BWCA New regulation - states with no license required! Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* BWCA is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Listening Point - General Discussion
      New regulation - states with no license required!     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

VoyageurNorth
distinguished member(2695)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/03/2017 07:41PM  
This message has had HTML content edited out of it.
Got this in my email and thought people who have their own watercraft in their own states where they don't need to license it, might like to know new regulation.

From: Ely License Bureau
Date: Fri, Jun 30, 2017 at 4:33 PM
Subject: New Boat Regulation for Out of State Visitors
To: fun@ely.org

Please forward this information to all the resorts and outfitters in the Ely area.
Starting July 1. 2017

there is a new exemption for boat registration;
Watercraft registration is not required for a watercraft that is owned by a person from another state and that state does not require licensing that type of watercraft and the watercraft has not been within this state for more than 90 consecutive days.


Thank you,
Penny
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
LuvMyBell
distinguished member(2467)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/03/2017 08:02PM  
What a sensible rules change and a pleasant surprise that a state government would do it even though it means a loss of revenue. Well done Minnesota! Now I can get those nasty looking stickers off my canoes.

I'm guessing that someone in the group will have to ensure they have some ID like andrivers license showing your out of state address as proof in case you get stopped.
 
07/03/2017 08:56PM  
A question for those from Wisconsin. I understand a canoe used by a Wisconsin resident does not need to be registered and a fee paid. When you purchase a canoe from a Wisconsin seller on Craigslist is there any paperwork required that proves the canoe is yours? I would never do this but could A person sell all their canoes and kayaks to their brother in Wisconsin and then borrow them from him and use in Minnesota and make sure they don't stay in the state for 90 days? When asked It would be truthful that The craft was borrowed from a Wisconsin resident. It seems now when an MNDNR agent sees a canoe without a registration sticker they will want to see paperwork about that canoe. Is there any paper work associated with a Wisconsin canoe? This will require looking at a lot of canoes now.

The fees to register in Minnesota just went up.
 
07/03/2017 10:38PM  
Just my luck! Got my Minnesota sticker last week.
 
ozarkpaddler
distinguished member(5162)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
07/04/2017 03:25AM  
quote MHS67: "Just my luck! Got my Minnesota sticker last week."


I knew I should have waited to go in July? Got mine the last of June, too!
 
OldFingers57
distinguished member(4987)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
07/04/2017 05:00AM  
Well everyone here in Illinois can not have to worry now about if the Water Usage sticker is a valid registration in MN now. Now we can worry about other more important things like who to name interstates after in the Chicago area and promoting IL tourism in the Bahamas maybe even the state budget. Budget LOL!!!
 
07/04/2017 09:49AM  
There is nothing on the MN-DNR website about this. Some questions arise.

Does the watercraft need to be accompanied by the owner?

Does there need to be a title, or other proof of ownership accompanying the boat?

I think this makes things really complicated for law enforcement. Up to now, every boat had to have some visible proof of registration. Now they will have to stop and interview everyone without a sticker, many of which will be legal, making it a total waste of time.

I have only one canoe that I bought new and has a bill of sale. All the rest I built myself or bought used and didn't think to get a bill of sale because my state doesn't title or register paddlecraft.

I await clarification!
 
syogod
member (24)member
  
07/05/2017 05:59AM  
quote ozarkpaddler: "
quote MHS67: "Just my luck! Got my Minnesota sticker last week."



I knew I should have waited to go in July? Got mine the last of June, too!"


Same here! Oh well, at least it wasn't too expensive.
 
IceColdGold
distinguished member(934)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/05/2017 07:19AM  
I live in WI. It costs $9 for a three year voluntary registration for a canoe. When you register, you get a card for the boat, and stickers. I have stickers on one of my boats now. I have the stickers for the other two, but have not installed them yet. I am thinking that I will not apply the stickers and simply carry the registration card which has the serial number for the boat and my address on it. It's easy enough to just pull out the card if needed. It may still be worth the $3 per year to avoid any issue and make the wardens job a bit easier.
 
Spartan1
distinguished member (224)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/05/2017 05:35PM  
quote IceColdGold: "I live in WI. It costs $9 for a three year voluntary registration for a canoe. ."


It is even cheaper in Michigan, $5.00 for three years.

S1
 
Yellowbird
distinguished member (105)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/05/2017 05:55PM  
My state of Tennessee requires no registration for canoe. So it had to be registered as a boat, renewed annually at $25. After moving down here from MI, I had to re-register it and therefore pay a required 10% sales tax.
The changed in MN law is much welcomed!
 
07/05/2017 06:25PM  
quote Yellowbird: "My state of Tennessee requires no registration for canoe. So it had to be registered as a boat, renewed annually at $25. After moving down here from MI, I had to re-register it and therefore pay a required 10% sales tax.
The changed in MN law is much welcomed!"


Yes! Now I can take that "TN 36054732 DD" off my canoe!
I'm in Nashville Yellowbird. Where are you?
 
Northland
distinguished member (219)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/06/2017 06:56AM  
quote sedges: "There is nothing on the MN-DNR website about this. Some questions arise.


Does the watercraft need to be accompanied by the owner?


Does there need to be a title, or other proof of ownership accompanying the boat?


I think this makes things really complicated for law enforcement. Up to now, every boat had to have some visible proof of registration. Now they will have to stop and interview everyone without a sticker, many of which will be legal, making it a total waste of time.


I have only one canoe that I bought new and has a bill of sale. All the rest I built myself or bought used and didn't think to get a bill of sale because my state doesn't title or register paddlecraft.


I await clarification!"


