Do I need a boat license for a 12 ft alum boat with a trolling motor?

pahearn · August 07, 2019, 11:04:42 AM

Like the title says

Do I need a boat license for a 12 ft alum boat with a trolling motor? No gas engine.

Thanks

Steve · August 07, 2019, 11:31:00 AM

Law says that any boat that is mechanically propelled, regardless of length, must be registered.

https://www.boat-ed.com/abc/abc_specific_images/pdfs/nj_law.pdf

crewstation · August 07, 2019, 08:25:35 PM

Any vessel propelled by motor must be registered.

If you're using it in fresh water, you need a Boat Operator's License.

If you're using it in salt water, you need a Boater's Safety Certificate.

FishinDude · August 08, 2019, 03:55:41 PM

Do yourself a favor and make sure that you are legal and have all of the required safety equipment. Dont know where you plan on boating, but here by me the U.S. Coast Guard, State & Local police are all out on the water checking people. Add in the NJ Conservation Officers checking catches, bait etc. You will eventually get in a jam of you're not legal.

Capt. Debbie · August 09, 2019, 11:34:43 AM

The USCG don't care if you have a license or not unless you're for hire. It's the State of NJ's law.

Anything with a motor electric or gas needs the NJSP Boater Safety Certificate according to NJ Law. It's a one and done course and card. Lifetime

You have to take a second step in PUBLIC FRESHWATER LAKES and get a BOAT Endorsement on your NJ Driver's License (extra $18 on every renewal for it) if your boat is powered MORE THAN a 9.9HP or MORE THAN A 12VDC electric motor.

If you're in NYS waters and born before May 1996 you don't need anything.

Hope this helps?

Any any boat with a motor (electric or gas) in NJ must be registered. Any boat including canoes with a motor (electric or gas) must be registered.

bard1028 · August 16, 2019, 09:33:56 AM

Quote from: Capt. Frank on August 09, 2019, 11:34:43 AM

Any any boat with a motor (electric or gas) in NJ must be registered. Any boat including canoes with a motor (electric or gas) must be registered.

What about the part where it says if you operate more than 180 days ? I know I don't use my boat over 180 days. Awfully confusing to me.

Mguy1 · August 16, 2019, 10:29:15 AM

I thought the 180 days applied to people who were registered in another state but were only going to be in NJ for less than 180 days.

Capt. Debbie · August 16, 2019, 11:25:50 AM

The 180 days is you must change the vessel's registration from elsewhere state to NJ now since you're living here at least 6 months.

And if you boat here for more than 90 days in a row in one year - you are supposed to change the state THE BOAT is registered in (even if you live in another state) . Since it's principally operated in NJ waters (e.g. moored at an NJ marina May 1-October 31)

It's not a 180 days of use. That would be ridiculous as who's counting that time

Quote from: bard1028 on August 16, 2019, 09:33:56 AM
What about the part where it says if you operate more than 180 days ? I know I don't use my boat over 180 days. Awfully confusing to me.

samiam · March 07, 2021, 10:39:49 AM

Yes, if you want to 100% comply with NJ regs, any boat operated with any motor must be titled and registered. However, good intentions sometimes butt heads with reality. For the past two decades, almost all of my time on the water was been spent in a succession of at least 8 aluminum canoes, all of which I operated with a motor at one time or another. NJ makes an exception to the registration requirement for canoes and kayaks of any length, but only until you attach a motor. Unfortunately (possibly mostly as a result of that exception), very few used canoes or kayaks here are sold with an assignable title. If there ever was one, most of the time it has been lost. The effort to get a reconstructed title for a 4th or 5th hand canoe in NJ seems like it would be prohibitive, if it was even possible. I keep very much to back waters under uncrowded conditions, and the total number of times I have been asked for documents is zero. That is no doubt due at least in part to where and when I operated, also could be partially because any gendarme who saw me decided it wasn't worth his time or trouble to write one old guy in a tin can. I did just title transfer and register my latest acquisition, a 1973 17.5 Grumman squareback in near perfect condition, but only because I lucked into a seller who had an assignable title (the boat was bought new by his father). Otherwise, I wouldn't have hesitated to use it with a motor, exercising the same discretion about where and when that I have previously.