It's the Law: Before Going Out

All operators are required to obey laws that regulate your vessel's registration and operation.

Registering Your Vessel

You must have a New Hampshire Certificate of Registration and validation decals to operate your vessel legally on public waters in New Hampshire. This includes motorboats of any size (including those with electric motors) and sailboats or sailboards 12 feet in length or longer. The only exceptions are:

• Sailboats and sailboards under 12 feet in length
• Other small, non-motorized vessels such as canoes and kayaks
• Vessels registered in other states using New Hampshire waters for 30 or fewer consecutive days
• Vessels owned or operated by the U.S. government

The Certificate of Registration must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated.

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

• Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the forward half of the vessel such that it is clearly readable.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the vessel.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high BLOCK letters.
• Number's color must contrast with the hull background.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a hyphen or a space: NH-3717-ZW or NH 3717 ZW.
• Decals must be placed on both sides of the bow within six inches of and to the right of the number.

Sailboats that are at least 12 feet long but less than 20 feet in length need to display the validation decals only (not the number) within two feet of the extreme forward part of the bow.

If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate it or allow others to operate your vessel unless it is registered and numbered as described above.

Where to Register

The Certificate of Registration and validation decals are obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles, or one of its authorized agents. To obtain forms:

• Call 603-271-2333
• Visit or write the DMV office

  James H. Hayes Building
  23 Hazen Drive
  Concord, NH 03305-0002

Other Facts About Registration

• The Certificate of Registration expires on December 31 of each year. Owners of vessels that have been registered previously will be sent a renewal notice.
• The owner of a numbered vessel must notify the Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles, within 15 days if he or she changes address or if the vessel is lost, stolen and/or recovered, destroyed, abandoned, or sold.
• If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Registration or decals, you must apply for a duplicate and submit a processing fee.
• Vessels registered in another state may operate on New Hampshire waters for 30 consecutive days before New Hampshire registration is required.
• Larger recreational vessels owned by U.S. citizens may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Call the USCG at 1-800-799-8362 for more information. Documented vessels also must obtain a New Hampshire registration and carry the Certificate of Registration on board. However, these vessels are not required to display their registration number, but they must display the validation decals within two feet of the extreme forward part of the bow. These vessels also must have the vessel name and hailing port clearly visible on both sides of the hull or on the transom.

Personal Watercraft Access Decal

Personal watercraft with a carrying capacity of more than two persons must display a New Hampshire registered watercraft access decal.

• The decal is obtained by applying to the Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles, or one of its authorized agents.
• The access decal must be placed directly above the first two letters of the registration number.