Hi, can anyone shed some light on this subject. I want to put a electric motor on my pontoon. Been told i have to register it if I do. [fishon]
Yes if it has a motor of any kind it needs registration.
Ron is correct, which means that you’ll have to figure out a way to put registration numbers on it also. There are several workable options.
I bought a stoutly built raft about a year and a half ago. It serves as a multi-purpose vessel. We take it camping and paddle it around various bodies of water. My family of 5 uses it to float Boise River in the summer. And it’s a small fishing boat for myself, and 1 other when necessary. I mount a small 3hp gasoline engine which mounts on the rear when I need to get around larger lakes. And, thus, I do have to register it every year.
For registration numbers, I bought a set of stencils at a local craft store and used a black sharpie. Worked out really well.
So my next question is, How do I go about getting it registered. They say I need a Title to show I own it. Well unfortunately they don’t give a Title when you buy a pontoon boat. What next?
Talk to DMV. They’ll have some kind of provision (hoop to jump through).
The short answer is yes, you will need to register your pontoon boat and when I did it quite a few years ago I only had to bring my receipt or at least proof of ownership. Unfortunately the long answer is that just a couple years ago I tried to register a drift boat. I paid for the stickers, got my ID number, they came out and verified the Serial Number, and I put the numbers on. A couple of weeks later I got a call from the DMV and was told that the state of Idaho does not Title drift boats. I told them I just want to put my motor on it and this is what I got told “I don’t care if you stick a sail in the middle of it and call it a Pirate Ship, Idaho does not title drift boats.” I said I don’t want to title it, I just want to register it and put a motor on it. Then I got told “Unless it is a motor boat you do not need to register it and you need to come in and pick up your refund and pull the numbers off.” ??? I am pretty sure the person writing my first ticket for not having my boat registered will completely understand.[;)] There may be hoops-o-plenty. Good luck and let us know, I may get a new pontoon boat and will be putting a trolling motor on that one.
Louflies
. . . and they will ticket you. I would call back and talk to someone else and have them give you a pass on the registration in writing. I’m allergic to tickets!
I know the Sheriff that works the section of the Snake river between Celebration Park and Swan Falls thinks you need to register a pontoon boat if you have an electric motor. I was taking out at Celebration after floating down … but had an electric strapped on the side .. but not in the water being used. I got a bit of a warning about needed registration … but no ticket … I think it was a “teaching moment”.[;)]
. . . and they will ticket you. I would call back and talk to someone else and have them give you a pass on the registration in writing. I’m allergic to tickets!
Yep. I’ll second that.
Call your sheriffs department and ask to speak to the marine deputy.
It their job!
[:)]