all vessel manufacturers to permanently
affix a HIN to every vessel produced. This 12 character
identification, not to be confused with the vessel’s registration
number, is not only required in order for you to have
your vessel registered, it also assists in product safety notifications
as well as lost or stolen vessel recovery, much the same as
the VIN on your car. Make sure that the HIN found on the
transom of your vessel matches the number printed on your
registration certificate. If there is a discrepancy, notify the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Documented Vessels
Some larger vessels owned by U.S. citizens may be documented
with the U.S. Coast Guard. In New York, all documented
pleasure vessels must apply for registration and display
the appropriate validation stickers. The Department of
Motor Vehicles will not issue a title or a number to a documented
vessel, however you will receive a registration certificate
and a set of validation stickers. Registration fees
and taxes are paid at time of registration.
Thus, if your boat is NOT used for commercial purposes in NYS, and, if it is used on Public Waterways in NYS for 90 or more consecutive days, and you checked out "information about boat registration requirements", then you MUST REGISTER.


Titles
The Department of Motor Vehicles issues titles to all 1987
model year and newer vessels which are at least 14 feet in
length and are registered in NYS.  The title is your clear proof of ownership which
must be surrendered to a new owner at time of transfer. If
your vessel is less than 14 feet, then the registration certificate
serves as the proof of ownership and must be signed
over to a new owner.

How Do I Register My Boat?
Simply complete Motor Vehicle’s form MV-82B (application
for registration), have the appropriate registration fee,
provide proof of ownership, proof of payment of sales tax
(may be paid to Motor Vehicles at time of registration), along
with a bill of sale and you’re all set. If this is a new boat, or
a vessel being registered for the first time, you will also need
to bring the original certificate, or statement, of origin from the
manufacturer with you to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(see Addendum for Forms, Proof of Ownership, Fees)


Placing the Registration Numbers on the boat
You must paint or attach the registration number to each side of the bow of the boat. The characters must be:

• block letters not less than three inches high,
• a color different from the hull and easy to see,
• legible from 100 ft. away during the daylight hours,
• the only number on the front half of your boat.

[see bottom of page for more information from NYS on Registrations, Licenses, HINs, renewals, etc.]

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Required Equipment Aboard Vessels                                 top
(For Personal Watercraft requirements - please see booklet page 62)

You may also want to see our Vessel Safety Exam and PFD pages for additional information.




Personal Flotation Devices 
Every pleasure vessel including canoes, kayaks and rowboats
operated upon the waters of NYS must have on board
one United States Coast Guard approved wearable Personal
Flotation Device (PFD) for each person on the vessel. In addition,
vessels 16 feet and greater in length must also carry a type
IV throwable PFD. Children under 12 years of age, on any vessel
65 feet or less in length must wear a US Coast Guard approved
type I, II or III PFD, while underway. The foregoing
requirements do not apply to children less than 12 years of age
when situated within a fully enclosed cabin. In order for any
PFD to be considered properly worn, any straps or zippers must
be tied or zipped.
All PFDs carried on board your vessel must be serviceable,
readily accessible, and of the appropriate size for the intended
PFDs wearer. A serviceable PFD must be free of rot, tears,
punctures, or waterlogging of any flotation material. In addition,
all straps and buckles must be attached and fully functional.
Readily accessible means that the PFD must be quickly
reachable in an emergency situation. Never keep your PFDs in
plastic bags, or under lock and key while underway. Make
certain that all your passengers know the location and proper
use of these important life saving devices before getting underway.
Try to avoid exposing any PFD to constant direct sunlight,
this will in time degrade the device’s outer shell. Keep
them out of wet or moist areas, and avoid sitting on any PFD
particularly those filled with kapok. Sitting on kapok devices
may rupture the plastic bags containing the water absorbent
buoyant material.
When shopping for any PFD always look for and read the
US Coast Guard label. This label, along with the provided informational
brochure, will tell you everything you need to know
about the device you are about to buy: the type, size, amount of
buoyancy, and its proper care.

Visual Distress Equipment
State law requires that every mechanically propelled vessel,
16 feet and greater in length, carry United States Coast Guard
approved visual distress equipment. This applies to all
mechanically propelled vessels operating upon the state’s joint
jurisdictional waters, where the state and federal government
share responsibility, as well as the interior sole-state lakes.
Most boats can meet this requirement by simply carrying
three USCG approved day/night hand held flares. You may also
carry any combination of three-day and three night-approved
pyrotechnic devices. Non-pyrotechnic options include an
approved electric distress light (for night) or an orange distress
flag (for day). Whichever you choose, all devices must be in
serviceable condition and readily accessible. For pyrotechnics,
the expiration date, as printed on the device, must not have
lapsed. When buying pyrotechnic visual distress equipment
always look for the freshest devices possible, those with at least
three years of service life would be the newest.
State law requires that all vessels operating between sunset
and sunrise, regardless of length, carry visual distress signals
approved for night use. For obvious safety reasons rowboats
and canoes should also carry visual distress signals approved
for night use when out on the water after sunset. Keep in mind
also that Federal law requires all manually propelled craft to
carry visual distress equipment, approved for night use, when
operating on the state’s joint jurisdictional waters.


