Registration for kayak over 8ft. WTH?

Where do I start?  Registration came in for my yak two months ago.  Last minute change of mind I decided to not want to register my kayak for next year.  So I went to two DMV places in Sacramento.  First was the one off Broadway and Stockton blvd.  I told the man at the counter that I didn’t want to use my motor for my kayak anymore and just only paddle my kayak for next year.  He said he had to register his boat and kayak.  I’m thinking…WTH, BS.  I told him I’d never had to register my kayak until I put an electric motor on.  I asked him are you sure?  He went to consult with fellow workers then came back and said,” yes, you have to register the kayak because the motor has nothing to do with DMV only the hull of the kayak.”  Frustrated, I went to another DMV location.  This time I got my ticket and waited to be called.  My number came up, told the man about my situation and asks if there was any option of opting to pay for next year’s registration.  No! 


E-mailed [email protected] and I got this reply back.

I am sorry you are having difficulties.  Please call 916/657-6893.  They should be able to answer you. 

 

See the link:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/boatsinfo/boatreg.htm

 

Vessel Boat Registration and Information
What Vessels Must be Registered?
Generally, every sail-powered vessel over eight feet in length and every motor-driven vessel (regardless of length) that is not documented by the U.S. Coast Guard which is used or on the waters of this state are subject to registration by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The vessel must be located in California.


     
I just called and spoked to Lee (916/657-6893) and she said I'd would have to get it registered, because it followed under the law that it's over 8ft.  I told her that it's not a sailboat and only propeled by paddle.  She'd put me on hold, got back and told me that I would still have to pay up my registration under that rule being over 8ft.  I told asked here again, does that mean every kayak over 8 ft no matter if you use only a paddle would have to be registered?  She replied yes.  After reading the regulation again (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/boatsinfo/boatreg.htm) and getting this answer it's making me confused.  I asked for my email to be foward to a supervisor before taking futher steps.   

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....

The problem is they are telling me that a kayak over 8ft even when propelled with paddles is considered a sailboat.   

Try going down and putting it into a non-opp status like what you would do with a car your not driving

Try going down and putting it into a non-opp status like what you would do with a car your not driving

They told me there is no option like that in my situation. 

Hey but the Feds will be much better handling your healthcare than the State is handling your pool-toy "registration" right?

Send a letter back telling them the kayak was totaled in a bizarre garden accident, and peel the numbers off the hull, how often do you suppose the coast guard will have probably cause to run the serial numbers? Hell melt the serial numbers off for that reason, what do you need them for anyway, who is going to know, or be able to prove it, and why would they?

Government gone amuck, again, more petty dictator BS and deliberate misinterpretation ......

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.

1. Don't pay registration
2. Scrape cf number off hull
3. Go fish

That's weird, I just paid mine and it was 36 bucks for two years, same as last time. I even got the mussel stickers

I heard if you get the mussel registration (for instance at clear lake) they won't let you put the boat on a body of water that doesn't have mussels.

Any truth to that?

I will never register my OB.

1. Don't pay registration
2. Scrape cf number off hull
3. Go fish

EXACTLY what I did.
I registered my kayak when I entered the Superbowl Sturgeon Derby as it was in the rules that the vessel had to be registered.
When I got there they told me they never had a kayak enter and I didn't need the registration as the kayak itself didn't need it. I thought better safe than sorry. I could see someone bitching about the rules if I caught a $10K winning fish.
I got the registration in the mail the next year and ignored it. Seriously, what are they going to do? Confiscate the kayak? Hey it sunk.
No problems ever. I no longer own the kayak and I am sure the next owner has no intention of registering it with DMV.

Lately the State is getting trickier with regs, they docked my income tax return last year for a non-op I forgot to file, I got stuck with full-price and the car had been parked for 2 years, so, go with the "destroyed" letter to avoid the taxes if you can...

1. Don't pay registration
2. Scrape cf number off hull
3. Go fish

This is the answer you're looking for.  State's broke.  Send your registration money to St.Jude or red cross, help people, not politicians.

Here is a quote from the regs you linked to.


The following vessels do not have to be registered in California:

Vessels propelled solely by oars or paddles.

Maybe they are saying that since you used a motor it is not "solely" propelled by paddles. You have used both. Tell them it was disposed of and just don't use the motor any more.