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Boat Registration

We are happy to process your boat registration(s) in the Town of Stoddard.  We are authorized Boat Agents for the State of New Hampshire. You do not have to be a town resident to register your boat here in our office, you may be a non-resident. If you live in another state, and if your boat is used primarily in New Hampshire waters, (51% or more of the time) it may be registered in New Hampshire.

New Boat Registration

Any boat operated on the public waters of New Hampshire, including tidal and coastal waters and all inland waters, must be registered and must display the bow number issued by the DMV as part of the registration process, unless the boat is exempt as provided in RSA 270-E:4. Boats may be registered at any time of year, but each boat registration expires on December 31st of the year it was registered.

Registering a Boat in New Hampshire 

To register a boat in New Hampshire, the owner of the boat must provide the following:

  • Completed Boat Registration Application 
  • Proof of ownership
  • Owner's valid, current Driver License
  • Boat registration fees

Verification of Vessel Identification Needed  

  • If the boat is homemade 
  • When a 12-digit Hull Identification Number (HIN) was not assigned to a vessel manufactured after 1972
  • When there is no HIN present for any vessel manufactured for any given year

Once a Boat is registered

  • The owner will be issued a registration certificate along with a decal 
  • The registration certificate must be kept on the boat at all times when the boat is being operated
  • Every New Hampshire registered boat must display a bow number and current registration decal

Add an Additional Owner

To add an additional owner to your boat registration you need to provide the following:

  • Current boat registration
  • A letter of request to add an additional owner that includes the full name, address and date of birth of the additional owner
  • Both owners signatures
  • A brief description of the boat that includes the Bow Number
  • Photo copy of the additional owner's driver license, non-driver identification or birth certificate
  • A completed Application for a Copy of a Registration  (RDMV 110)
  • Payment fee

Registering a Homemade Boat

To register a homemade boat you need to provide the following:

  • A bill of sale
  • A Verification of Vessel Identification 
  • Receipts from materials purchased
  • A simple floor plan or blueprints
  • A driver's license

Additional Boat Information

  • Hull Identification Numbers (HIN): The Hull Identification Number is a unique 12-digit number assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built in 1973 to present. Owners of older vessels manufactured without a HIN or of homemade vessels that have not been assigned HIN should have a Verification of Vessel Identification completed by a New Hampshire law enforcement officer.
  • Bow Numbers: Boats are assigned a bow number upon initial registration of that boat in New Hampshire. Boats previously registered in New Hampshire will keep the same Bow number for the life of the boat. Bow numbers begin with "NH" followed by four numbers and either one or two letters. Bow numbers are assigned automatically and sequentially; the DMV does not issue specific bow numbers upon request.
  • Replacement Decals: A duplicate copy of a registration or a replacement decal is available when a current registration or decal has been misplaced, lost or has been destroyed.