State E Program For Titling Watercraft

Motorcycles, snowmobiles, cars and recreation vehicles have to be titled in Idaho, but not boats.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Ron Findley, a boat dealer, especially when today’s boats can cost $80,000 to $100,000.

With no program to title boats, Idaho owners can be easy prey for boat-theft rings. Officials said the state also is becoming known as an easy mark for boat-laundering operations.

The state Department of Parks and Recreation, the agency that administers the state boat registration program, is launching a public-awareness campaign about boat titling.

The campaign may result in proposed legislation in two years to create a mandatory boat titling program, if boaters want it.

Idaho has 80,000 motorboats and sail boats. It ranks seventh in the number of boats per capita, and tops among Western states.

Not all boaters like the idea.

Russ Winter, launching his ski boat at Lucky Peak Reservoir near Boise, said, “It’s another bureaucracy that needs more money.”

He said the required hull identification number is enough.