STUVIA 2024/2025
Boating Info & Regulations (ALL)
All boats that carry any means of mechanical propulsion, (which are electric trolling motors and, or,
gas motors), and all sailboats 12 feet and longer must be registered. - ✔✔What type of boats must
be registered?
60 Consecutive days - ✔✔Georgia honors all other state's registrations, provided the boat is not
used in excess of, (blank), consecutive days in Georgia.
Yes, it is - ✔✔Is a wearable personal flotation device required for each person aboard a vessel?
Personal Flotation Devices must be readily accessible to all occupants, in good and serviceable
condition, legibly marked with the US Coast Guard approved number, and of appropriate size for the
occupants.
One Type 4 throwable device must also be on board all vessels except Class A vessels, (which are
boats less than 15 feet 11 inches, including personal-watercraft, canoes and kayaks). - ✔✔What are
the conditions for each PDF on a vessel?
Under the age of 10 - ✔✔Children under the age of, (blank), must wear a PFD when the vessel is
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under way, unless the child is within a fully enclosed cabin.
If an area is marked as a, "hazardous area." - ✔✔PFDs must be worn by each person aboard a
vessel in an area marked as a, (blank).
Where there is any moored or anchored vessel, vessel adrift, or any wharf, pier, piling, or persons in
the water, or shoreline next to a full-time or part-time residence, public park, public beach, public
swimming area, marina, restaurant, or other public use area. - ✔✔No vessel may be operated over
idle speed within 100 feet of which areas?
5 miles per hour - ✔✔Personal watercrafts cannot be operated in excess of, (blank), miles per hour
when within 100 feet of any moored or anchored vessel, shore, dock, pier, or wharf.
NO IT IS ILLEGAL - ✔✔Is it lawful to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
Yes, any boat with mechanical propulsion must be registered if it is being operated in waters of the
State of Georgia.
However, if the boat is used exclusively on private ponds, then it does not need to be registered. -
✔✔Does a boat using just a trolling motor have to be registered?
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Yes, all sailboats with mechanical propulsion must be registered regardless of length. Also, sailboats
12 feet or longer must be registered whether or not they have mechanical propulsion.
However, boats operated exclusively on private ponds or lakes do not have to be registered. - ✔✔I
have a sailboat without a motor. Does it have to be registered?
Boats and sailboats that are used exclusively on private ponds or lakes do not need to be registered.
Also, non-mechanical vessels under 12 feet do not to be registered. - ✔✔Under what conditions
does a boat not need to be registered?
All boat registrations, except for transfers, are good for three years. Registrations will expire the last
day of the vessel owner's month of birth in the third calendar year. Also, transfer registrations are
good until the last day of the vessel owner's month of birth in the year the original registration expires.
- ✔✔How long does a boat registration last?
YES. Owners of Georgia registered boats must notify DNR, in writing, of sale or transfer, theft or
recovery, or destruction or abandonment of a boat within 15 days. The signed form may be returned
to DNR . - ✔✔Do I need to notify DNR if I sell or no longer have my boat?
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Yes. Owners of Georgia registered boats must notify the Department of a change in address from that
shown on their boat registration card within 15 days. - ✔✔Do I need to notify DNR if I change
address?
If a boat is fully registered and valid in another state, the boat may be used in Georgia. However, after
60 days of continuous use in Georgia, the boat must have Georgia registration. - ✔✔My boat is
registered in another state. Can I use it in Georgia?
When a new boat is purchased, the buyer is given a manufacturer's statement of origin (MSO) and a
receipt. The MSO and receipt are used to register the new boat. This process is used in every state.
In states that title boats, the MSO is surrendered and a title issued to the owner as proof of
ownership. Georgia does not title boats, but instead when the MSO is surrendered we issue a
Georgia Boat Registration Card to the owner. The Georgia Boat Registration Card functions like a title
for boat registration purposes. - ✔✔Why must I surrender my original out-of-state title or original
Manufacturers Statement of Origin, (MSO), to register my boat in Georgia?
When boat registration numbers expire, they become available to be reused. We do this because of
the limited quantity of numbers available. While the odds favor that an expired registration number
won't be quickly selected by the computer once it expires, it is available upon expiration and if
reassigned is no longer available to the previous registrant. We suggest maintaining boat
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registrations rather than letting them expire. - ✔✔My registration expired and now I'm told the
registration numbers on my boat aren't available and must be changed. Why?
The State of Georgia does not and has never titled or registered outboard motors. - ✔✔Does
Georgia register or title outboard motors?
All boat trailers must be registered with the Georgia Motor Vehicle Division. Registration is done
through your local County Tax Commissioners Office, (which is the Tag Office). - ✔✔How do I
register my boat trailer?
Homemade boats must be assigned a hull identification number, (called a HIN). To get a HIN,
persons should initiate the boat registration process and pay for registration using the normal
process, (mail or phone), so that a record of the boat is in our system. - ✔✔I built a homemade boat.
How do I register it?
No. There is no requirement that the boat remain registered. However, there is a possibility that the
registration number on the boat may be reassigned if the registration is allowed to lapse. - ✔✔Do I
have to keep my boat registered?
1) Less than 16 feet, (which are considered Class A)
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2) 16 feet to less than 26 feet, (which are Class 1)
3) 26 feet to less than 40 feet, (which are Class 2); &
4) 40 feet or longer, (which are Class 3) - ✔✔What are the four different boat length classes?
Length is measured from the tip of the bow in a straight line to the stern. This does not include
outboard motors, brackets, rudders, bow attachments, or swim platforms and ladders not a molded
part of the hull. - ✔✔How is boat length measured?
Always check the capacity plate usually near the operator's position or on the boats transom. This
plate indicates the maximum weight capacity or the maximum number of people that the boat can
safely carry. Personal Watercraft's do not have a capacity plate. Always follow the recommended
capacity in the owner's manual and on the manufacturers warning decal. - ✔✔Where do you find a
boat's "capacity limit" decal?
Those less than 12 years of age. - ✔✔Under what age can one not operate a Personal Watercraft?
Those 12 to 15 years of age may legally operate a PWC only if they:
1) Have passed a boating safety course approved by the Department of Natural Resources, or
2) Are accompanied by a competent adult, or
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