Do I need to register a dock?

[dirtyoldman]

THis may be a stupid idea. Feel free to tell me what you think.

I'd like to be able to take more people with me out on the lake. We have a 18' ski boat that seats six. I have been considering getting a pontoon with a very small motor and parking it in a cove. Then, friends can come and we have a place for people to hang out, and not everyone has to ride around if I want to ski or tube or just cruise. It would be a good place for some fishing or a BBQ grill and a toilet and some shade.

I want a small motor to be cheap. Then I started wondering what happens if there is no motor. It's cheaper and less maintenance and easier. I'd have to tow it where we want to go, but it's not usually more than half a mile or so. It's essentially a floating dock.

Is this a bad idea? Does anyone do this?

 

[guy74]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

I've thought about doing the same thing. In Kansas anyway, I don't think it would have to be registered as long as it didn't have a motor, but I'm not sure.

 

[DJ]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

I don't know where you boat but you might want to consider that it may become a navigational hazard at night.

I can assure you that if it has an engine attached, it needs to be registered.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

The places I have lived all had requirements on navigational hazards like this. Docks and platforms had to conform to certain size requirements and also be located no further than a specified distance from shore. If there are any property owners where you plan to park your barge, they may have something to say about it regardless.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

These are corps lakes around here, no property owners. I probably won't have it out at night, but I could put the necessary lights with a deep cycle battery on it if needed. I'm thinking of a pontoon boat that I trailer when I want it out, not something I leave there.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

corps lake, you will probably have to register.

 

[Don S]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

If you are going to be out only on day trips, and then back again, I would say your best bet is to equip it like a boat. Including a small outboard and safety and required CG equipment.
It will be a lot easier to run a small motor for anchoring, trailering, and manuvering in close quarters of other boats, than trying to tow it.
Check your local laws for registration. That changes in every state.

 

[arboldt]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

Sounds like there's a couple of issues, and I'm not clear which you mean.

Michigan law requires boat registration for anything over a certain size or that is designed to have a motor mounted. For example, canoes are not designed with a motor mount and therefore are not required to be registered. A small rowboat must be registered, however, because it has a transom where a motor *could* be mounted. Under that logic, a pontoon boat, even without a motor, would be required to be registered as a watercraft.

Around here, what you're describing would be referred to as a raft. On most lakes, they are not required to be registered, as they are usually under the size threshold and are not designed to be moving; they are designed to be semi-permanently anchored.

On the other hand, certain lakes or rivers may require permits for docks and rafts. The lake our place is on does not, but I've been on many other lakes where there are few if any swim rafts, so I suspect they're regulated there. Even on our small lake, one guy has small markers out for a ski course, and he's required to get an annual permit from the DNR for it. I think the differences have to do with distance from shore and whether or not it's adjacent to your property.

Finally, if you anchored something even a couple hundred yards off my lake frontage for more than a couple hours, I'd be a little irritated, although there's probably nothing I could do about it.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

Finally, if you anchored something even a couple hundred yards off my lake frontage for more than a couple hours, I'd be a little irritated, although there's probably nothing I could do about it.

Out here, that's what we do. We anchor and spend the day in the boat. Nobody has lakefront property though, but I guess I'm glad it's that way. Do you actually own out to the middle of the lake or something?

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

If it moves whether under its own power or towed by anothers, it is a boat or barge. If it is anchored to the shore and does not move it is a wharf. Most Corps lakes need approval for wharfs. Most states require registration for barges ands boats.

Check with your state registry. Being wrong could be costly.

 

[flashback]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

Where I;m at, it would work fine....as long as it does not have a motor,,you take it out and bring it back in and all is good,,,if you leave it out in a channel, then the tides will change........

 

[JCF350]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

Check with your state authorities. In FLA if it as a motor it must be registered
(even if it's a canoe). Used to push a 40' house boat around the Banana River all the time for parties and such.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

How difficult or dangerous is it to tow a boat?

 

[ezeke]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

I would think that you would be more concerned about liability and insurance where groups of people are concerned than the narrow issues of registration per se.

I suggest you contact your agent.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

Out here, that's what we do. We anchor and spend the day in the boat. Nobody has lakefront property though, but I guess I'm glad it's that way. Do you actually own out to the middle of the lake or something?

Let's look at it another way- how would you feel if some transient family parked out in front of your house every weekend and had a rip roaring fest for the entire day? Do you own out to the middle of the road or something?

It's common for people to anchor their boats on any of the lakes I have been on. Normally, they spend some time and then move on. Although one might think it would be common courtesy not to blare loud music or carry on excessively, some still do. I have always been aware of the property owners concerns and kept it low key. Lake living comes with a certain amount of expected noise from both the lake and your neighbors. Having a regular barge party in front of a particular property is pushing the envelope IMO.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

Let's look at it another way- how would you feel if some transient family parked out in front of your house every weekend and had a rip roaring fest for the entire day? Do you own out to the middle of the road or something?

It's common for people to anchor their boats on any of the lakes I have been on. Normally, they spend some time and then move on. Although one might think it would be common courtesy not to blare loud music or carry on excessively, some still do. I have always been aware of the property owners concerns and kept it low key. Lake living comes with a certain amount of expected noise from both the lake and your neighbors. Having a regular barge party in front of a particular property is pushing the envelope IMO.

I already said nobody owns land on the lakes here. I also said I would be trailering it in for the day. THis means that it's unlikely that I would pick the same spot every weekend. How would it be different if I did have a motor on it? I would still go out to a cove somewhere and spend the day!

I was actually being serious about the owning land question. You make it sound like you own the lake. I know some areas have private lakes. Is that how it is at your lake?

 

[oops!]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

i think the key phrases in bigstuffs post "were in my opinion"
and common courtesy

as far as the land owning question.......in canada we do not own the land 15 feet from shore..........

im not sure about the states....

you called it corps lake....is that name of the lake, or a description of a kind of lake.....i e..in a land reserve...like a state park .....or watershed.....

as previously posted.....i think state law would determine water rights...

i would think....as you move from spot to spot.....and dont intend to leave it....a toon boat. would be the answer your looking for...there goin cheep on e

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

i think the key phrases in bigstuffs post "were in my opinion"
and common courtesy

as far as the land owning question.......in canada we do not own the land 15 feet from shore..........

im not sure about the states....

you called it corps lake....is that name of the lake, or a description of a kind of lake.....i e..in a land reserve...like a state park .....or watershed.....

as previously posted.....i think state law would determine water rights...

i would think....as you move from spot to spot.....and dont intend to leave it....a toon boat. would be the answer your looking for...there goin cheep on e

Corps of engineers - they are federal water reservoirs. Technically, they aren't even called lakes, they are reservoirs. If we hit a wet season, the river washes a bunch of stumps out in the lake, and when it's dry, they lower the level to keep the rivers navigable (sp?). There was an article in the last paper about how homewoners near the lake were going to get nastygrams because some had damaged vegetation making a trail to the lake.

There are plenty of people though who like to get mad at someone for parallel parking in front of THEIR house or driving slow on THEIR highway and I get a little turned off by that snobbiness. Maybe I overreacted.

 

[oops!]

Re: Do I need to register a dock?

we got some pretty big houses on our lake here....avg price ...5 mill

they fence all the way into the water...totally illegal....we are supposed to be able to walk the shore un interuppted......but by law enforcement doesnt do anything about it......

ive seen them get mad when you park your boat 50 feet off shore for a few hours.....kinda unreasonable....but people have bad days.....

if no one ownes the land around the lake......and you are allways on the same lake.....a barge might do you........but then...if you come to use it one day another family may be camped out on it!

cheers
oops