How to Register a Vessel

Pennsylvania prescribes particular requirements to get your boat up and running on state waterways. All vessels propelled by a motor or sailboat equipped with an outboard motor must be legally registered with the governing authorities. Watercrafts excluded from the obligation to register in-state are as follows:

• Boats that are currently registered in another state to be used for no longer than a total of 60 days.
• Ships lifeboats.
• Boats in possession of the state or federal governments.

The law stipulates that when electing to utilize a boat, with or without a motor, proper documentation must be provided proving the vessel’s registration. This applies when used upon waterways within the designated region overseen by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission or within the boundaries of a Pennsylvania State Park.

In addition to regulated registration, a Pennsylvania certificate of title is mandated for all the following vessels:

• All boats with a length of 14 feet or longer equipped with an inboard or outboard motor.
• Any boat furnished with an inboard motor that was built after 1996.
• Any boat that is titled in an alternate state that chooses to use Pennsylvania as its primary location.

Pennsylvania title and registration can be acquired by mail or by visiting the nearest Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission office to hand in the following listed filings:

• A finalized Pennsylvania Application for Boat Registration and Boat Title (Form Rev-336).
• Sufficient evidence that you own the vessel, such as a manufacturer’s certificate of origin or a correctly reassigned title.
• A bill of sale.
• Payment to cover registration and tiling fees.

Apply necessary postage and send the itemized materials to:

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Division of Licensing and Registration
P.O. Box 68900
Harrisburg, PA 17106