In WA, do I need to register kayak if it is motorized?

A recent post mentioned putting a motor on a kayak.  If I put my electric trolling motor on my Adventure Island, would I need to register it in WA?  What about OR?
Here's what the WA dept of licencing says on their website:

"To navigate, operate, employ, or moor your vessel in Washington, you must have a Washington title, registration card, and registration decals, except:

If your vessel is a canoe, kayak, or a vessel not propelled by a motor or sail.
If your vessel is less than 16 feet in length and has a motor of 10 horsepower or less and is used on non-federal waters only.
If your vessel is properly registered by a resident of another state or country who uses Washington waters for 60 days or fewer."

The way I read this is that since my vessel is a kayak, I am exempt - no matter how long my kayak is, or how many horsepower.  What do you think?

Suggest contacting the Marine Boards of both states with your question....or just take your chances and see if you get a ticket or not.
The Adventure Island is 16' long and with the amas attached, it becomes a trimaran.....so, IMHO it poses cloudy interpretation by a Marine Cop......how much hassle do you want to deal with?
If I were the cop, reading the WA info above, once the electric motor is attached, I would issue you a ticket  for no registration of a marine vessel 

in OR, if you use a motor or sail, it must be registered.  not sure if there is also a length criteria.

but the registration includes your invasive species permit, so you don't need a separate one of those once you have numbers and reg. sticker.

A recent post mentioned putting a motor on a kayak.  If I put my electric trolling motor on my Adventure Island, would I need to register it in WA?  What about OR?
Here's what the WA dept of licencing says on their website:

"To navigate, operate, employ, or moor your vessel in Washington, you must have a Washington title, registration card, and registration decals, except:

If your vessel is a canoe, kayak, or a vessel not propelled by a motor or sail.
If your vessel is less than 16 feet in length and has a motor of 10 horsepower or less and is used on non-federal waters only.
If your vessel is properly registered by a resident of another state or country who uses Washington waters for 60 days or fewer."

The way I read this is that since my vessel is a kayak, I am exempt - no matter how long my kayak is, or how many horsepower.  What do you think?

The way I read these licensing requirements, you are required to register any "vessel" unless it qualifies for one or more of the three exemptions. You live in Washington, so you don't qualify for the third exemption.  If you add a motor to your kayak, you wouldn't qualify for the first exemption.  But if your kayak is less than 16 feet long, and your trolling motor is less than 10 horsepower, you would qualify for the second exemption.  I suspect that your electric trolling motor is less than 10 horsepower.  So get out your tape measure.  If your Adventure is an eighth of an inch over 16 feet, register your kayak.  If your Adventure is an eighth of an inch under 16 feet, you don't need to register, but as Dr. Steelhead Catcher points out, you risk getting tickets.  The water cop could whip out his or her smart phone, pull up the Hobie website, and point out that the website says that an Adventure is 16 feet long.  The second exemption only applies to kayaks which are "less than 16 feet in length," not to kayaks which are 16 feet or less in length.

Check with the Fish and Game/Wildlife Dept.; the Coast Guard and Sheriff Dept.  They will be the ones issuing tickets.  If they claim that you are a vessel it will changes the safety requirements you must have aboard.  Also, you maybe required to take Boaters Safety.

Puget Sound and the Columbia River are federal waters. So if you plan on using the motor there you have to register it in WA.

Goofy but that is the rule if I understand it correctly.

I think I would have preferred to remain blissfully ignorant at this point. 

I think I would have preferred to remain blissfully ignorant at this point.

I agree.  On the Hobie website the Mirage Adventure Island is listed under Mirage Kayak and Sailboat.  Get you tape measure and see if it is 16' or longer bow to stern.  Do not include rudder.  Hopefully you are just under.

If your vessel is less than 16 feet in length and has a motor of 10 horsepower or less and is used on non-federal waters only.

If you are under 16 and you are not going to be on Federal Waters, you are golden.

I talked exactly on this topic to a costal guard officer who I bought my first kayak from. He told me that he wouldn't consider a kayak with electric motor as "requires registration". I probably wouldn't bother with registration if I were installing a trolling motor.

I talked exactly on this topic to a costal guard officer who I bought my first kayak from. He told me that he wouldn't consider a kayak with electric motor as "requires registration". I probably wouldn't bother with registration if I were installing a trolling motor.

I think in OR that you would get ticketed rather quickly, I was on a float down the Siuslaw with my motor not in the water (laying on the back deck under fish cold bag) and the Sheriffs Marine Patrol boat came over because they observed that I had numbers and reg. decal and since they couldn't see my trolling motor, they were curious why.  (they also just wanted to BS about my yak).  Same sort of thing another day when our CG guys came over just to chat, they were well aware that the trolling motor was the reason for Registration...cheers, roger

I was told OR marine board that my Cuda 14 had to inspected by marine patrol and then I was sent boat title and Cuda registration. That registration by the must on board when and if you are inspected or you are going to be cited. My kayak pictured in previous disc. Zvonko
N

I was told OR marine board that my Cuda 14 had to inspected by marine patrol and then I was sent boat title and Cuda registration. That registration by the must on board when and if you are inspected or you are going to be cited. My kayak pictured in previous disc. Zvonko
N

When you say inspected.  I am assuming you are talking about:  (cut and paste from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permits are required for:
•All non-motorized boats (paddlecraft) 10 feet and longer, resident and out-of-state
•Out-of-state motorboats and sailboats 12 feet in length or more

As far as registration (this time from State of Oregon: Oregon State Marine Board)
All motorized boats, regardless of length or type, must be titled and registered in Oregon. Sailboats 12 feet and longer must also be titled and registered.

I see nothing in Oregon State law that required you to license or register your non-motorized  kayak / paddle craft.
If anyone can show me something that states otherwise in writing it would be greatly appreciated.

no registration or title required in Oregon for human powered, non-motorized watercraft.  It was talked about at one time but nothing ever materialized. 

Another note about the Invasive Species Permit which someone here pointed out last year, it is $2 cheaper if purchased through the OSMB rather than ODFW and you can get a two year permit ($10).

I hope that this as not a duplicate of my previous answer since it just disappeared of the screen. I was not clear on my last post as to Oregon requirement for registering motorized kayak.
After sending in my paperwork that I downloaded from their web cite. Paperwork was sent back and the agent called from Salem and she explained that my kayak had to be inspected by Marine Patrol officer, and that paper work with additional 30.00 would be necessary. 100 or so dollars later I got my Oregon boat title for the Cuda with the boat registration or Proof of Numbers.
When operating under power this registration must be on board or your person. Zvonko