NUMBERING, TITLE, AND REGISTRATION

For purposes of this section, here is a list of definitions pertaining to Rhode Island Titling and related topics.

• "Amphibious vehicle" means a vehicle which may be propelled both on water and land.
• "Certificate" means any certificate of title issued.
• "Department" shall mean the department of environment management.
• "Director" shall mean the director of the department of environmental management (DEM).
• "Documentation papers" means those papers issued to a documented vessel by the United States Coast Guard or any federal agency successor thereto.
• "Documented vessel" means a vessel which has valid documentation papers issued by the United States Coast Guard or any federal agency successor thereto.
• "Homemade vessel" means any vessel built after October 31, 1972 for which a federal identification number is not required to be assigned to it by the manufacturer pursuant to federal law, or any vessel constructed or assembled prior to November 1, 1972, by other than a licensed manufacturer for his or her own use or the use of a specific person. In no event shall a rebuilt or reconstructed vessel be construed to be a homemade vessel.
• "Lien holder" means a person holding a security interest.
• "Manufactured vessel" shall mean any vessel built after October 31, 1972, for which a federal identification number is required pursuant to federal law, or any vessel constructed or assembled prior to November 1, 1972, by a duly licensed manufacturer.
• "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in the business of manufacturing or importing new and unused vessels for the purpose of sales or trade.
• "Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, (M.S.O.)" means the original written instrument or document required to be executed and delivered by the manufacturer to his or her agent or a dealer, or a person purchasing a vessel directly from the manufacturer, certifying the origin of the vessel or hull.
• "Operating" means to navigate or otherwise use a vessel.
• "Operator" means the person who operates or has charge of the navigation or use of a vessel.
• "Owner" means a person, other than a lienholder, having a property interest in or title to a vessel. The term includes a person entitled to use or have possession of a vessel subject to an interest in another person, reserved, or created by agreement and securing payment or performance of an obligation, but it does not include a lessee under a lease not intended as security.
• "State" means the state of Rhode Island.
• "State of principal use" means the state on whose waters a vessel is used or to be used most during a calendar year.
• "Use" means to operate, navigate, or employ a vessel. A vessel is in use whenever it is upon the water.
• "Vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.
• "Waters of the state" means any water within the jurisdiction of the state, the marginal sea adjacent to the state, and the high seas when navigated as part of a ride or journey to or from the shore of the state.
• "Z Hull identification number" shall mean a hull identification number which is assigned to a homemade vessel by the DEM. The number shall consist of twelve (12) characters with the first three (3) characters being the letters "R.I.Z.", which will identify the hull number as being issued by the state of Rhode Island.

Owner's Certificate of Title

Any owner of a vessel principally used on the waters of this state needs to apply to the department for a certificate of title for the vessel.

The following are exempt from obtaining a certificate of title:

• A ship's lifeboat; or
• A non-motorized inflatable vessel, surfboard, racing shell, rowing scull, or tender for direct transportation between a vessel and the shore, where the vessel is used solely for direct transportation between a vessel and the shore; or
• A documented vessel or vessels fourteen feet (14') or less.
• A person who, on January 1, 1989, is the owner of a vessel with a valid certificate of number issued by this state is not required to file an application for a certificate of title for the vessel until he or she transfers any part of his or her interest in the vessel or renews the certificate of number for the vessel.

The department will not issue or renew a certificate of number to any vessel required to be registered and numbered in this state, unless the owner of the vessel has a valid certificate of title.

30-day rule – application for title

Every owner of a vessel subject to titling needs to apply to the department for the issuance of a certificate of title for the vessel within thirty (30) days after taking possession of a vessel.

• No person may sell, assign, or transfer a vessel titled by the state without delivering to the purchaser or transferee a certificate of title with an assignment on it showing title in the purchaser or transferee.
• No person may purchase or otherwise acquire a vessel required to be titled by the state without obtaining a certificate of title for it in his or her name.

Hull Identification Number of Vessel

• Every vessel whose construction began after October 31, 1972 shall have a hull identification number assigned and affixed. DEM shall determine the procedures for application and issuance of the hull identification number for homemade boats.
• A person may not destroy, remove, alter, cover, deface, or mutilate the manufacturer's hull identification number, the plate bearing it, or any hull identification number the department assigns to any vessel without the departments' permission.
• A vessel owner who is assigned a "R.I.Z." hull identification number for his or her homemade boat must permanently affix the number to his or her vessel. He or she shall carve, burn, stamp, emboss, mold, bond, or otherwise permanently affix the number to the exterior starboard side of the transom, and place the number at a second location known only to him or her. The number shall be no less than one-quarter (1/4) of an inch high.

