Marine Patrol FAQ

There are various locations throughout the State, including some marinas and sport shops, town halls and DVM substations. We recommend calling these businesses to check with them before attempting to register your boat. You can also register your boat Monday through Friday at the Boat Desk in Concord, or at Marine Patrol Headquarters.

Write a letter requesting a copy of the accident report. The request should include:

• the date and time of the accident,
• the waterway, and
• the names of the parties involved.
• Please mail the letter to Marine Patrol Headquarters.

Only the person listed on the previous year's registration or the owner of the boat may register it by providing proof of ownership.

Please use the following link for more information on restricted bodies of water: Restricted Bodies of Water.

You will need to bring proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale, a previous registration (if applicable), and your driver license.

Call Marine Patrol Headquarters at (603) 293-2037 to obtain a commercial boat license application and study materials. Complete the application following the instructions. Once completed, mail the application to the Concord DVM Boat Desk. After approximately one week, call Marine Patrol Headquarters to check if the processed application has been received. When it is received at Marine Patrol Headquarters, you will be given a date and time for the commercial boat operators written examination.

A replacement registration or registration decal can be issued at the Boat Desk in Concord, some DMV substations, or Marine Patrol Headquarters. The owner will need to have the bow number of the boat and his/her driver license. The fee for a replacement registration is $15.00; the fee for replacement decals is $3.00.

It is legal for someone to anchor in front of a house, as water bodies over 10 acres in size are public bodies of water.

This can be accomplished in person at the Boat Desk in Concord, or by mail. If registering the vessel by mail, the following documentation is required:

• bill of sale (new vessels),
• copy of proof of ownership,
• and a copy of the applicant's driver license.

A ski craft is defined as, less than 13' in length as manufactured, capable of exceeding 20 mph, and has the capacity to carry not more than the operator and one other person. There are additional regulations that ski craft operators must follow. A personal watercraft (pwc) has the capacity to carry more than the operator and one passenger and must follow the regulations set forth for a motor boat.

Call the Boat Desk in Concord: (603) 271-2333.

Headway speed is 6 mph or the slowest speed to travel and still maintain steerage.

You must be 150' from other boats, docks, swim rafts, mooring fields, swimmers, designated swimming areas, floats, and shore before traveling above headway speed.

If your boat registration is currently valid in another state, you may operate your boat in NH for 30 consecutive days.

No more than six people may be towed on one or more inflatable tubes and no more than two people may be towed on water skis, aquaplanes, or other devices from the same motorboat at the same time.

When towing less than three people, there must be one observer (not including the operator). For three or more people being towed behind a motorboat, there must be two observers in addition to the operator. Observers must be a minimum of 13 years of age and physically able to assist the people being towed.

You must be at least 16 years of age to operate a ski craft.

It should be reported immediately to Marine Patrol. A written report is required when:

• there is injury beyond first aid,
• someone disappears or is missing,
• someone dies,
• and/or there is combined damage of more than $2,000.

Overnight mooring is illegal in the State of NH, although, it is legal to sleep on your boat overnight while tied to a dock when you have the landowner's permission. In addition, landowners must notify the Department of Environmental Services in writing.