Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 20, 1994 TAG: 9403220041
SECTION: BOAT SHOW PAGE: BS-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
All watercraft 15 feet or more in length and powered by a motor in excess of 25 horsepower, and any sail-powered vessel in excess of 18 feet must be titled. A payment of a 2 percent watercraft sales tax is required before a title is issued.
The tax may be paid to authorized boat dealers where the boat is purchased, to the offices of the Virginia Tax Department or at the Richmond office of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Applications are available from most marine dealers, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (P.O. Box 11528, Richmond 23230) and from some agents who sell hunting and fishing licenses.
In addition to the sales tax, a $7 titling fee is charged.\ \ REGISTRATION
All boats propelled by machinery, including gasoline, diesel and electric motors, must be registered and numbered.
A boat's number must be displayed on each side of the forward half of the vessel in contrasting block letters at least 3 inches high.
Boaters must apply for a certificate of number on an application form available from most marine dealers, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and from some agents who sell hunting and fishing licenses. At least a temporary certificate of number must be carried on board before a boat can be operated on state waters.
Here are the registration fees, which are valid for a three-year period:
Boats under 16 feet: $18.
Boats 16 feet to less than 20 feet: $22.
Boats 20 feet to less than 40 feet: $28.
Boats 40 feet and above: $36.\ \ LIFE JACKETS
U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation devices are required on all boats on Virginia waters. One buoyant personal flotation device must be carried for each person on board. Such devices must be in serviceable condition and must be readily accessible.
Occupants of nonpowered boats, such a rowboats, canoes, inflatable boats and johnboats, must carry at least one Type I, II, III or IV personal device or wear a Type V device.
On boats 16 feet or over, there must be one wearable Type I, II, III or V personal floatation device and one throwable Type IV device in each boat.
On power boats less than 16 feet, there must be one Type I, II, III or IV or Type V device for each person on board.
A Type I personal flotation device is a wearable life preserver designed to turn an unconscious person in the water from face down to a vertical or slightly backward position.
Type II is a backless, horse-collar type wearable vest.
Type III is a comfortable-to-wear-vest designed to keep a conscious person in a vertical or slightly backward position.
Type V is a so-called hybrid vest that has a small amount of foam flotation but can be inflated to provide additional flotation when needed.
Type IV is a throwable device such as a buoyant cushion or ring buoy.\ \ FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
All inboards, outboards 26 feet and over and outboards under 26 feet that have a closed compartment, double bottom, closed living space, closed stowage compartments or permanently installed fuel tanks must carry a Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher.\ \ SOUND DEVICE
Boats between 16 and 26 feet must have a horn or whistle that is either hand-, mouth- or power-operated, capable of emitting a five-second blast that can be heard one-half mile. Boats 26 to 40 feet must have a whistle or horn other than mouth-operated that can be heard at least one mile.\ \ NAVIGATION LIGHTS
Recreational boats operating at night are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and during periods of limited visibility.
by CNB