I just bought a 75 hobie 16 and went to the tax office today to register the trailer.
I was told that the boat needs a title and registration as well. The previous owner said the boat
had no title and we used a bill of sale. I was under the impression that sailboats without engines needed
no registration. Do you guys have title and reg for your cats? I don't really want to fork over money to the tax office if I don't need to.

The answer is yes, you do have to register the boat. Here is a link from the state of Florida's Website.
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/faqboat.html#3

That being said I have own a 16 and 18 currently and neither is registered. If you asked me before I just looked it up I would have said if under 20 feet you did not have to. I have owned 5 other sailboats over 16 and under 20 in the past and none of them were registered and I do not ever remember having a title for one of them. I had to declare the trailer for my 16 was hand built. The two previous owners lived on the intercostal and never used the trailer.

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Prindle 18 w/ wings, Prindle 16, Prindle 15, current
Hobie 16 in rebuild
2 Hobie 18 past
NACRA 5.2 past

Saint Cloud, Florida
member Lake Eustis Sail Club
http://www.lakeeustissailingclub.org
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i think sailboats under 20' wont be bothered by the police. i havnt seen any beach cats near me with fl numbers

I have been sailing my Hobie 16 in Florida for thirty years without registering it or the trailer.

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Kenneth Purdy
Hobie 16
Nacra 5.2 (2)
Banshee
First Coast, Florida
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i have a NACRA 18 square and i had a sol cat 18 as well in south fl. and neither was registered and as they say in Jamaica "no problem mon"

so the laws have changed in the past 8 years

it used to be only 16 and above needed reg and title.
before then, 16's (and UNDER) were supposed to be Titled too. I am a bit shocked this has changed.

there used to be exemptions too: racing shells, and a few others
Currently 16' a required to have both but this does not seem to be enforced (yet)

it can be enforced any time - Sooooo,. IF you have any ability to TITLE your boat... you should - pay the taxes. it may save you a huge hassle when trying to sell the boat or if you do in fact get a ticket

According to http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/faqboat.html#7

FLHSMV

Are non-powered vessel required to be registered and titled?

If the non-motor powered vessel is less than 16 feet in length, it is not required to be registered or titled. However, if the vessel is 16 feet or more in length, it is required to be registered and titled.

So unless you have a trolling motor a vessel

Quote

So unless you have a trolling motor a vessel

Not sure what you point is.
a h16 is legally required, trolling motor or jet engine attached, neither matter at all - it still is required

http://www.hobiecat.com/sail/hobie-16/specs/

In case anyone wasn't sure if the Hobie 16 was over 16 feet. It's 16 feet 7 inches, and that's just the hull length, I don't know if the government would measure the rudders as well. (like Craigslist sellers often do)

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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