How Many WA Boaters Registered His/Her Dinghy?

Sarge

Reading RCW Section 88.02.030 section 6 (a), (b) and (c)
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=88.02.030

A boater doesn't need to register a dinghy if it is used exclusively as a tender. It has to have the main boat's registration # with a "1" suffix somehow affixed to it, but it does not need to be registered.

Do you follow this exception to registration or do you just go ahead and register the dinghy? I'd like your reasoning.

How much does it cost to register a dinghy? Do you have to pay tax the first time, if so what percentage? Does the tax reoccur each year or is it just a registration fee?

Thanks in advance for your comments and insight.

-Sarge

Larry H · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:55 am Post subject:

Sarge,

If you have a bill of sale showing amount paid, take that to a licensing agent(where you license your car) and they will issue a 'WN' number and collect sales tax and registration fee.

If you already paid sales tax, you just pay the fee.

By the way, in Washington, a 1/2% tax on the boats value is collected every year with the 'registration fee'.

Dreamer · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:08 am Post subject:

Sarge, It's my understanding that if the dinghy has no power or up to 9.9 HP, no registration is required. It's not a boat in their view. Unless you fish from it. Then it must be registered and carry numbers. We carry no numbers or registration on our Achilles nor did we on the Avon.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:29 am Post subject:

Roger - I have always understood if not powered a boat does not need registration, but I have never heard the "up to 9.9 HP" part - if it is powered, it is supposed to be registered as I understand it. I have also never heard the "if used exclusively as a tender" one - but that will be our situation. I guess I should look. [on edit - here is the reg itself from the above link]

(6) Vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of less than ten horsepower that:

(a) Are owned by the owner of a vessel for which a valid vessel number has been issued;

(b) Display the number of that numbered vessel followed by the suffix "1" in the manner prescribed by the department; and

(c) Are used as a tender for direct transportation between that vessel and the shore and for no other purpose;

Pretty soon I will have an Alaska Series inflatable and have had a Mercury 2.5 hp 2 cycle for a couple of years...I did not register the prior $69 Costco dinghy, actually only used the outboard in Canada and Alaska...guess I will have to figure out how to affix Daydream's registration number to the dinghy.