MD Title and Registration

[Sonny Schade]

Hi, I'm considering building a Spindrift 11 and never built a boat before. I went on the MD DNR site and they have info on titling and registering home built boats, but I'm confused. I've read through the forum and see that a large number of these boats have been built, so I know they must pass all the criteria, but no one really talks about their experience getting the boat legal once completed. Hopefully someone can tell me how the process worked for them.

 

1) Do the air chambers/Seats actually count as flotation? I read that the coast guard doesn't consider it flotation if the air chamber is part of the hull (in case of hull rupture).

2) Do I have to take it to the DNR or the coast guard when completed to have them Survey it, Test it and Approve it?

3) Do I need to provide specs from the builder? or do I have to document the flotation, carry capacity and level flotation myself somehow?

4) Do I create a capacity, load and power info plate to mount in the boat or doesn't it need one?

5) Once I get a hull number from Md, do you just route the number into the ply or do you somehow affix a plate with epoxy?

 

That's all I can think of at the moment, but as the saying goes, "You don't know, what you don't know." So if anyone knows of a question I should be asking please include it.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[Hirilonde]

Unless you are using a motor, you don't need to register it.

If you are, then the DMV in most states handle registration.  In other states, RI for one, Environmental Management/EPA or what ever your state calls it handles registrations.

[Andy B]

Every state seems to have different criteria for what watercraft needs to be ... well, in fact, different states have different requirements for registration and title, both.

 

Here in Michigan, I could never figure out if a detachable outboard was considered a motor or not for titling.  And I used to own a 15 foot sailboat, which I swear some years counted as a boat that needed to be registered and some years did not, depending on the website restriction.

 

I think Maryland has a big TSCA chapter, folks there might know the specifics of the state.

[Sonny Schade]

Thanks for the input so far. I plan on using it as a Dinghy for my Pearson 323 to take my wife and dog from anchor to the beaches etc. I'll probably use a small trolling or possibly a 2-3 HP motor on it, when not rowing it, so I'll have to register it.

The 10N would fit better a head of the mast, but in the specs it said the 10N has about 550 lb. capacity, where as the 11N has around 900 lb capacity. Sometimes we take the electric bikes with to go on trails. They are about 65 lbs each, So the 11N would probably hold all our gear better.

I'm rambling off topic.

I'll call the TSCA to see if they have any info for me.

In the meantime I welcome any comments.

[Hirilonde]

I carried 4 people and a little stuff while rowing my 9N out to the mooring. Yeah, we sat low.  We cruised for years and never wanted larger. If you will cruise with 4, then a 10 or 11 is probably a good idea. I am a huge fan of light weight. The difference wrestling a 9 vs an 11 is quite large.

[Captain Tim]

In New Hampshire I had to have a town police officer come to the Spindrift 11' and verify it was home built. The state wanted receipts showing I had bought the materials. No questions about flotation or number of people it will hold. they gave me a hull identification number, a registration number and a valid sticker. Let them ask the questions. Just have good sounding answers and never volunteer anything

[Sonny Schade]

Good point Dave, Maybe I can get away with a 10N... it would fit on deck better.