New Jersey Boating Safety Course:
(Legal Requirements of Boating)
Questions with Definitive Solutions
2024-2025.
Vessels that require Registration - Answer: All vessels longer than 12 feet must be
titled.
1|Page
,In New Jersey, all titled vessels must be registered. In addition, any vessel that is
mechanically propelled, regardless of length, must be registered.
Vessels that are Exempt from Registration - Answer: Non-powered vessels 12 feet
or less in length
A non-powered, inflatable vessel; a surfboard; a racing shell; or a tender used for
no other purpose than direct transportation between a vessel and the shore
A non-powered kayak or canoe
A non-powered sailboat or vessel used exclusively on small lakes and ponds
wholly within private lands
Vessels properly registered in another state or documented vessels from another
state that operate on New Jersey waters on a transient basis
Where to get and store a registration card - Answer: Vessel registration
application forms are available from marinas, boat dealers, Motor Vehicle
Commission field offices, or by writing to:
The State of New JerseyMotor Vehicle CommissionP.O. Box 160Trenton, NJ 08666
Registration must be on board and available for inspection whenever vessel is
operated
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, How to display registration number - Answer: Number must be painted, applied
as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow.
Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
Number must be in at least three-inch-high BLOCK letters.
Number's color must contrast sharply with its background.
Letters must be separated from the numbers by a hyphen or equivalent space: NJ
3717 ZW or NJ-3717-ZW.
No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
Validation decals must be displayed on both sides of the vessel three inches aft of
the registration numbers.
PWCS must do this too!
HIN - Answer: The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique 12-digit number
assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built after 1972.
Distinguish one vessel from another—the same as serial numbers distinguish one
car from another.
3|Page
(Legal Requirements of Boating)
Questions with Definitive Solutions
2024-2025.
Vessels that require Registration - Answer: All vessels longer than 12 feet must be
titled.
1|Page
,In New Jersey, all titled vessels must be registered. In addition, any vessel that is
mechanically propelled, regardless of length, must be registered.
Vessels that are Exempt from Registration - Answer: Non-powered vessels 12 feet
or less in length
A non-powered, inflatable vessel; a surfboard; a racing shell; or a tender used for
no other purpose than direct transportation between a vessel and the shore
A non-powered kayak or canoe
A non-powered sailboat or vessel used exclusively on small lakes and ponds
wholly within private lands
Vessels properly registered in another state or documented vessels from another
state that operate on New Jersey waters on a transient basis
Where to get and store a registration card - Answer: Vessel registration
application forms are available from marinas, boat dealers, Motor Vehicle
Commission field offices, or by writing to:
The State of New JerseyMotor Vehicle CommissionP.O. Box 160Trenton, NJ 08666
Registration must be on board and available for inspection whenever vessel is
operated
2|Page
, How to display registration number - Answer: Number must be painted, applied
as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow.
Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
Number must be in at least three-inch-high BLOCK letters.
Number's color must contrast sharply with its background.
Letters must be separated from the numbers by a hyphen or equivalent space: NJ
3717 ZW or NJ-3717-ZW.
No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
Validation decals must be displayed on both sides of the vessel three inches aft of
the registration numbers.
PWCS must do this too!
HIN - Answer: The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique 12-digit number
assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built after 1972.
Distinguish one vessel from another—the same as serial numbers distinguish one
car from another.
3|Page
