row, row, row your kit…
unless it’s a Seawind…
Lets try this again: I’m building a kayak http://hosting.acegroup.cc/~brianm/kayak and tried to register it today.
Stopped by the DMV office. The DMV lady spent 10-15 minutes trying to log onto the computer system (The password was old, try to change it, Too similar to the old one, tried to change it again, too short)
Finally logged in. Since I haven’t registred a boat before, was woried about creating an account for me. Turns out that after entering my driver’s licence #, it got the address, etc info from the moter vehicle dept.
Started typing in info (length, propulsion, construction materials, etc). For HIN she typed in “NA”. I said that they could assign it. The DNR person (on the phone) said they only did that for boats that are titled. I pointed out that Coast Guard regulations required a HIN. They insisted only for titled boats and the DMV lady said that hey its the DNR. I arguued the Coast Guard trumped the DNR. Even the computer system complained, she had to force it to accept “NA”.
So, I got my registration stickers. but no HIN. As soon as I got home I e-mailed the DNR, beacause I KNOW they have assigned HINs to kayaks http://www.canoe-kayak.org/pages/h12.html
So, my kit is a boat acording to the state, but not the CG
You have to register a kayak?!
There are probably exceptions, but the Coast Guard requires all boats have a HIN.
Registration requirements vary from state to state. In Minnesota, all boats (that aren’t registered in another state or the US)require registration. Exceptions are nonmotorized boats less than 9 feet long, ships lifeboats, seaplanes, and duck/rice boats used during duck/harvest season.
It looks like MA doesn’t require boats that never use a motor to be registered. However, to get a HIN for a homemade boat you need to have it inspected http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dle/boatregfaq.htm
Brian
My e-mail was successful, I now am the prod owner if HIN MNZ02299J202
the MNZ means a noncommercial buildier in MN
02299 is a serial number
J202 means october 2002
Brian