I can't imagine how a title could be required to be with the boat as one is not required for registration. I have had my Nautiraid folding kayak registered in MN for almost 10 years and have never had a title, since I bought it used.
 
Guest Paddler
  
07/06/2017 07:19AM  
Register a self-propelled watercraft with no motor?!? When pigs fly..
 
Porkeater
distinguished member (223)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/06/2017 07:24AM  
quote sedges: " Now they will have to stop and interview everyone without a sticker, many of which will be legal, making it a total waste of time.
"


... or they could spend their time in more worthwhile pursuits, rather than hassling people who aren't breaking the law.
 
Yellowbird
distinguished member (105)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/06/2017 09:32AM  
quote OneMatch: "

I'm in Nashville Yellowbird. Where are you?"

Soddy Daisy
 
mutz
distinguished member(1259)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/06/2017 10:05AM  
This message has had HTML content edited out of it.
quote VoyageurNorth: "Got this in my email and thought people who have their own watercraft in their own states where they don't need to license it, might like to know new regulation.


From: Ely License Bureau
Date: Fri, Jun 30, 2017 at 4:33 PM
Subject: New Boat Regulation for Out of State Visitors
To: fun@ely.org

Please forward this information to all the resorts and outfitters in the Ely area.
Starting July 1. 2017

there is a new exemption for boat registration;
Watercraft registration is not required for a watercraft that is owned by a person from another state and that state does not require licensing that type of watercraft and the watercraft has not been within this state for more than 90 consecutive days.


Thank you,
Penny
"




I have read multiple responses to this new law, and I am baffled. Not sure what is not black and white about this. If you don't live in Minnesota and your state doesn't require a registration you don't need one. If I am checked I show my Michigan ID and say it doesn't need registration in Michigan. Not sure what could be more clear. Contact will take less than five minutes.
 
SouthernExposure
distinguished member (459)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/06/2017 11:28AM  
Well, this will certainly make it easier for me now. MS does not require registration of human powered water craft so I would do the following when I would bring my cedar strip canoe into MN. A friend in the state fish and game department would just give me two regular boat registration stickers. I would then order an inexpensive set of vinyl numbers and letters that, when the canoe was inverted on top of the vehicle, would actually spell out my name. No one ever questioned me about it. Once I get back home, I'd tear that ugly registration mess off of the hull.

I guess that I don't have to do that anymore. Cheers.
 
billconner
distinguished member(8764)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
07/06/2017 12:29PM  
quote OldFingers57: "Well everyone here in Illinois can not have to worry now about if the Water Usage sticker is a valid registration in MN now. Now we can worry about other more important things like who to name interstates after in the Chicago area and promoting IL tourism in the Bahamas maybe even the state budget. Budget LOL!!!"


Not sure if you mean the water usage stamp will now unquestionably be acceptable OR since Illinois does not require "registration" technically that nothing is acceptable. Hmmmm. So if I don't paddle my canoes in Illinois, do I need to do anything?

Anyone know what other states would allow me to paddle with my unregistered Illinois canoe? I assume at least Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Mississippi. I think Missouri? And of course Canada.

Someone - like a canoe association or something - should maintain a database with this info - which states require what for residents and non-residents.

Double DOH! I took my own advice and googled it. Doesn't seem up to date but a start.

States With Canoe & Kayak Registration Requirements

Oh look - another! And seems slightly more up to date.

Canoe And Kayak Registration By State
 
jhb8426
distinguished member(1462)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/08/2017 08:57PM  
quote Northland: "
quote sedges: "Does there need to be a title, or other proof of ownership accompanying the boat?"


I can't imagine how a title could be required to be with the boat as one is not required for registration. I have had my Nautiraid folding kayak registered in MN for almost 10 years and have never had a title, since I bought it used."


Canoes and kayaks do not have titles in MN.
(See page 9-10)
MN boating guide
 
Jasonf
senior member (82)senior membersenior member
  
06/01/2018 10:30PM  
Man I got lucky, I am bringing 3 canoes from MI and was just going to go through the hassle of registering them. For some reason though I decided search the topic one more time and low and behold I come across this post.
Thanks for sharing.
 
SourisMan
distinguished member(583)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/02/2018 07:11AM  
IceColdGold: "I live in WI. It costs $9 for a three year voluntary registration for a canoe. When you register, you get a card for the boat, and stickers. I have stickers on one of my boats now. I have the stickers for the other two, but have not installed them yet. I am thinking that I will not apply the stickers and simply carry the registration card which has the serial number for the boat and my address on it. It's easy enough to just pull out the card if needed. It may still be worth the $3 per year to avoid any issue and make the wardens job a bit easier."


+1
 
06/02/2018 07:47AM  
I wish I had noticed this a couple weeks ago. I just renewed my registration and my last day in the BWCA yesterday, I met 2 guys from the DNR and they informed me of this as they were checking my fishing license. I asked If they needed to see my boat registration and they informed me of the change in the law. I could have saved $11. Oh well.
 
DownStrm
distinguished member (269)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/02/2018 10:04AM  
Bill,
Iowa does not require out of state canoes to have Iowa registration if they are properly registered in their home state and used in Iowa 60 days or less. I keep all my registrations in my wallet because Iowa requires the registration to be on board. Since Illinois no longer requires registration, you should be safe.

Iowa has several crystal clear rivers in the Driftless Region, such as the Upper Iowa, Yellow, Turkey, and Maquoketa Rivers.
"Head west, young man, head west!"
 
06/04/2018 11:41AM  
Killing the ongoing quote. Also, yay for no registration required if the home state doesn't require it!
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Listening Point - General Discussion Sponsor:
Canoe Country