Year: 2006

Today we loaded up our pontoon boats and drove to Rancho Seco for the first launching. Both disassembled fit into the truck along with the pontoons deflated in duffle bags.

We started putting them together near the dock.

It took us about 45 mins. to work through all the small unplanned assembly glitches and get the two boats together. The hardest part was lifting the larger one with the motor and taking it down to the dock ramp. We must have gotten it right since it did not sink. 🙂

Well here I go – trying to figure out steering with the trolling motor – beats rowing anytime. The shaft of the motor is a bit to short – need to go get one with a longer shaft – umm – sounds like the cash register going cah chang…

Here we are rowing and trolling away.

Altogether I think after a few more figure it out days we will be prime time for Bass fishing. We need to mount some pole holders and figure out where we are going to store the tackle . . .

Now hours at DMV, boat stores, marine supply stores, and a tank of gas later. I can show you a inflatable pontoon boat with the proper regisration numbers displayed.

• At least three inches tall
• in block letters
• spaced even
• air brushed on with my model paint gun
• not covered by any straps or framework
• visable
• painted with the proper type paint for the pontoon material
• registration stickers three inches from the numbers that can not stick on an inflatable boat without falling off
• two seal a meal bags and four zip locks

As for the stickers being to close to any other writtings or letters the DMV and everyone else can go jumb in lake!

Sometimes my brain goes to sleep :). I know this is one of those DUH – Big Red Truck – moments. But where oh where in the css is the color code for the background of the page? Time to go back to sleep …

I am not complaining about the few bucks it cost to register a boat. BUT –

I went to DMV today to register my pontoon boat – a little rubber boat that silly me decided needed a trolling motor. A small battery operated one at that. Now because I attached said motor to the rubber inflatable boat seems I need to register it. Now I have 2 approx. 3×3 inch  stickers and a registration number CF xxxx xx that have to be on the “boat”. How do you go about mounting numbers and a sticker to a rubber pontoon? There is a way – Hypalon Letters and a holder for the tag. Now I have to phone around and purchase some. This really is kind of silly.

When at DMV the gal at the counter (after 45min wait) got over the humorous part of registering a rubber boat and decided that I needed to make a rubbing of the serial number that is on one of the seat tubes to prove that I am not making it up. I convinced her to go ask her supervisor and mention why would anyone make up a number to register a rubber duck? It worked. The paperwork provided by the manufacturer states the serial number clearly. Then DMV’s computer did not have the manufacturer listed – another snafu. Next I had find the sales reciept from the sporting goods store so I would not have to pay taxes. Then I needed the sales reciept for the motor and the serial number. I told em – I am not taking the top of the motor to find a stupid number goodness the motor was only $89.99 at Wal Mart. Finally I walked out with my two stickers and a registration number.

Now I need to (not DMV’s Prob or duty) notify the county treasurry office that I have a registered boat so they can get their luxury tax.

Now I ask you – what is the point of making someone register an inflatable pontoon fishing boat just because they attached a small trolling motor? Money? Wow they have my $28 bucks and will get 10 bucks a year from me. I get a pink slip for a rubber inflatable boat in return. Wonder how much the luxury tax will be?

In the State of California if you take a rubber truck tire and attach any motor to it and put it in any body of water (except a swimming pool) you MUST have it registered. I am considering going to DMV with the reciept for a inner tube and a motor and registering it – just for the fun of it.