Registration for kayak over 8ft. WTH?

Hey,
I had the same issue with a RIB I bought.  It was just 8' and powered by oars.  The Ca. Vehicle Code (CVC) is very clear on what needs to be registered and not. Attached is CVC 9873
Look at section (e).

An undocumented vessel shall not be required to be numbered under this chapter if it is:

(a) Already covered by a number in full force and effect which has been issued to it pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state; provided, that such undocumented vessel shall be subject to the numbering requirements of this chapter if it has changed its state of principal use and has been within this state for a period in excess of 90 consecutive days.

(b) A vessel from a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of this state.

(c) A public vessel of the United States, another state or subdivision thereof or municipality of such other state.

(d) A ship’s lifeboat.

(e) Any vessel belonging to a class of boats which has been exempted from numbering by the department after the department has found that the numbering of vessels of such class will not materially aid in their identification; and, if any agency of the federal government has a numbering system applicable to the class of vessels to which the vessel in question belongs, after the department has further found that the vessel would also be exempt from numbering if it were subject to the federal law. An undocumented vessel propelled solely by oars or paddles and an undocumented vessel eight feet or less propelled solely by sail are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

The key point is that the vessel is powered by oars or paddles.  That's two different vessels DMV is talking about.  One is a oar/paddle vessel and the other an 8' or less sail boat.

The only bummer is when you decide to throw the  motor back on it.  Then it's got to be registered.  All in all, $36 for 2 years isn't that bad. It's cheaper than getting a ticket for operating a motorized vessel without current registration. 
Good luck and Happy New Year.

bob

Thats the problem with registering it one time, you'll have to pony up until the boat is disposed of.
sell it and forget the buyers name because it was a cash in hand deal....

Gonna have to agree with Rockfish on this one

the reason you need to sell it as a cash in hand deal is so that you can tell DMV that you no longer have the boat and don't remember who bought it from you. If you simply don't pay, then every year they will add late fees to your non payment.

once you have sold the boat it is totally a great idea to scrape the numbers of the hull, otherwise at some point in time someone may ask you why you don't have the current yea sticker on it.

after that let it be a lesson. don't register your kayak.

the other take away is that perhaps a motor does not belong on a kayak 

I was just at DMV today regarding some of my old boats.  There is no non-op for boats plus they now charge an extra $16 in registration for mussels fee or you can claim ocean use only & waive the $16 fee.  What a bunch of bs.  For me to not continue registration (is non-op) on one of my boats I have to fore fit the title & destroy the boat.

Then after you pay the 16dollars mussel fee to the state. You still have to pay to get the boat inspected. The inspection lasts 14 days. Or for each body of water. The 16.00 I bet goes into the general fund just another way to get money from you. Yep just remove all your stickers ditch the motor. No one has ever asked me for CF numbers on my yak. but I think with the amount of yaks it will be here soon enough.

An undocumented vessel propelled solely by oars or paddles and an undocumented vessel eight feet or less propelled solely by sail are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

Bingo.  Cal. Vehicle Code 9873(e) exemption.  A straight up paddle yak is neither a sail boat, nor motorized.  No yakker must register unless s/he: 1) puts up a sail on a boat > 8 feet, or 2) slaps on a motor.

Better to go the self help route suggested by Arty and others.  Forget trying to explain that to a DMV clerk, once you already registered.  It'd be like telling them you don't need plates on your car b/c you pulled the engine block. 

I am in the same "boat".  I no longer own the yak but to keep things simple, I tried doing the non op on the website, no luck.  So I just mailed in the reg. with$19.00 non op fee.  That has been weeks ago, haven't heard back yet that I can't do it.  If it is rejected then I'm gonna do what Tote said.

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