[Paddle] Paddle craft registration.

[Michael Lampman]

The following might be regarded as a rant.  You have a delete key.  
Feel free to use it.

Some years ago there was a proposal in the legislature for registration 
of paddle craft to which I was strongly and vocally opposed.  However, 
there have been some changes since that time.  Until recently there 
were virtually no services provided by any state agency to paddlers.  
Even most of the costs for rescue of paddlers in distress was covered 
by the US Coast Guard and CG auxiliary.

It is sometimes claimed that the construction and care of boat ramps 
and the like are a service to paddlers.  They are not.  If anything 
they are the opposite as they usually remove rather than enhance the 
softly sloping dirt, grass or sand surfaces that we prefer and cover 
them with steep concrete ramps or build metal docks and the like.  The 
clean up of service areas, campsites and such is more often done BY 
paddlers than FOR them.

Be that as it may, there are many new signs of services being provided 
to paddlers.  Fish and wildlife have created an entire division and 
hired some great staff to establish and map new trails and provide 
similar related services not aimed solely and power boaters, fishermen 
and hunters.  I now think that perhaps the paddling community should 
begin to pay an equitable, (hence relatively miniscule), portion of 
boat registration fees.  This  should not be taken to mean that I favor 
use fees comparable in any way to hunting and fishing licenses.

What spurs my current thinking on this is several things relating to 
registration in other states.  More and more other states are adopting 
such laws, some intelligent and fair, some completely outrageous 
rip-offs.  If the paddling community in Florida is proactive in the 
creation of a registration statute, we may hope for one that works  to 
our advantage.  If not,  one will surely come but it will doubtless be 
designed by some clown in the legislature who doesn't know the 
difference between a jet ski and a kayak, (nor care).

Because I sell boats and travel frequently with my own boats,  I have 
encountered several situations outside of Florida where home 
registration would be a positive thing.  I had to go through a whole 
lot of red tape to make it possible for a kayak buyer in Illinois to 
meet the requirements of registration in his state.  I am now planning 
a trip to Boundary Waters.  Minnesota requires registration but like 
other states that do so, they accept registration by other states for 
visitors.  To make this trip, the best plan for me is to register my 
kayak in Florida as a power boat but this means that the fee is higher 
than it should be.  Some of the rules are completely unacceptable as 
well.  In florida it is required to have the huge, ugly 4" registration 
number decals  on the bow of the boat.  I will go to jail before I will 
deface my beautiful wooden kayaks in this way!  In Minnesota, only a 
tiny 1" X 1" sticker is required on paddle craft.  Minnesota also 
provides far more direct service to paddlers than any other state or 
province in North America but the paddle craft registration fee is 
small, ($7.50).

I would appreciate any other information or perspective on this issue.

Cheers,

Michael


Michael Lampman
Solitaire Boats, LLC
2421 Bass Bay Drive
Tallahassee,  Florida 32312
mlampman at solitaireboats.com
http://www.solitaireboats.com


Michael Lampman

Solitaire Boats, LLC
2421 Bass Bay Drive
Tallahassee,  Florida 32312

mlampman at solitaireboats.com
http://www.solitaireboats.com