Boat inspections when crossing state lines

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Late December or January weather permitting I’m dragging my boat from Washington state to Florida. Ive actually never been across state lines and been through an inspection. I only have plans of having it in the water in Florida if that makes any difference. What can I expect from certain states and will some states not have checkpoints during this time of year.

ive read enough to have more questions than I could imagine. One good thing is my boats upper deck drains completely through the boat I can have the lowers well in the hull completely dry it never takes on water unless I’ve rinsed it. So that area will be less of a concern I read some inspections require this area to be dry but that may be when actually putting the boat in the water in a new area.


if the weather permits I will go through Montana eastern Wyoming drop to central Texas and then east. If the weather does not permit I’ll drop south to California and then east, I have relatives to see in Wyoming on my way if possible.

 

[ahicks]

Never heard of boat inspections en-route from anywhere to anywhere. Florida may require an inspection that amounts to serial number verification if you plan on registering your boat there - and they're going to want to see the ORIGINAL title. Copies or faxes not acceptable (can you say anal?). If you aren't going to be keeping it in Florida, your welcome as a guest. I had a Michigan registered pontoon there for 3 years prior to selling it and nobody even raised an eyebrow.

 

[Scott Danforth]

unless you have produce hanging out of your boat or endangered livestock.......... you wont get a second glance.

 

[jbcurt00]

Driving east out of Salt Lake City, Utah into Montana there is a sign on the freeway requiring boats to be inspected for invasive species, aquatic plants, live bait and invertebrates (esp zebra mussles).

Determine your route and call the DNR/DOT and ask every state you'll cross in to. Can probably be done all online...

Montana's gov website goes over it in detail. Basically clean, drained and dry you wont have any trouble, but might take more then a minute.... And it reads like there is no required inspections during the winter months, so until you get further south, you're likely to not have any.

When I drove back from SLC w a boat and pulled into the Montana border weigh station for the inspection, it wasnt staffed so I left w/out it being inspected. It was a 50s boat that clearly hadnt seen water usage in a decade+ so I'm sure it would have passed.

Didnt encounter another border crossing inspection site from there all the way back to WV.

 

[shrew]

To my knowledge those inspections are only required if you intend on launching the boat in that state. Not simply to drag the boat through the state on the Highway. However, each state is different, so if someone can point to a state published law or ordinance that would certainly be interesting. The highway weight stations are not going to know what to do with a recreational boat. They are checking commercial trucks.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

That’s all good information I wasn’t paying a lot of attention but I remember seeing road side check stations. Its easier to know what to expect before I head out.

 

[jbcurt00]

The 1 check station I mentioned is probably close to Montana waterways and/or the lake in eastern Utah. I stopped at a lake overlook in Utah that was relatively near the border crossing into Montana.

Perhaps it was proximity to either states waterways, rather then border control for the unmanned 1 I skipped.

Again, cleaned, drained and dry travelling in the winter will all be helpful til ya get south....

 

[roscoe]

Some, many ?? states, require you to have the drain plug(s) removed.

They will pull you over and give a hefty fine just for having the drain plug in.

So, clean, dry, plug out, and boat covered to keep it dry inside.

 

[KD4UPL]

I've trailered 3 different boat in and thru 6 different states over the last 27 years. I've never heard of nor seen anything about a boat inspection station. Maybe it's a western states thing?

 

[roscoe]

FYI Yes, some states will use the truck weigh stations on the highways to do boat inspections, so read the sign as you approach a weigh station. Some use rest areas, or parking lots.


SALEM, Ore – Located throughout Oregon, stations are open if large, orange “Boat Inspection Ahead” signs are posted on highways followed by “Inspection Required for All Watercraft.”
Inspection station locations and operating hours:

• Ashland: I-5 at the Ashland Port of Entry. Open daily year-round, during daylight hours.
• Ontario: I-84 at the Ontario Rest Area. Open daily year-round, during daylight hours.
• Brookings: Hwy. 101 at the Brookings weigh station. Open daily mid-April to early September, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Klamath Falls: US-97 at the Midland Rest Area. Open daily mid-April to early September, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Lakeview: Hwy. 395 south of town. Open Thursday - Monday, mid-April to early September, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Umatilla: Hwy. 730 at the Umatilla Port of Entry. Open daily mid-April to early September, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Stop at ALL open inspection stations you encounter in Montana where your watercraft may be re-inspected.


CA, appears to only have pre-launch inspections on certain waterways. :To pass inspection, watercraft and accessories must ABSOLUTELY be clean and dry. This includes motor (plus outboard motor cooling system), deck, hull, bilge and bait wells (No live bait with the exception of worms and nightcrawlers is permitted), ropes, lines, floats, fishing equipment, trailer, rear of vehicle, personal flotation devices, and any other inflatable watercraft. Watercraft that fail inspection will not be permitted to launch and must wait five days before returning.

Regarding the boat from Arizona, the mussels lived through the 700-mile, 12-hour trip to Tahoe.
Deemed to be a high-risk vessel, California Department of Fish and Wildlife required a mechanic to take apart the powerboat’s drive to remove potentially live mussels. The craft was returned to Arizona,

Fun times.

Idaho’s inspection stations are placed on major highways at or near the Idaho state line. This strategy is taken to maximize contact with boats that are traveling into the state from other impacted states.


• Any watercraft transported into Wyoming from March 1 through November 30 must undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized inspector prior to launching..


Colorado requiring state-certified inspections of boats for zebra and quagga mussels prior to launching on any Colorado Lake, reservoir or waterway.
​It is also required that boat operators remove all plants and pull all water drain plugs from the conveyance prior to leaving the lake or reservoir. It is not legal to transport a conveyance over land with plants on board or plugs in place.


Do I have to pull my drain plugs when trailering my boat?
Yes you do, it is now an Arizona law that boats must remove their drain plugs during transport


A new state law could give South Dakota ... crews checking boats for zebra mussels and other invasive species ... to run inspection stations anywhere in South Dakota, including roads and highways.


North Dakota. All drain plugs that may hold back water must be removed, and water draining devices must be open, on all watercraft and recreational, commercial, and construction equipment bilges and confined spaces, during any out-of-water transport of same.


Manitoba. all watercraft must stop for an inspection when the watercraft stations are open, located at weigh stations, hotels, launches, and on major highways.


I would guess that inspection stations will be closed if water is hard, but that won't happen in Oregon.

 

[Captain Caveman]

You should be fine. No random inspections that I've ever heard of crossing borders. Like many other states, here in Minnesota they will pull you over quickly if they see the drain plug in or any vegetation hanging onto the trailer.

Hey Roscoe, I didn't realize where Medford was until just now. I stop at the Thorpedo on my way to Lambeau every year. I also had a friend grow up in Antigo. That's all a beautiful part of the state.