My dad lives in Arizona and this past summer he left a 14' Meyers at my house in Michigan that is registered in AZ thru 2007. He will be picking it up in the fall and taking it back to AZ. Is it legal for me to use the boat this summer in Mi with the AZ registration on it? Thanks for any help!!

Without doing any research into specifics - I would say yes - as long has your boat has a valid reg - it would be honored by Michigan - and it meet all other safety requirements -

ferg....

 

If the boat has been in this state for 60 days or more than it is required to be registered in Michigan.

324.80122 Conditions to operation of vessels.
Sec. 80122. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person shall not operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel of any length on the waters of this state unless the fees prescribed in section 80124 for the vessel are paid, the certificate of number assigned to the vessel is on board and is in full force and effect, and, except for the following, the identifying number and decal are displayed on each side of the forward half of the vessel in accordance with this part and the rules promulgated by the department under this part:
(a) A decal and identifying numbers for a wooden hull and historic vessel as that term is defined in section 80124 may be displayed in the manner described in section 80126(2).
(b) A decal for an inflatable boat may be displayed on the transom of the boat.
(2) If a vessel is actually numbered in another state of principal use in accordance with a federally approved numbering system, it is in compliance with the numbering requirements of this state while it is temporarily being used in this state. This subsection applies to a vessel for which a valid temporary certificate is issued to the vessel's owner by the issuing authority of the state in which the vessel is principally used.
(3) If a vessel is removed to this state as the new state of principal use, a number awarded by any other issuing authority is valid for not more than 60 days before numbering is required by this state.

 

Thats what I needed to know. Thanks to Ferg and Boehr!!

 

If the boat has been in this state for 60 days or more than it is required to be registered in Michigan.

324.80122 Conditions to operation of vessels.
Sec. 80122. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person shall not operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel of any length on the waters of this state unless the fees prescribed in section 80124 for the vessel are paid, the certificate of number assigned to the vessel is on board and is in full force and effect, and, except for the following, the identifying number and decal are displayed on each side of the forward half of the vessel in accordance with this part and the rules promulgated by the department under this part:
(a) A decal and identifying numbers for a wooden hull and historic vessel as that term is defined in section 80124 may be displayed in the manner described in section 80126(2).
(b) A decal for an inflatable boat may be displayed on the transom of the boat.
(2) If a vessel is actually numbered in another state of principal use in accordance with a federally approved numbering system, it is in compliance with the numbering requirements of this state while it is temporarily being used in this state. This subsection applies to a vessel for which a valid temporary certificate is issued to the vessel's owner by the issuing authority of the state in which the vessel is principally used.
(3) If a vessel is removed to this state as the new state of principal use, a number awarded by any other issuing authority is valid for not more than 60 days before numbering is required by this state.

Ray - as the orignal poster stated - his uncle is coming to Mich to return the vessel to it's 'state of principal use' *(AZ)* - I would argue that the vessel has not been removed to Michigan for Principal use - but rather - remains a 'visiting' vessel where his AZ reg would be valid - had the uncle moved to Michigan and intended on staying in Michigan then the 60 days would go into effect.

What do you think ?

But that's just my read on it -

ferg....

 

Who would know other than the owner if it was here 60 days or 10 days? Some guy could just say "My uncle brought it up yesterday". Kinda hard to determine unless the guy is super honest.

 

Disagree with you Ferg, been there done that. A person doesn't have to live in Michigan for the state to be priciple use. We have a lot of people that dock there boats every summer in Michigan and haul them back to Chicago or wherever they live in the winter. Once the boat is in Michigan for 60 days then Michigan is the priciple use state. The poster indicated that the boat will be here in Michigan for over a year already.

 

Who would know other than the owner if it was here 60 days or 10 days? Some guy could just say "My uncle brought it up yesterday". Kinda hard to determine unless the guy is super honest.

The local CO who has seen the boat over and over whethere it is being used or not, just the fact it is in Michigan. It is not hard, as I said before been there did that. Besides arn't all boat owners honest?

 

Besides arn't all boat owners honest?

Yup, most of us are.

 

The local CO who has seen the boat over and over whethere it is being used or not, just the fact it is in Michigan. It is not hard, as I said before been there did that. Besides arn't all boat owners honest?

I'll second that from a Sheriff point of view as well.

 

Ray - as the orignal poster stated - his uncle is coming to Mich to return the vessel to it's 'state of principal use' *(AZ)* - I would argue that the vessel has not been removed to Michigan for Principal use - but rather - remains a 'visiting' vessel where his AZ reg would be valid - had the uncle moved to Michigan and intended on staying in Michigan then the 60 days would go into effect.

What do you think ?

But that's just my read on it -

ferg....

Originally Posted by boehr
If the boat has been in this state for 60 days or more than it is required to be registered in Michigan.

324.80122 Conditions to operation of vessels.
Sec. 80122. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person shall not operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel of any length on the waters of this state unless the fees prescribed in section 80124 for the vessel are paid, the certificate of number assigned to the vessel is on board and is in full force and effect, and, except for the following, the identifying number and decal are displayed on each side of the forward half of the vessel in accordance with this part and the rules promulgated by the department under this part:
(a) A decal and identifying numbers for a wooden hull and historic vessel as that term is defined in section 80124 may be displayed in the manner described in section 80126(2).
(b) A decal for an inflatable boat may be displayed on the transom of the boat.
(2) If a vessel is actually numbered in another state of principal use in accordance with a federally approved numbering system, it is in compliance with the numbering requirements of this state while it is temporarily being used in this state. This subsection applies to a vessel for which a valid temporary certificate is issued to the vessel's owner by the issuing authority of the state in which the vessel is principally used.
(3) If a vessel is removed to this state as the new state of principal use, a number awarded by any other issuing authority is valid for not more than 60 days before numbering is required by this state.

Boys you're both right & wrong.
What determines state of principle use? Exactly that.... principle use. The state where the boat is use 51% of the time is state of principle use. There are 365 days in a year, if the boat is used, stored etc 183 days in a year in Michigan, then Michigan is state of principle use. You could live in Ohio, Indiana, or Chicago and keep you boat in a Michigan marina for the summer & stored in Michigan in the winter for more than 183 days. If this is the case then you need a MIchigan boat registration.

If your boat is registered in another state of principal use (and used in that state for 183 days), and you decide to move the boat to Michigan thus making Michigan your state of pricipal use, then you have 60 days to transfer the boat registration to Michigan.

But this is all a mute point, since this particular boat has been in Michigan since last summer. Sounds like it's been in Michigan for over 183 days, thus making Michigan state of principal use and needing a Michigan registration.

But like Walleye Mike stated, how would we know?
It's not impossible to prove but highly improbable that an officer would know if the boat owner didn't tell him.

 

Again, bad advice. "How would we know?" You obviously are not a CO or you wouldn't make that statement.