REGISTRATION AND NUMBERING

Numbering Of Vessels Required

It is unlawful for any person to operate or use a vessel on the waters of Colorado or to possess a vessel at a vessel staging area unless such vessel has been numbered and a certificate of the number, referred to as a “registration”, has been issued to such vessel by the division of Parks and Wildlife.

The operator of such vessel shall produce the registration for inspection upon demand of any authorized officer.

Exemptions From The Registration Requirements

• A canoe, kayak, sailboard or nonmotorized raft is not required to be registered, however, they must be marked with the owner’s name and current address in a legible, clearly visible, and durable fashion.
• Vessels holding a valid marine document (“Documented Vessel”) issued by the United States Bureau of Customs;
• Vessels which are numbered by another State and are not used within Colorado during a period of not more than sixty consecutive days;
• A vessel from a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of this state;

Every registration expires December 31 of the year of issuance of the registration unless sooner terminated or discontinued. A registration may be renewed by the owner in the same manner as that provided for obtaining the initial registration. The same number shall be reissued if the application for renewal is received by the division within thirty (30) days before the date of expiration.

Vessel Number

The number issued shall be painted on or attached to each side of the bow on the forward half of the vessel or, if there are no such sides, at a corresponding location on both sides of the foredeck of the vessel for which it is issued. The number issued shall read from left to right in block characters of good proportion having a minimum of three inches in height, excluding border or trim, and of a color that contrasts with the color of the background, and so maintained as to be clearly visible and legible. No other number shall be carried on the bow of the vessel.

The registration shall be on board and available at all times for inspection whenever the vessel for which it is issued is in operation in Colorado.

Expiration Date Decal

In addition to the identification number, there shall be issued an expiration date decal which shall be attached to each side of the bow or the forward half of the vessel two inches to the left of the letter C of the identification number.

15-Day Rule

If a registration is lost or destroyed, the owner shall, within fifteen days, notify the division. The notification shall be in writing, shall describe the circumstances of the loss or destruction, and shall be accompanied by a fee for a replacement registration.

When a numbered vessel is lost, destroyed, or abandoned, the registration issued for the vessel shall be surrendered to the division within fifteen days after any such event. When the owner of a numbered vessel changes his address from that shown on the registration, he shall notify the division within fifteen days of such change and as a part of such notification shall furnish the division with his new address.

Seizure Of Vessels By Officers

Expiration Date Decal

In addition to the identification number, there shall be issued an expiration date decal which shall be attached to each side of the bow or the forward half of the vessel two inches to the left of the letter C of the identification number.

Temporary Boat Permit – 30-day Rule

Pending issuance of a number certificate, possession on the person of a dated bill of sale permits the operator of a newly purchased boat to operate the boat on the waters of the State of Colorado for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days from date of purchase.

Hull Identification Number

After August 1, 1984, every person who builds or imports a monohull vessel for personal recreational use and not for the purposes of sale, must identify that boat with two hull identification numbers. Contact the Division of Parks and Wildlife for details.

CAPACITY INFORMATION AND MANUFACTURER CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

Every monohull (single-hull) vessel less than twenty feet in length, except sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable boats, the construction of which began after October 31, 1972, sold in the State of Colorado, shall have a permanent writing affixed to the vessel:

• Outboard boats: The maximum motor horsepower, the maximum persons capacity and the maximum weight capacity in pounds.

• Inboard and inboard-outdrive boats: The maximum persons capacity and the maximum weight capacity in pounds.

• Boats rated for manual propulsion: The maximum persons capacity and the maximum weight capacity in pounds.

The required capacity information must be permanently displayed on a label or plate which is legible and clearly visible to the operator when getting underway.

• Every vessel that is subject to U.S. Coast Guard manufacturing safety standards must have a permanently displayed certification label or plate. This certification label may be displayed anywhere on the boat.
• The capacity information may be combined with the certification label or plate. The entire combined label must be permanently displayed where it is legible and clearly visible to the operator when getting underway.
• It is unlawful for any person to remove, alter, or tamper with the required capacity information or certification label or plate.
• Any monohull vessel which is home built for personal recreational use and not for the purposes of sale is exempt from capacity information and certification label or plate display requirements.

Documented Boats

• Official Documentation MUST be carried onboard a documented vessel at all times.
• A Document serves as a certificate of nationality and an authorization for a trade.
• Documented vessels must comply with all state and federal laws.
• Registration fee and display of validation sticker is required in some states.
• Official number must be permanently affixed to an integral structure of the boat. This number is referred to as the “main beam” number.
• The main beam number must match the official number on the document.
• Name and hailing port of the boat must be displayed at least once anywhere on the hull (most boater display this information on the transom) - at least 4” in height, contrasting in color to the hull.
• Name and hailing port must match information on the official document.