Update That Registration!

With spring comes the boating season. Sure, some of you hearty boaters have probably been venturing around on the water all year. But many of us will really get the season going just now. There's lots of excitement in starting the boating season, especially on getting a new boat ready for the water. There are life jackets to buy, safety equipment to find a home for, lines and charts to put on board...

But one of the least exiting things you need to do to be ready for boating season is make sure your boat registration is up to date. In Florida, boats are registered with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. For new boats, titling and registration must be filed at the same time with the county tax collector. The registration number is permanent and remains affixed to the boat as long as it is operated or stored in Florida. The number should read from left to right and must be in a color that contrasts with the hull. A decal placed next to the registration numbers shows what year the registration is valid for.




For boats owned by individuals, the registration period begins on the first day of the birth month of the owner and ends the last day of the prior month the year after. (For example, for those of us born in April, our boat registrations would be vaild from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014.)  

In Florida, the length of a vessel is used to determine registration fees. This chart serves as a good example of the fee structure:

SAMPLE RENEWAL REGISTRATION FEES
STATE Registration base tax *$28.75

Additional Statutory Fees

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STATE Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System fee $0.50
STATE Law Enforcement Radio Trust Fund fee $1.00
STATE Automated license plate validation sticker printer service fee $3.00

Subtotal of Additional Statutory Fees $4.50

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Subtotal to STATE$33.25

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Tax Collector registration service charge $2.25T
ax Collector branch fee $0.50
Tax Collector mailing fee $0.70

Subtotal retained by Tax Collector $3.45

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GRAND TOTAL$36.70

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See the chart that delineates fees by vessel footage here.

Have you updated your registration recently?

Green Boating - Everyone's Responsibility

The phrase “green boater” might conjure up one of two images in your mind: one of a poor landlubber clutching the side of a boat, seasick, and the other of a boating rookie struggling on his maiden voyage, unable to dock his new vessel or tie a good knot.



But there is a third type of “green boater” you may not have considered before, one that is neither affected by rough waters or new to boating. This kind of green boater is the eco-friendly boater, who makes sure that he treats valuable water resources with care. Green boating does not require an entire lifestyle change and can make a positive impact on surrounding waters and wildlife, as well as reduce the chance of damage to your boat and engine. If each of the 22 million registered recreational boaters in the United States took more interest in being a green boater, pollution levels and water health might be dramatically better.



Here are a few easy ways to become a green boater:



1. Don’t throw it, stow it: Don’t throw your trash overboard. Instead, stow it somewhere on board so you can easily dispose of your trash next time you make landfall. Remember, if you wouldn’t swim in it, don’t put it in the water! Further, there are federal regulations on the type of waste that can enter the water. Make sure you are familiar with these laws as well.



2. Spill-proof your fueling practices: Prevent fuel spills by carefully and slowly filling fuel tanks and by using absorbent pads or rags to catch drips and spills. Don't top off or overflow your fuel tank. Leave five percent empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms. Remember: using detergent to disperse an oil spill or sheen is illegal!



3. Rinse and dry your boat before trailering: Aquatic hitchhikers are harmful plants and animals that ride your boat from one body of water from another. When introduced into new water, they can damage existing organisms and change the ecosystem. They can also damage your equipment, so make sure that your boat is hitchhiker-free before leaving the ramp.



Have you added these or other green boating practices into your routine? Where or when do you think boaters should especially focus on being green?