Every owner of a boat, whether it is inflatable PVCIf you're a boat with an outboard motor or a solid metal boat, you're going to have to legalize your purchase, and if you ignore the registration rules, you can get serious fines and even confiscations, so the question of how to register a boat is a priority for any boating, and this process, although it's getting bureaucratic, has become much more transparent with the introduction of digital services and simplification of procedures for small craft.
Before going to the inspection, you need to clearly understand whether your boat is subject to mandatory registration. Under current legislation, the procedure is subject to small vessels weighing up to 200 kilograms inclusive (with the engine installed) and with engine power(s) more than 8 kW (about 10 hp). boat It is also important to consider that for boats that are not subject to registration, the owner still has to carry the documents proving the title to avoid questions from the water inspectors.
Modern accounting allows you to go through some stages remotely, which saves time. However, a physical inspection of a vessel by an inspector, as a rule, remains a mandatory stage requiring personal presence. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages from collecting a package of documents to obtaining a boat's ticket, and also discuss the subtleties that will help to avoid queues and repeated visits to the department.
Do I need to register your boat: criteria and exceptionsThe first step to legalization is to get your boat exactly on the status list, and many people mistakenly think that if the boat is small, you don't have to register it, but the law does have specific numbers, and the main parameters are the load capacity, the weight of the boat, and the power of the power plant. mass, which consists of the weight of the body, motor, battery and stationary equipment.
There is an important caveat for outboard motor owners: If you use a removable motor, its weight is not always counted in weighing unless it is documented as an integral part. However, if the motor is tran-mounted and is the main engine, inspectors may require that its weight be taken into account. For metal boats, the situation is simpler: their weight is usually more than 200 kg, which automatically makes it possible to do so. registration It is mandatory regardless of the engine power.
⚠️ Attention: If you have installed a motor of more than 10 hp on the boat, but have not formally entered it in the documents and have not registered it, you will face a fine when checking on the water, and the use of an unregistered vessel can be grounds for prohibiting its operation until violations are corrected.
Also worth remembering are boats that are not subject to registration at all, such as kayaks, inflatable boats with a carrying capacity of less than 225 kilograms, rowing boats with a length of less than 3 meters, and sailing boats with a length of up to 9 meters. But even in this case, you must have a check or a contract of sale.
Package of documents: what to prepare before the visitThe success of the procedure depends on the quality and completeness of the collected package of documents. An error in one of the paragraphs can cause a refusal to accept an application. The main document is a statement, the form of which can be obtained directly from the GIMS office or downloaded on the official portal of public services. The application indicates the technical specifications of the vessel, the owner's data and the purpose of use.
The key element of the package is a document of ownership, which can be the original contract of sale, gift, exchange or certificate of account if the purchase was made in a store. If the boat or engine was purchased from an individual, it is important that the contract should indicate the passport details of both parties and the specifications of the vessel (serial numbers).
- 📄 Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (original and copy).
- 📑 Document confirming the right of ownership (contract of sale, gift, certificate-invoice).
- 🏭 technical data sheet for the boat and technical data sheet for the engine (originals with sales marks).
- 💳 Receipt of payment of state duty.
- 📸 Photos of the boat (size 10x15 cm, 3 pieces, color, from different angles).
Special attention should be paid to technical passports, which should clearly read the factory plates stamped on the hull of the boat and on the engine's lower unit, if the plates are erased or not read, additional examination may be necessary, and passports must also bear the seller's seal of sale, which confirms the change of ownership, and the absence of these seals often causes bureaucratic delays.
Make photocopies of all documents in advance, including passport pages with a residence permit. At the GIMS office, copiers may be busy or absent, which will delay the application process.
Technical inspection and inspection of the vesselOne of the most important steps is a technical inspection, which aims to make sure that the vessel is operational and safe to be on the water, the inspection is carried out by a GIMS inspector and can be carried out both at the office and at the place of the boat's berth (at the dock or in the garage), if agreed in advance.
The inspection checks the presence and condition of life jackets, anchoring device, scoop, lifeline and other elements of mandatory equipment. The inspector checks the factory numbers on the hull and engine with the data in the technical documentation. Any discrepancy, even in one digit, will be a reason for refusal.
☑️ Checklist of preparation for inspection
If the boat is new and purchased in the store, the procedure is simplified, since the factory specifications are already in compliance. modernization or conversion (e.g. installation of additional equipment, modification of the cockpit design), this should be reflected in the documents, the Inspector has the full right to require documentation of the changes made or to prohibit operation until the inconsistencies are corrected.
| Verification parameter | Requirement | Consequences of violation |
|---|---|---|
| Life jackets | Number of passengers | Refusal to issue a ticket / Penalty |
| Factory numbers | Readable, coincide with the passport | Denial of registration |
| Affixing equipment | Safe attachment | Removal requirement |
| Load capacity | Conformity with the marking | Denial of registration |
Payment of state duty and submission of an application through public servicesThe modern way of registration is by using the public service portal, which avoids queues and submits documents electronically, and after registration on the portal, you must select the service "Registration of a small vessel owned by an individual", and the system will suggest filling out a form that includes data from the passport and technical documents for the boat and motor.
