Me and a few friends are having a legal debate. The question came up about having to register a cone or kayak if you put a trolling motor on it. The state says you do have to register it and pay the annual registration fees. My question comes down to the means of attachment. If the trolling motor isn�t physically attached by bolting it to the vessel and is clamped �TM temporarily affixed�, would it then need to be registered? Wouldn�t this then make it an otherwise exempted vessel like a cone or kayak?

Exempted Vessels:

USCG Documented vessels are exempt from titling with the State.
Non-motorized canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, or rubber rafts (regardless of length) when paddled, poled, or oared and sailboats under 14 feet in length when windblown. Adding an outboard or trolling motor to one of these types requires titling and registration.

Doesn't matter how you attach it. If it's motorized, it must be registered in Texas.

This all came up because of a pretty cool vessel I found for fishing some skinny water.

https://www.ultraskiff.com/contact.html

I am curious if this would require a state registration.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/owner/titles_and_registration/

Scroll down to "Registration"

The one in the photo would definitely require registration in Texas since it has a trolling motor.

A good friend of mine has one of those for his large pond on his ranch. It's shocking stable and I am a little larger than the average fella.

But are you adding a trolling motor? Or temporarily affixing? I just think it silly to have to register something that doesn�t have a title or VIN number and have to pay fees annually for something as cheap as a canoe or kayak.

Doesn't matter. The law is very clear.

"Adding an outboard or trolling motor to one of these types requires titling and registration."

If you'd like to hear it from "the man", call your local TPWD office and ask them.

Once you put a motor on it, regardless of how it is attached, it has to be registered. You can paddle your kayak around all day with the trolling motor on the bank, the second you put the motor on it, the kayak better have stickers.

Or don�t and take your chances. I�ll bet if you tell the GW your feeling about it he will let you slide

If you are in public water and it has a motor on it temporary or otherwise, you have to register it and comply with things like throw cushions and whistles etc... Fished public water for many years from a two man boat with a trolling motor that I took off after every trip.

Apparently your friends are right. There is nothing to debate, the law is the law. Attachment methods don�t matter (duck tape it if you want). But if you put a motor on an inflatable pool toy and put it on public water it has to be registered!

What if you hold the trolling motor??

Only Bill Dance does that in his bloopers