Operation of Unnumbered Motorboats Prohibited

Every motorboat on the waters of this state shall be numbered. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat on those waters unless the motorboat is numbered in accordance with this chapter, or in accordance with applicable federal law, or in accordance with a federally approved numbering system of another state, and unless:

• The certificate of number awarded to the motorboat is in full force and effect, and
• The identifying number set forth in the certificate of number is displayed on each side of the bow of the motorboat.

Identification Number and Registration Fee

The owner of each motorboat shall file biennially (every two years) an application for registration with the DEM on forms approved by the director.

• For the purpose of the application fee "overall length" shall be defined as the horizontal distance between the foremost part of the stem, and, the aftermost part of the stern, excluding bowsprits, bumpkins, rudders, outboard motor brackets, and similar fittings or attachments. For purposes of this section a fraction of a foot shall be deemed to be the next higher foot.
• All vessels over thirty feet (30') may, upon request, pay the registration fee annually at the rate of one-half (1/2) the biennial fee for a vessel of the same length.
• The owner shall paint on or attach to each side of the bow of the motorboat the identification number in order that it may be clearly visible. The number shall be maintained in legible condition. The certificate of number shall be pocket size and shall be available at all times for inspection on the motorboat for which issued, whenever that motorboat is in operation.
• Validation decals must be affixed to the right of, and in-line with, the number on each side of the vessel.
• Federally documented vessels primarily used in Rhode Island (state of principal use) must register with the state. The documentation number is used as the registration number. A documented vessel must display the validation decal issued by Rhode Island on each side of the vessel.
• No number, other than the number awarded to a motorboat or granted reciprocity pursuant to this chapter, shall be painted, attached, or otherwise displayed on either side of the bow of the motorboat.

90-day Rule - Reciprocity

The owner of any motorboat which is federally documented, or registered in another state, must register the motorboat if operating in RI in excess of the ninety (90) day reciprocity period provided.

Should the ownership of a motorboat change, a new application form shall be filed with the DEM.

The number assigned to the vessel shall remain with the vessel and be non-transferable while the vessel remains certified in the state of Rhode Island; provided, however, that upon the request of the owner of a duly registered vessel of historic value that is more than fifty (50) years old, the number assigned to the vessel may be transferred to a different historic vessel owned by the same person.

15-day rule – Change of Address or Vessel Status

The owner of a registered RI vessel needs to furnish the DEM notice of the transfer of all or any part of the owner's interest or the destruction or abandonment of the motorboat, within fifteen (15) days thereof. That destruction shall terminate the certificate of number for the motorboat.

Any holder of a certificate of number shall notify the DEM within fifteen (15) days if the holder's address no longer conforms to the address appearing on the certificate.

Exemption from Numbering

The following motorboats are exempt from numbering:

• A federally documented vessel (must still register and display the state validation decal)
• A vessel registered in another state and not used in RI in excess of ninety (90) consecutive days
• A motorboat from a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of this state.
• A ship's lifeboat.
• A motorboat used exclusively for racing.
• A houseboat
• A rowboat twelve feet (12') in length or less.
• A canoe.
• A ferry.

Outboard Motors

"Outboard motor" shall mean any marine motor not permanently fastened to a boat so as to be an integral part of the boat and/or any marine motor which is portable.

Registration of motors required within 10-days

Any person who is the owner of an outboard motor for use on any waters within the territorial limits of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations shall register the outboard motor within ten (10) days after the ownership is acquired.

Notice of sale, loss, or destruction of motor required within 7-days

Within seven (7) days after an outboard motor has been sold, assigned, lost, or destroyed, the owner of the outboard motor must notify the licensing authorities of the town or city in which the outboard motor is registered.

Altered or Removed Serial Numbers

It is illegal to deface, alter, change, destroy, obliterate, mutilate, or cause to be removed or destroyed or in any way defaced, altered, changed, obliterated, or mutilated, the identification number of the manufacturer of a motor or engine designed for use in or on a boat, with intent thereby to conceal the identity of the motor or engine.

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.