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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Register and Title an Unpowered Boat

    Unpowered boats include canoes, kayaks, rowboats, stand-up paddleboards (SUPS) and sail-only sailboats. While registration is not required for unpowered boats, they must be registered or display a launch permit to use a PFBC or DCNR State Park or State forest access. 

    Apply to Register
    Renew Registration

    Benefits of Registering Your Unpowered Boat

    • Every state recognizes valid PA boat registrations.
    • Registration renewal reminders make it easy to ensure your boat is up to date.
    • Registration helps in recovering a lost or stolen boat.
    • Information stored in the PFBC's boat registration database is useful for contacting the boat owner and potentially eliminating unnecessary searches associated with unoccupied "loose" vessels.
    • Valid boat registrations help to leverage federal funding for Pennsylvania boating programs. (Federal funds allocated to states' boating programs are calculated, in part, based on the number of state-registered boats.

    If you choose not to register your boat, a launch permit is necessary to use Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Pennsylvania State Park and State Forest accesses.

    Buy a Launch Permit

    Application Instructions to Register an Unpowered Boat

    Complete the Application for Pennsylvania Boat Registration and or Boat Title form (REV-336) and in: 

    • Section C: Enter Code #4 for Engine Drive, Fuel Type and Prop Type
    • Section D: Leave blank
    • Section H, Line 4: Private party sales of used unpowered boats are exempt from sales tax, unless the boat is titled

    Gather the required documentation.

    If the unpowered boat was never registered or titled in PA, acceptable proof of ownership includes: (ONE of the below) 

    • Title or registration from another state.
    • Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO). 
    • Also required:
      • Bill of sale or invoice with names and addresses of the seller and purchaser and the legal owner if different from seller.
      • The location, date of sale, description of the boat, and hull identification number (HIN) for boats built after 1972, or other serial number for boats built in 1972 or before.
      • Affidavit of Purchase/Ownership (PFBC-734) to support claim of boat ownership.
      • Boats with a retail value of less than $2,000 being registered voluntarily, may substitute the original receipt from the dealer or other retailer for the MCO.

    If the boat was previously registered and/or titled, acceptable proof of ownership includes: (ONE of the below) 

    • If the boat was titled, a properly signed title is required.
    • If the boat was registered, only ONE of the below is required:
      • Boat registration card, signed by last registered owner.
      • Bill of sale, signed by the last registered owner.
      • Note: May be substituted for the seller's information in Section F and the seller's signature in Section J of the application.

    Additional documentation may be required in certain circumstances. For more information, visit FishandBoat.com, contact a PFBC Region Office, visit an authorized issuing agent, or call 866-BoatReg (866-262-8734)

    Unpowered boats that must be Titled

    You must title your unpowered boat if it is:

    • Currently titled in Pennsylvania.
    • Currently titled in another state when Pennsylvania becomes the state of primary use.
    Title a Boat

    Transfer your current registration to your new Boat

    Did you know you can transfer the registration from your old boat to your new one?

    It's easy. 

    For each boat gather:

    • PA Registration Number (current one)
    • Title Number
    • Hull Identification Number (HIN)
    • Make, Model, Year, and length of boat