Hobie Cat Forums

Hi Guys, Since the new AI is as much a sailboat as a kayak I was thinking that it may need registration number as all the catamaran do. Has anyone registered their AI? Also, are the Island Upgrade kits availble for the 07 Adventure Kayaks yet? One more question: which is faster a wave with 2 people or an island with 1. Thanks, Ray J

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Ray J

your going to need to ask the local authorities on this one, I'm not sure myself, never thought about it.

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Brad Stephens
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We have been told that some show in Texas had a marine patrol stop by and they said the Island is a sailboat and will require registration. Depends on the State.

The Island accessory kit is not yet avaialble.

I will bet that the Wave is faster.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Yeah, we figured this out pretty quickly (before we got our first Island). Over 14 ft and sail powered means hull numbers are required in Texas. That's why we warned you and Ruth that we'd need MSO's.

But this is not a Coast Guard registration. It's with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Brian C

I checked with my dealer in Hawaii last week. They checked and were told, no motor - no reg. required.

Love my Adventure Islands!

Matt: I tried registering my new Island this morning and was told that I need a "MSO". I have not reached my Dealer yet but are MSOs available for Hobie Kayaks? If so how to we get them?
Thanks, Ray J

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Ray J

My dealer didn't know the answer to this. Since Hobie is Cal. based, what info about cf #'s have you received. I have sailed in the Delta and had the Coasties pass by, but they only looked and looked again like most people. If you reef the sail and pedal away what are they going to call it?

Thanks, Bill

Some states will be requiring registrations. I would assume California will require it. Any sailboat over 8 feet?

MSO - Manufacturers Statement of Origin, this is available to dealers. It is a "trail of ownership" document, so we assign ownership to the dealer and they then sign it over to you.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Over ten feet in New Mexico and with a sail and/or motor (electric or gas or diesel) then it has to be both titled and registered.

Not a big deal but placement of the 3" block letters on the bow is problematic.

Any problems with sticking of the letter/numbers on AI's? If you do West Marine has a plastic placard that most reasonable officers will not question especially if the darn regular numbers won't adhere on the Hobie Plastic.....

Don't some states allow plastic boards to be legal?
The following is an exerpt from an Official Newsletter distributed by the head of the Vessel Examination Dept of the USCG Auxiliary (The Auxiliary is NOT the US Coast Guard but a volunteer group with NO law enforcement authority.... that said..... STATE REGISTERED VESSELS -- The Requirements Are: Use of Block Style letters and numbers only; Letters & numbers must be at least Three (3) inches in height; Letters & numbers must be of Contrasting Color (not outlined, shadowed or rounded); if the background is multicolored or patterned, a block out area of a single color may be required to facilitate readability. The Letters and numbers must be separated by the width of one letter or number - not including the number one (1) or the capital letter (I). Use either a blank space or a hyphen and they must be read from left to right. The validation sticker must be visible and placed within six inches of the registration numbers. Placement either in front of or behind the numbers is determined by state regulation. The Registration Numbers, Letters and Sticker must be PERMANENTLY ATTACHED and on the Forward Half of the Vessel. Adhering registration numbers and stickers on glass or plastic windows or using placards (signboards) are NOT considered Permanent and can no longer be used unless they are bolted or screwed in place on the hull or superstructure (including on dinghies). Signboards cannot be attached to railings.

Inflatable boat manufacturers (and I assume Mr. Miller for Hobie) should be contacted for letters and numbers made of the same material / adhesive as the boat to attain permanency. Validation stickers issued by states can be adhered to metal or plastic plates and mounted on grab straps with non-reversible wire ties, but must be within 6 inches of the registration number and visible to law enforcement officers. Contact your state for guidance and acceptability. Above reviewed by the United States Coast Guard office of Boating Safety on: 12/16/04

I had to register my AI in California, no issues placing the stickers on the bow as long as you clean the area before applying them. Good luck.

The boating business has taken a heavy hit this year with some of the worst in 30 years statistics for manufacturers of recreational craft. Layoffs are in the 1,000's.

The reason I bring this up is conversely there is an uptic in paddlecraft and a trend to the development of water trails suitable for both paddlecraft for pleasure and those kayak fishing. If the development of your activity is important and it's safety then titling / registering is a minor cost to have your voice heard by public bodies. They respond to you usually thru the development of a tax base to support the activity. Hence why powerboats and sailboats got launch ramps/ marinas/ courtesy docks, navigation aids. signage and safety programs.

Paddlecraft and Kayak Sailing need put in and take out points (New Mexico as in other states may have public water but fully private river/lake access points.) The costs for these are not minor and are more likely to be purchased as more paddlecraft are titled, and if required registered. The American Canoe Association has taken the opposite view and has felt that the costs may impact the sport.

The U.S. Coast Guard may come back into this dispute when the Homeland Security folks look to work a master national database of vessels. Their decision as to what must be titled and registered will be obeyed by each state since grant money is funded thru the number of titled/registered vessels. They may be eventually who we all go thru to title and register. but at the current time their only concern are vessels that are documented with them, usually vessels that displace 5 tons of water.

Just left a deposit on a AI Tandem and was told that it needed to be registered in VA because of its lenght.

$96.00 every few years to me is a little steep for something with out a motor.

But them again VA passed a law that everyone have a boat operators license by 2015, it doesn't make any difference if it is a kayak or 300' cabin cursier. I believe everyone one under the age of 30 something is required for this year, since I'm an old fart I have until 2015.

Also there is a manditory PFD requirement as well, they need to be worn all the time.

This operator license deal will kill jet ski and small fishing boat rentals during the summer months and I can not wait to tell my bother-in -law who works the water daily (clams, oysters and crabs) that he is required to wear a PFD, that conversation is going to be interesting.

I guess I will not be taking my AI and TI to Florida, Texas etc.
I own a couple of ATVs and found out recently that if I want to use them in some of the Western States,
that I will have to register them with the corresponding state! It used to be that I could buy a short-term
permit that would allow me to use them out there but will have to buy an annual license. The cost will be much higher
than instate residents also. It appears that the states want to milk as much money from out-of-state residents as they can.
It looks like something similar is going to happen in boating also. My state is talking about out-of-state boat owners
will no longer be allowed to freely boat on our waters...but will have to buy a annual boat license for Minnesota. I wonder
how they are going to be able to put permanent numbers on the bow for each state.
The next thing I guess will be that to travel to Florida, I will have to buy individual state permits just to drive through the
various states.

Yup, a passport to travel within the lower 48.

This is bureacracy gone mad ! Long live the Nanny State !!!

It might be cheaper and less hassle to move to New Zealand