Fire Extinguishers 
All mechanically propelled vessels, except outboards less
than 26 feet in length and of open construction, must carry
one B-I US Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher. Mechanically
propelled vessels 26 feet to less than 40 feet in
length must carry two B-I US Coast Guard approved fire
extinguishers. Mechanically propelled vessels 40 feet to less
than 65 feet in length must carry three B-I US Coast Guard
approved fire extinguishers. Vessels 65 feet and greater in
length should consult federal regulations. On any vessel,
one B-II extinguisher may substitute for two B-I extinguishers.
Vessels equipped with approved fixed extinguishing
systems may carry one less B-I extinguisher.
Beyond the previously mentioned requirements fire extinguishers
are also required whenever: a vessel is equipped
with an inboard engine, there are enclosed or permanently

mounted fuel tanks on board, when there are closed living                                                top
spaces, or there are closed stowage compartments in which
combustible or flammable materials are stored.
The most common types of fire extinguishers are dry
chemical and carbon dioxide. Dry chemical extinguishers
are for use on fires caused by flammable liquids such as fuel
or grease (class B fires) and electrical fires (class C). Carbon
dioxide is good on combustible solids (class A fires)
such as paper or wood as well as class B and C fires. All of
these extinguishers work best in enclosed areas or away and
sheltered from the wind. Check your extinguishers frequently
to insure that they are fully charged and undamaged.
Check the pressure gauge, replace cracked or broken
hoses, and keep the nozzle free of blockages. Never test the
extinguisher to see if it works, rather have it inspected by a
professional to determine its reliability.
A fire generally needs three things in order to burn: heat,
fuel, and oxygen. If you can sufficiently remove any one of
the three components, the fire will go out. Be familiar with
the extinguisher and its method of effective extinguishing
before you need to use it. Read the label and instructions on
its use. Be certain that the extinguisher is readily accessible
and properly mounted in its bracket.
Vessels with inboard engines are more susceptible to fires
that may ignite and take hold before the operator is aware.
The enclosed nature of the engine space combined with the
potential for gasoline leaks can create an explosive situation.
Operators of gasoline inboard powered vessels should
consider the option of installing an automatic fixed extinguishing
system in order to reduce the danger of fire aboard
these vessels. Lastly don’t forget to ventilate the engine
space before starting the engine.


Anchor
All mechanically propelled vessels, except PWC, must
carry an anchor and line of sufficient weight and strength to
provide the vessel with safe anchorage. Select an anchor
for the type of waters in which you’ll be operating. Generally
speaking, the prudent mariner should have an anchor
which can hold a vessel when subjected to the worst conditions
of wind and wave that might typically be encountered.
The anchor line should also be between 4 and 7 times the
depth of water in which you normally anchor.                                                    top

Whistle or Horn
All mechanically propelled vessels 39 feet and greater in
length must carry a whistle which must be a mechanical
device capable of producing a blast of two or more seconds
in duration. On vessels 39 feet and less in length a mouth
whistle may be used.

Navigation Lights
Recreational vessels must display their required navigational
lights at all times between sunset and sunrise, and
during daylight periods of reduced visibility. Sail vessels
less than 23 feet in length as well as manually propelled
vessels may carry, in lieu of fixed lights, a lantern with a
white light which can be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent
a collision. Law enforcement vessels may also exhibit
a blue flashing light. Should you see such a light, reduce speed,
yield, and if necessary stop your vessel.

See this for Navigation Rules Book This discusses Lights, Sounds and Shapes that the boater must know.

Anchor Lights
All vessels between 7 and 50 meters in length, when at
anchor, must exhibit at night an all around white light. By
day a black ball shall be exhibited. Vessels less than 7 meters
in length need not display an anchor light unless anchored
in or near a narrow channel or where vessels would otherwise
normally navigate.

Bell
All vessels 39 feet and greater in length are required to
have a bell. The purpose of the bell is to facilitate compliance
with the rules of the road when anchored or grounded
during periods of reduced visibility.

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The above represents only the MINIMUM requirements.

Now, please learn the Rules of the Road. They will be posted on these web pages soon.
   

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Addendum:
To register your boat, bring the following items to a DMV office: 

• Complete form MV-82-B (Boat Registration / Title Application).
• Complete form DTF-802 (Statement of Transaction for Sales Tax) or proof of exemption or tax paid. See the sales tax information for additional information. The requirements and forms for boats are the same as those for motor vehicles.
• The proof of ownership listed in the boat registration requirements document.
• Proof of identity and date of birth.
• Cash, check or credit card for the fee.

Remember that if you have a boat trailer you must register the trailer. See the instructions to register a vehicle.

What is the cost of a boat registration?

Boat registrations are issued for three years.  There is a registration fee and a surcharge for boating safety.  The fees and surcharges are calculated from the length of the boat as follows:

• Less than 16 feet - $18.00 registration fee and $3.00 surcharge ($21.00 total).
• 16 feet to less than 26 feet - $36.00 registration fee and $10.00 surcharge ($46.00 total).
• 26 feet or longer - $60.00 registration fee and $15.00 surcharge ($75.00 total).

How do I renew my boat registration?

You cannot renew a boat registration on-line. Use your renewal notice to renew by mail. If you do not have a renewal notice, apply for the renewal with form MV-82B or visit your local DMV office.

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NYS Requirements, 'in other words':