Sunfish
 

Does a Sunfish sailboat have to be registered?

Length of the boat?

I believe it is 14’.

A 14' Sunfish sailboat without a motor will cost you $39 to have the orange NH 2022 registration sticker, and only the two stickers but not the numbers need to get placed on the bow. Sailboats under 12-feet, not including the rudder or rudder gudcheons do not require a NH registration.

In Maine, it is under 16-feet, so in the great State of Maine you can sail your 14' Sunfish without a registration and then go to NH for boat repair items without a sales tax!

Anyone know how much the violation penalty for an unregistered boat in NH costs? Maybe $129?

We purchased our Sunfish in 1969, new for about $400. Made by Alcort at that time. We brought it to Cow Island in the ‘70s and have always registered it with appropriate bow numbers. At That time I thought the law was that sailboats 14’ or longer needed to be registered. Occasionally I would meet someone who would tell me that a Sunfish need not be registered.
I looked up the specs and the boat is actually 13’ 9”. So?
My boat is currently registered and orange sticker displayed. Just looking for a definitive answer.

It does have to be registered. Anything 12 feet or longer:

https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/boating/#register

They changed it a bunch of years back, used to be 16', my friend and I had a Hobie 16 that we used to race all over and he was from NH and it didn't need to be, but now as I am reading, as others have pointed out, anything > 12'.
I guess the next question, if it's home port of call is in another state and doesn't have to be registered does it still need the stickers?
I'm from MA and bring mine up occasionally, for a weekend or if I'm up for the week, and in MA it doesn't need to be registered (at least that's what I am finding, maybe I'm reading it wrong there too?)

If it were registered in a reciprocity state... then it would not need to be.
Since it isn't registered... yes, they could write you a ticket.

Than I guess next time I have it up here I should take a ride over to MP and register it.
Although any stupid old guy sailing in the middle of the Broads on a weekend deserves a free pass I think :D

Interesting
 

I have had a 14' Scorpian since the '70s. Great sailboat and durable! I went to the MP HQ to register a few years back. They said no need but they did suggest a red sticker that you put your name and contact # on. I got 4 and place them on my kayaks and paddleboard. Have not heard anything from the MP. I use them daily on Winnisquam.

Is a rule that never, never, never gets enforced with a 12' to 16' sail boat without a motor; a violation for NO registration simply never-ever happens!

So, a 14' Sunfish can sail without that $39 annual NH registration with total and complete confidence knowing it will not draw any attention, what-SO-ever from the M.P.

Here in NH, the wind is totally free for small sail boats ........ and happy sailing, courtesy the NH Marine Patrol! .... :D

So, the rule is in the book, but it never-ever gets enforced. Is just a wee bit underwhelming for a 27' police boat with twin 150-hp outboards to be stopping a 12' sailboat for sailing without a registration, or some such wack-a-doozie reason. .... go figure? .... :eek2:

File this one under the "unwritten rule of small sail boat, non-registration, special NH privilege" ...... you got that, buddy! ... :laugh:

The MP and F&G get budgets from the registrations.
So it would only be a matter of time.

I find as budgets get tight... things get real.