LAUNCH PERMITS

Owners of unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, etc.) can launch their boats at PFBC lakes and access areas or Pennsylvania state parks if their boats display a PFBC launch use permit, OR boat registration, OR Pennsylvania State Parks launch permit or mooring permit. Pennsylvania State Parks recognizes PFBC boat registrations and launch permits. The Commission does NOT recognize launch permits from other states. A PFBC launch permit can be purchased online at the Commission’s website. An unpowered boat may have a registration OR launch permit, but is not required to have both.

A certificate of title is a legal document that proves ownership. Boat titling is different from boat registration, because a certificate of registration does not prove ownership. A certificate of title requires all owners of a boat to sign off on their interests when selling and provides the purchaser with proper documentation for titling and registering a boat. Application forms are the same ones used for boat registration and are available at county treasurer’s offices, certain boat dealerships, on the PFBC website, at the PFBC’s headquarters in Harrisburg and at PFBC regional law enforcement offices.

Boat titling is required for all inboard motorboats (regardless of length) and personal watercraft with a model year of 1997 or newer AND all outboard motorboats 14 feet or more in length with a model year of 1997 or newer. At the request of the owner, the Commission will issue a title to any boat, regardless of the length, power source or year the boat was manufactured at the request of the owner. However, once a title is issued, that boat must remain titled by future owners. Also, anyone with a boat currently titled in another state must obtain a Pennsylvania title when Pennsylvania becomes the state of principle use, regardless of the age, size or length of the boat.

The fee for titling a boat is $15. There is an additional encumbrance fee of $5 if there is a lien against the boat. The fee for a duplicate title is $5.

Boat titling assures the buyer of a boat that the seller has clear ownership of a boat offered for sale. Some lenders won’t finance a boat without a title, so securing a loan to purchase a boat may be easier if the boat is titled. Boaters who register and title their boats have more security. In the event of boat theft, such boats are easier to identify.

A capacity plate is required on all monohull (single hull) boats, less than 20 feet in length, designed to carry two or more persons and propelled by machinery or oars as their main source of power. Boats exempt from having to display a capacity plate include pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, sailboats, inflatables, hydroplanes, personal watercraft and boats considered by the Commission to be of unusual or unique design. The Commission will not issue capacity plates to boats that are exempt from displaying them.

The capacity plate must be positioned close to the operator, where it can be easily read. The capacity plate provides important information about the boat including maximum weight capacity, maximum horsepower, maximum person capacity by number, and maximum persons capacity by weight. Any person towed behind a boat is included in the total number of persons specified on the capacity plate.

No boat shall be loaded beyond its safe carrying capacity. Observe and understand your capacity plate. It is the law, and it may save your life and the lives of your passengers.

HULL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (HIN)

This number is federally required and is located on or near the boat transom’s upper starboard (right) side. Also, the HIN is hidden by the manufacturer on the vessel for recovery purposes. HINs are 12 characters in length and may be 17 characters on newer boats.