Does A Gunkhole With A Trolling Motor Need To Be Registered? (Explained)

UPDATED 15 JANUARY 2022

by Eric Bartlett

Since minor vessels similar inflatable boats, canoes, or kayaks don't need to be registered in many states, this raises the question, do you demand to register a vessel in this category if y'all add a trolling motor to it?

In most cases the answer is 'yes,' but there are a few exceptions that are worth checking out.

In this commodity we'll summarize the rules in all 50 states, so yous tin can figure out what applies for you specifically.

Do Y'all Take To Register A Boat With A Trolling Motor?

Most United states of america states crave all motorized boats to be registered, no matter the size of the boat, or the size of the motor. However, boat registration laws are slightly dissimilar in every United states of america country, and a few states offer exemptions from this requirement if the gunkhole is operated on privately endemic lakes, or on non-federal waters. We'll cover these exceptions in more particular below.

In addition to this, about states also provide exemptions for lifeboats, visiting boats registered in another state or country (and visiting for less than 30 to xc days), racing boats, and boats owned by the U.s.a. Coast Guard, US regime, or state regime. We'll cover these exemptions below as well.

What states require a boat with a trolling motor to be registered?

State Registration required for boat with trolling motor? Exemptions
Alabama Yes Boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Alaska Yes Lifeboats, vessels documented by US Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Arizona Yep Lifeboats, vessels documented by Usa Coast Baby-sit, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Arkansas Yep Vessels documented by U.s. Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than xc days
California Yep Lifeboats, vessels documented by US Declension Baby-sit, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 120 days
Colorado Yes Vessels documented past US Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Connecticut Yes Vessels documented past US Coast Baby-sit, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Delaware Yeah Vessels documented by The states Coast Baby-sit, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Florida Yes Vessels used exclusively in private lakes, vessels owned past US or State Government, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Georgia Yeah Vessels used exclusively in private lakes, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Hawaii Yes Lifeboats, racing boats, vessels documented by US Declension Baby-sit, vessels endemic by U.s.a. Government, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Idaho Yeah Vessels documented past U.s. Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Illinois Yep Lifeboats, racing boats, vessels owned by US or State Government, or boats registered in other states staying for less than sixty days
Indiana Yeah Lifeboats, or boats registered in other states staying for less than sixty days
Iowa Yes Boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Kansas Yes Boats registered in other states staying for less than sixty days
Kentucky Yes Vessels documented by US Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than sixty days
Louisiana Yep Vessels documented by The states Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than xc days
Maine Yes Lifeboats, racing boats, vessels owned by The states Government, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Maryland Yep Vessels documented by US Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 30 days
Massachusetts Yes Vessels documented by The states Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Michigan Aye Vessels registered in other states staying for less than threescore days
Minnesota Yes Vessels registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Mississippi Yes N/A
Missouri Yes Lifeboats, vessels endemic by US Government, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Montana Yes Vessels documented by US Coast Baby-sit, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Nebraska Yes Vessels documented by Us Coast Guard, racing boats, vessels owned by United states of america Authorities, or boats registered in other states staying for less than threescore days
Nevada Yeah Lifeboats, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
New Hampshire Yep Vessels owned past US Regime, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 30 days
New Jersey Yes Lifeboats
New Mexico Aye Vessels owned by U.s. or State Government, vessels documented past US Declension Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
New York Yes Lifeboats, racing boats, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
North Carolina Yes Boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
North Dakota Yes Vessels documented by US Coast Baby-sit, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Ohio Yes Lifeboats, vessels owned by U.s.a. or State Government, or boats registered in other states staying for less than lx days
Oklahoma Aye Racing boats, vessels documented by US Declension Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than threescore days
Oregon Yeah Boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Pennsylvania Aye N/A
Rhode Island Aye Lifeboats, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
S Carolina Aye Vessels documented by United states Coast Baby-sit
South Dakota Yes Vessels registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Tennessee Yep Vessels registered in other states staying for less than threescore days
Texas Yes Vessels registered in other states staying for less than ninety days
Utah Yeah Lifeboats, vessels endemic by US or State Government, vessels documented by US Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Vermont Yes Vessels documented by US Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than ninety days
Virginia Yeah Vessels documented by Us Coast Guard, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Washington Yes Vessels less than 16 ft with a motor of 10 hp or less on non-federal waters, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 90 days
Due west Virginia Yes Vessels owned by US or State Government, or boats registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Wisconsin Yes Vessels registered in other states staying for less than 60 days
Wyoming Yes Vessels documented by U.s.a. Coast Baby-sit, vessels owned by United states Authorities, or boats registered in other states staying for less than ninety days

