Michigan Boating Laws – Registration of All Motorized Vessels and Operator Requirements. The only exceptions are: Privately owned rowboats 16 feet or less in … Boat Trailer Registration in Michigan: What You Need to Know. In Michigan, you must have a Certificate of Number (registration) and validation decals to operate your vessel legally on public waters. Boats moored on the Indiana part of Lake Michigan for not more than 180 consecutive days. This agency does not facilitate online searches for the general public due to strict privacy laws. Boat title and registration records in Michigan are maintained by the Department of State. If you’re a boater, there’s nothing like a Michigan summer, with thousands of lakes and waterways to explore. All watercraft, unless specifically exempt, must be registered in Michigan and display valid boat registration stickers.

You must also display the registration number on your boat if you are required to register. For information on Indiana boating laws see the Handbook of Indiana Boating Laws and Responsibilities located on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website.

Michigan has no online search service to identify the owners of boats by registration number, but you can send a query to the Michigan Secretary of State's office to request identification of a boat owner by registration … Add sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, remote islands, waterfront villages and port cities to the nation’s longest freshwater coastline and you have an July 1, 2019. Michigan's many lakes and campgrounds offer travelers the opportunity to hitch a travel trailer, boat or RV to their vehicle and head out for an adventure. Before you put your motorized boat in the water, it needs to be registered with the Secretary of State (SOS). However, record printouts may be obtained by an owner or otherwise qualified party by submitting a boat … Boating in Michigan, cast a line in the water, strap on the water skis or just set sail and relax because Michigan’s waters offer a boating adventure that you'll be talking about long after you've returned to the dock. ... a registration number and two decals for each boat registration. Moreover, hand-powered (propelled by oars or paddles) watercraft over 16 feet must also be registered. While you may have registered your boat, you may not realize your trailer must be registered, too. You’ll then be issued an identification number for your boat, which must be displayed on both sides of … Michigan Boat Registration Basics.