[Paddle] thx for this info

[Floyd.Gene at mail.dc.state.fl.us]

The quoted passage from 328.72 only applies to vehicles that must be
registered, ie motorized craft. I re-quoted that section immediately below
my reply to save anyone the trouble of digging it back up. However, if you
read section 328.48(2)(d), you find that as non-powered vessels, our canoes,
kayaks, sailboats etc are currently exempt from the jungle that Charlotte so
thankfully pointed out to us. Keeping them from being lumped into that
nightmarish mess should be our goal. 

Hopefully, by writing our own legislation to license/regulate our boats, we
will keep the gummint from taking the easy way out and simply creating
another class of licensed watercraft after revoking 328.48(2)(d).

328.48  Vessel registration, application, certificate, number, decal,
duplicate certificate.-- 

(1)(a)  The owner of each vessel required by this law to pay a registration
fee and secure an identification number shall file an application with the
county tax collector. The application shall provide the owner's name and
address; residency status; personal or business identification, which may
include, but need not be limited to, a driver's license number, Florida
identification card number, or federal employer identification number; and a
complete description of the vessel, and shall be accompanied by payment of
the applicable fee required in s. 328.72. Registration is not required for
any vessel that is not used on the waters of this state. 

(b)  For purposes of registration, the owner may establish proof of
ownership of the vessel by submitting with his or her application an
executed bill of sale, a builder's contract, a manufacturer's statement of
origin, a federal marine document, or any other document acceptable to the
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and presented at the time of
registration to the agency issuing the registration certificate. 

(2)  All vessels used on the waters of the state must be registered, either
commercial or recreational as defined in this chapter, except as follows: 

	(a)  A vessel used exclusively on private lakes and ponds. 

	(b)  A vessel owned by the United States Government. 

	(c)  A vessel used exclusively as a ship's lifeboat. 

	(d)  A non-motor-powered vessel. 

328.72  Classification; registration; fees and charges; surcharge;
disposition of fees; fines; marine turtle stickers.-- 

(1)  VESSEL REGISTRATION FEE.--Vessels that are required to be
registered shall be classified for registration purposes according to
the following schedule, and the registration certificate fee shall be in
the following amounts: 

Class A-1--Less than 12 feet in length, and all canoes to which
propulsion motors have been attached, regardless of length ............
$3.50 

Class A-2--12 feet or more and less than 16 feet in length ............
10.50 
(To county) ............ 2.85 

Class 1--16 feet or more and less than 26 feet in length ............
18.50 
(To county) ............ 8.85 

-----Original Message-----
From: paddle-bounces at paddletally.org
[mailto:paddle-bounces at paddletally.org]On Behalf Of Cyndi Brown
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 8:59 AM
To: Charlotte Hand; 'Michael Lampman'
Cc: paddle at paddletally.org; jimostrander at fastmail.fm
Subject: [Paddle] thx for this info


Thx so much for this info Charlotte!!  it IS 'beyond me' tho, why anyone
would register their boat/pay these fees if they don't have to ... for what
purpose, I wonder?
At any rate, my own feelings agree with yours pretty much about the issue. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Charlotte Hand <outdoorslady1 at nettally.com>
Sent: Feb 11, 2005 8:52 AM
To: cynmoon at earthlink.net, 'Michael Lampman' <mlampman at solitaireboats.com>
Cc: paddle at paddletally.org, jimostrander at fastmail.fm
Subject: Registration is currently over $14/year for kayaks/canoes  less
than 12 feet and over $21 for canoes/kayaks 12-16 feet - it's just not
mandatory!

About paddle-boat registration - we already have it!  It is not
mandatory at this time.  Boat owners have had the ability to register
their canoes, kayaks, etc. for about 10 years, maybe longer.  I worked
in the Governor's Office for a number of years as Policy Analyst for the
Department of Agriculture, which include state forests such as
Blackwater River State Forest, and also in the Goverrnor's Office of
Revenue Forecasting, where we not only tracked funding but also looked
at reasonable ways to increase funding.

Paddlecraft registration is in Section 328.72, Florida Statutes.  I have
included relevant excerpts below for anyone who wants to take the time
to read it.  In summary, the fee starts out sounding like it is simply
$3.25 annually for non-motorized "vessels" less than 12 feet and $10.50
for boats 12 feet to less than 16 feet.  This has been on the books for
a number of years.  I didn't research that part of it, but it can be
easily determined or call the Legislature.  There is also a $2.25
service fee, a $1.00 surcharge, and a mail service charge of actual
postage, rounded up to the nearest 5 cents plus a $0.25 service charge
for mail-in registrations or re-registrations.  That is over $14
annually for a 12 foot boat.  If you lose the decal, which may be often
on whitewater kayaks and other boats made of non-rigid materials,
replacements are $2.25.  Some of the other charges, surcharges, service
charges, mail fees, etc., may also apply.Duplicate registration fees are
also $2.25.  Also, some of the other charges, surcharges, service
charges, mail fees, etc., may also apply.Transfers to new owners must be
filed within 30 days of sale, with the full price being paid by the
buyer at the time of transfer and no refunds to the seller.  Then you
have to keep up with the certificate, remember to reregister each year,
shell out . 

 I prefer not taking a fatalistic approach and DISCOURAGE THE FEES.  I'd
like to keep my money in my pocket as long as possible!  Should
paddlecraft registration become mandatory I don't think the funds would
be sufficient to make much improvement in put-ins and take-outs.  Too
many of them and too little money.  Besides, most improvements would go
where there is the biggest "bang for the buck" and have the most
economic impact, which would logically be the tourist industry, which is
generally areas that I avoid paddling.  I think that we should support
the state forests, parks, and paddle trails, but NOT through a kayak
registration.  A specialty license plate on my car(s), would be
preferable, with the funds being shared between state parks, state
forests, and the areas managed by Fish and Game Commission, with a
Paddlecraft Board being established with one representive from each
agency with areas for paddling and several paddlers from around the
state to determine disbursement of the meager funds.

Charlotte M. Hand 
562-3829