Thread: Question about registering small boats AR

I'm using a buddies 14ft flat bottom that he bought from a man he did a job for. That older gentlemen just give him a bill of sale and he never did register it. my buddie let me borrow the boat and I noticed it hasn't been registured in the last 3 years. So, I Googled what the minimum is before having to registure a boat. I'm using a paddle at the moment and because I'm not sail operated or motor operated I don't have to registure it. My main question is does arkansas identify trolling motors as a motor and there for the boat must be registured or is that just referring to gas motors?

My last question is he said he'd sell it to me and I'm kind of all over that but I will want to registure the boat and I'm not sure I can because there is no title do you guys know off hand if bill of sales do fine?

Thanks for the help

My understanding, As long as there is no motor not even a trolling motor it dose not have to be resisted. You can paddle your heart out. But when it has any kind of motor be looking for Mr Green jeans

Unless it has changed, that boat must be registered if on Federal waters or is being used at night regardless of the type of propulsion. You'd be smart to contact the AGFC and have them email you a copy of the boating laws and then talk to an enforcement officer to make sure on this. It's not worth a ticket.

Originally Posted by arkcrappie

Unless it has changed, that boat must be registered if on Federal waters or is being used at night regardless of the type of propulsion. You'd be smart to contact the AGFC and have them email you a copy of the boating laws and then talk to an enforcement officer to make sure on this. It's not worth a ticket.

I think last part right but daylight with no motor or sail you can get by .

Idk why I didn't think to call earlier but anyways. I called the dmv and asked. If the boat is propelled by a motor or sails it has to be registured. I can legally fish creeks and small lakes in a unregistered boat as long as I'm paddling. It's not really much different than a kayak or something. However if any motor even a trolling motor is on the boat then the registration has to be up to date. As far as federal waters goes I'm clueless on that. What would that be like any lake with a damn or something? Im not worried about the night stuff. I won't be out there at dark.

The registration process if I buy the boat I got figured out as well. Just need bill of sale and a picture or rub of HIN # if I can't find it I can call game fish and they will assign one to the boat.. So, really it's not a big deal anymore. I'll have it registured in my name by next week and can put that paddle down for a while lol.

On a side note still going to take your advice and be 100% sure because I plan to be fishing at sunrise in the morning.

Federal waters Like any corp of engineers lake, Greers ferry, Ar river, Lake Dardanelle, Nimrod, Ouchita, Hamilton Degray, Lake Catherine, Greeson........... The list goes on and on.

Federal waters include national wildlife refuges as well according to the last enforcement officer I spoke with about registrations.

Originally Posted by arkcrappie

Federal waters include national wildlife refuges as well according to the last enforcement officer I spoke with about registrations.

True that, good point to point out.

I am pretty sure that if you leave the boat over night on a National Wildlife Refuge, it also has to have your name and address
on it.

You'll have to have all copies of all the bills of sales from the last guy who registered it to the present owner, who ever that is, if it's you, sounds like you will need 2 BofS, one from the guy who sold it to your friend, and one from your friend to you, in order to get it registered in your name.