Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Your Vessel’s Registration

Registration application forms are available from marine stores, county clerk's offices, or the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). Mail the completed application and required fee to the KDWP.

A Kansas boat registration is valid for three years from the date it is issued.

Renewal notices are mailed prior to the registration expiration date. If you do not receive a renewal notice by mail, contact the Boating Section at the Pratt Operations Office or renew your registration over the Internet at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

When a vessel is sold, lost, stolen, destroyed, transferred, or abandoned, or if the vessel owner’s address changes, the owner must notify the KDWP within 15 days.

Both in-state and out-of-state vessels must have their Certificate of Number (pocket-sized registration card) on board at all times.

Larger recreational vessels owned by U.S. citizens may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Call the USCG at 1-800-799-8362 for more information. Owners of documented vessels also are required to register their vessel in Kansas. These vessels must display the Kansas registration decals on each side of the forward half of the vessel so that the decals are clearly visible.

Assigned Numbers and Registration Decals

The vessel number and registration decals must be displayed as follows.

• Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high BLOCK letters.
• Number’s color must contrast sharply with its background.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen; for example:
  KA 123 AB or KA-123-AB.
• Registration decals must be affixed in line with the assigned number on each side of the vessel.
• No numbers other than the one assigned should be displayed on the forward half of the vessel.

Sailboards are required to display only the registration decal, which should be attached to the front half of the top of the sailboard.

PWCs also are required to display the assigned registration number and registration decals.

Registration Questions?

Call the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks at 620-672-5911 or visit the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website.

Hull Identification Number

• he Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique, 12-digit number assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built after 1972.
• Hull Identification Numbers:
  • Distinguish one vessel from another­—the same as serial numbers distinguish one car from another.
  • Are engraved in the fiberglass or on a metal plate permanently attached to the transom.
• The HIN is required by federal law and must appear on the registration application.
• You should write down your HIN and put it in a place separate from your vessel in case warranty problems arise or your vessel is stolen.