The tabular array higher up lists all U.s. states that crave a boat with a trolling motor to be registered, too as the vessels that are exempt in each land.

Does a trolling motor count as a motorized boat?

Yes, a boat with a trolling motor counts as a motorized gunkhole in all U.s. states. This means that even if you have a kayak, canoe, or inflatable boat that ordinarily doesn't require registration, as soon every bit you add a trolling motor to it, the vessel counts as a motorized boat, and needs to be registered.

And then brand sure to go the motorized boat registration before you start using a trolling motor, or you run the risk of being fined.

See as well: The best cheap trolling motors with spot lock

What states don't require a boat with a trolling motor to be registered on private lakes or non-federal waters?

Only three states let the use of an unregistered boat with a trolling motor on privately endemic lakes. These are Florida, Georgia, and Washington State. Let'southward look at each of these more closely:

  • Florida: boats that are exclusively used on private ponds and lakes are exempt from having to be registered (click here for more details).
  • Georgia: boats that are exclusively operated on private lakes and ponds are exempt (click here for more information).
  • Washington: boats that are less than xvi ft in length, and powered by a motor with less than 10 horsepower are exempt when operated on non-federal waters (click here for more details).

In the case of Washington State, make sure to cheque with local authorities in your surface area to determine what lakes are considered federal or non-federal waters. If in incertitude, it'southward better to get a registration, as that will set you back much less than getting a fine.

Do you need to annals a trolling motor?

While all states require you to annals a boat with a trolling motor in most circumstances, you don't need to annals the actual trolling motor itself.

In full general, y'all just need to register an outboard motor with more than 10 horsepower, and since electric trolling motors autumn well below this threshold, they don't need to exist registered. But as always, make sure to bank check the regulations in your state specifically.

Exercise you have to register a kayak with a trolling motor?

Yes, you have to register a kayak with a trolling motor in all states, no matter the size of the kayak or the motor. The only exceptions to this are private lakes in Florida and Georgia, or non-federal waters in Washington State.

It's important to exist careful about adding a trolling motor to your kayak without registering it, since it's easy to forget checking about this if the kayak on its own, without a trolling motor, doesn't need to be registered.

Practise y'all accept to register an inflatable gunkhole with a trolling motor?

Aye, you have to register an inflatable boat with a trolling motor in all states. Fifty-fifty if your inflatable boat doesn't need to be registered without a motor, equally soon equally you add a trolling motor to it, it becomes a motorized vessel and needs to be registered.

Does a canoe with a trolling motor demand to be registered?

Yes, a canoe with a trolling motor needs to be registered in all states. This holds true even if the canoe without a motor doesn't need to be registered. One time you add the motor to it, it counts as a motorized vessel that must be registered.

Again, the but exceptions to this are Florida and Georgia, which don't require registration if y'all operate the canoe exclusively on a individual lake, while Washington State doesn't require registration if you utilize the canoe exclusively on non-federal waters.

Final remarks

A cracking fashion to increase the speed and range of  near any small boat, including jon boats, inflatable boats, kayaks, or canoes is by adding an electric trolling motor to them.

But if yous do, brand sure to annals your vessel with your local state regime, since skipping this step can issue in several hundred dollars of fines if you go caught without registration.

Additional resource:

  • What is the best trolling motor with anchor fashion?