The important step is to pay the state fee: when you apply through the Public Services portal, you get a 30% discount on the payment of the fee; the amount of the fee depends on the type of activity registered: issuing a boat's ticket, making changes or deregistration; payment is made online, and the receipt automatically enters the agency's database, which excludes the loss of a check.
How to find the GIMS number in the application?
When filling out an electronic application, the system often automatically identifies the unit at the place of your residence. If this does not happen, select the region and city by hand. The unit number (GIMS) is usually 4 digits and is indicated in the directory of departments on the portal.
After downloading scanned copies of documents and paying the fee, the application is submitted for consideration. The status can be tracked in your personal account. If all documents are in order, you will receive an invitation to a face-to-face inspection of the vessel or a notification of the readiness of documents. At the appointed time, you must personally appear at the GIMS office with the originals of documents for final verification and receipt of the boat's ticket.
Obtaining numbers and boat registration certificateThe final step of the procedure is to obtain the main document of the boating - the boat's ticket, which confirms the ownership and right to operate the boat. The boat's ticket contains all the main specifications of the boat, the owner's data, as well as the assigned registration number, from which point your boat is considered officially registered.
The registration number must be affixed to the boat. PVC boats and small boats have strict requirements for the font, size and color of letters and numbers. The number must be contrasted with the color of the side and readable from a distance of 100 meters. Usually special stickers or stencils are used, which can be purchased in specialized stores or made independently, observing GOST.
- 🚣 The number is applied to both sides in the bow.
- 🔤 The letters and numbers must be at least 150 mm high.
- 🎨 The color should contrast with the background of the side (black on white, white on blue, etc.).
- 📏 The distance from the water to the lower edge of the sign is at least 250 mm (for inflatable boats, it is permissible less, but taking into account the swelling).
boat's ticket must be kept sealed but always carried while going out. Electronic versions of documents are also available now, but a paper original or certified copy is still recommended by water inspectors, as technical means of verification may fail.
A boat's ticket is issued once and is valid indefinitely as long as you own a boat, and you only need to change it when you change the owner, change the design of the boat or lose the document.
Deregistration and re-registration on saleOwning a boat is not permanent, and it may eventually be a matter of selling it, and you need to deregister it, which is important not only for the new owner, but also for you to avoid charging a transport tax (if applicable in your area) and being held accountable for the new owner's actions until the time of re-registration.
Deregistration requires a statement, passport, boat's ID and proof of transaction (sales contract) if the boat is sold to another region, the boat is deregistered at the seller's place of residence and the new owner registers it at his place of residence.
⚠️ Attention: When selling a boat, be sure to draw up a contract of sale in triplicate: one for you, one for the buyer, one for GIMS. In the contract, pay special attention to the correct spelling of the serial numbers of the hull and engine. A mistake in one digit will make the document invalid for registration.
If you plan to simply move the boat to another region for permanent storage, you don't have to deregister it unless you change your residence. However, if you move to permanent residence, the law requires the vessel to be re-registered in the new GIMS unit within 10 days, which ensures that the data in the registry is always up to date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I register a boat without a motor if it is powerful?
If the weight of the boat without the engine is less than 200 kg, but you plan to use the engine capacity of more than 10 hp, registration is required. The boat's parameters are entered into the boat's ticket, and the engine power is indicated as the maximum permissible or specific if the engine is already purchased and fits into the documents.
How long does the entire registration process take?
By law, the application and decision take up to 30 working days from the time the full package is submitted, but in practice, with proper preparation and no queues for inspection, the process can take from 3 to 10 days.
Do I need to have a checkup every year?
For private small vessels used for non-commercial purposes, the annual technical inspection is canceled; you only undergo one inspection at initial check-in, and a second inspection is required only in the event of a change in the design of the vessel, a change in the engine or loss of documents.
What to do if your technical data sheet for the boat is lost?
Recovery of a technical data sheet is a complex process, and the boat manufacturer must be requested to issue a duplicate or a certificate confirming the specifications, and if the plant does not exist, it may be necessary to conduct technical expertise to determine the parameters of the vessel before registration.
Can I register a homemade boat?
Yes, registration of self-made vessels is possible, requiring a classification examination by a registering authority or a specialized organization, an inspector to check the design for safety, stability and unsinkability, and after a successful inspection, the vessel is assigned identification numbers and issued a boat's ticket.