If you are new to boat ownership in Florida, or if you are a non-resident boat owner, you are probably wondering about the registration and licensing requirements in the state. Here are some important tips on staying in compliance with boat registration, fees, renewals, boater license and safety course requirements in Florida waterways.

If your boat is a non-motor powered vessel less than 16 feet in length, it is not required to be registered or titled. However, if the vessel is 16 feet or more in length, it is required to be registered and titled. And, all vessels with any kind of motor must be titled and registered to be used on Florida's public waterways.

Yes, we are still open, and no, the oil has not been hear (as yet). As far as we know, at this time. Today was a bit hot, but the bird life and dolphins and stingrays were all doing well in the Back Bay at Matlacha. We had our early morning nature tour and it was wonderful, as usual. Do still bring plenty of cool water, as it is hot and sunny. Now, I am not going to upset you with all the news of the oil spill. I am sure you are sadly getting that from all the politicians, environmentalists, news makers, and newscasters that are in your face every day and night, so you don’t need me, a simple kayak guide to tell you the bad news. This is a major tragedy that I pray Mother Nature will forgive us for and find a way to bounce back, as she has in the past.

So let’s talk about what else is happening this time of the year, and what you may see as you are out paddling in Florida.

When purchasing your own boat for the very first time, you may have much to learn about what is needed to fully and safely equip your boat for the initial outing. First and foremost, when you purchase the a new boat always opt for the “Coast Guard Safety Package” offered by the dealer. This includes life jackets (PFDs), whistles, chemical lights for your PFDs, flares, fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit. You will also be in need of an anchor and chain with ample length, docking lines, four 25-foot lines, a spot light, a spare prop, prop nut, shear pin, cotter keys, and a tool box. Never leave the dock in a boat that doesn’t have a back-up battery; ask that it be installed by the dealer with a properly wired “off, one, two, and both” switch.

The day before departing Crescent City, California, on July 1 for an offshore passage bound for Alameda, California, the shore-bound father of one of three crew members aboard the 32-foot catamaran sailboat Catalyst wanted to ensure his daughter was safe. So he went to www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/epirb to rent an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).

Normally costing about $800, the BoatU.S Foundation rents the life-saving units for just $65 per week. The rental program is intended to fill the short-term safety need for occasional offshore cruisers. When activated by immersion in water or manually by pressing a button, the units broadcast an emergency mayday signal via satellite along with precise location information of the vessel in distress, allowing for a speedy rescue. A dedicated global satellite system relays 406-MHz EPIRB distress signals to rescue stations around the world.

Everyone who knows anything about boating safety probably knows that it is a good idea to create a “float plan,” to let friends and family members know where you plan to travel in your boat, each time you enter the water. Float plans are necessary just in case there is an unfortunate emergency event, such as failure of the motor, or severe inclement weather, you and your boat can be located.

While, in the past, this essential safety precaution may have been very labor intensive, causing many boaters to avoid it altogether, nowadays it is a simple undertaking that can ensure the safety of recreational boaters.

The July 4th holiday is expected to bring record numbers of boaters, sailors and anglers to the water. Along with hot dogs and apple pie, alcohol will be on hand for many on this national day of celebration. Boat Owners Association of The United States(BoatU.S.) has three tips that can help ensure it's also a safe holiday for everyone aboard.

• Designated drivers are good - but don't forget your guests. "To use a designated skipper would seem like welcome advice," says BoatU.S. Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. "However, having a designated skipper aboard may suggest to everyone else that they are free to drink as much as they want, and that's the trouble."

The BoatU.S. insurance claims files don't lie -- statistics show that sober boating guests are much more likely to be injured on a boat than the captain and regular crew. Adding alcohol to the mix only increases the risk for injury.

Adriance says guests' lack of basic boating skills are the main reason. "Someone who boats infrequently may not be familiar with wakes, docking, or boarding, which increases their chances of falling overboard," he said. "Boat operators need to really ask themselves, how much attention can I devote to watching inebriated guests while trying to safely make my way home?"
 

Florida residents' worst fears have come true—large pools of black sludge are invading the coastal beach's once-white sands. Officials closed the beach to visitors for the first time Thursday because because of oil contamination. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster continues to wash ashore along the Alabama and Florida coasts.

Health advisories warning people not to swim or fish have been posted for a total of nearly 40 miles of Florida Panhandle beaches, stretching from the Florida/Alabama border through Pensacola Beach and across a stretch of beaches further east in Walton and Okaloosa counties, including the popular tourist spot of Destin.

I haven’t seen anything on network television about this, I haven’t seen any telethons, I still have not seen any PSAs about helping the Gulf states in their time of need. I would like to see ALL of the Gulf states band together and assure that modern equipment is obtained for the area, and require that all the platforms in the Gulf maintain booms around them until their well heads are brought up to modern, international standards. I’ll bet that pricey remote controlled shut-off valve is looking like a bargain to BP now… I am disgusted!

Read about how we never learn

ALEXANDRIA, Va. June 2, 2010 - On waterways across the country, boating season begins this week. To help boaters and anglers brush up on their boating safety, the BoatUS Foundation has these six tips:

Life jackets: Ensure that you have enough life jackets to fit everyone aboard - including the kids. Next, ensure all are in good condition and easy to reach. Inflatable life jackets need to be opened, inspected, inflated manually and have their CO2 cartridge checked. For more information on the requirements go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation/guide/equipment.html .

VHF radio: If you don't have one you may be taking an unnecessary risk. A cell phone won't summon the closest potential rescuers -- your fellow boaters or anglers, and today a VHF radio can be purchased for as little as $100. If you have a handheld VHF ensure the battery is charged. "Digital Selective Calling" VHF radios need to be registered and an MMSI number issued to the boat in order to gain all of their superior safety benefits such as a one-button mayday feature. For a VHF radio tutorial, go to www.BoatUS.com/mmsi .

Last year’s Atlantic hurricane season saw the formation of just nine tropical storms—the fewest since 1997. And with news headlines focused on the Gulf oil spill, marina operators in the Gulf and Atlantic seaboard are questioning whether boaters are distracted or have simply forgotten about making annual storm preparations for the upcoming hurricane season, which began June 1. Adding to the operators’ worries are forecasts warning that 2010 could be a much more active hurricane season with as many as 18 named storms. On Florida’s east coast, Sebastian River Marina & Boatyard owner Doug Hillman is concerned. “Unfortunately, some of us have short memories,” said Hillman, who recalls the last significant storm that struck his region five years ago. “There doesn’t seem to be a sense of urgency this season.”