California No. 1 as state with most registered boats

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy.

You have read it here before, and then “it” was retracted later.

You have always wondered how Michigan beat California in anything

nautical, especially “it.” However, this time “it” is for real. The

2003 United States Recreational Boat Registration Statistics Report

states that California is “it” as the state with the most registered

boats.

The National Marine Manufacturers Assn. issued the results of its

registration statistics report that has clarified data from the Coast

Guard. In January 2004, California was reported to be No. 1 in

registered boats; however, those numbers were retracted a month

later.

The 2003 report lists the top three states as California with

963,379, Michigan with 953,554 and Florida with 939,968 boats.

Association figures show that the top 20 boating states accounted for

three out of every four of the nearly 12.8-million boats registered

in the U.S. in that year.

One of my sources, who wants to remain anonymous because of his

position, mentioned that Michigan finally purged its boating

database.

Prior years, Michigan was not removing boats from its count when

the vessels were relocated to another state, the boats were no longer

usable, or the boats were cut up into pieces.

Michigan’s count lost about 47,000 from its fleet while California

added more than 65,000 boats to its registration total in 2003.

The No. 1 ranking is important to California besides just pumping

up chests: The boat registration statistics are used to allocate

Aquatic Resource Trust Fund dollars among the states each year.

This will directly reflect how much California Department of

Boating and Waterways will receive from the federal government.

The money is raised from boaters by a self-imposed fuel tax, and

those dollars are to go back to boating in each state.

I spoke with Ray Tsuneyoshi, Department of Boating and Waterways

director, and he is very pleased that our state finally captured the

top spot in the nation for registered boats. Tsuneyoshi is very

proactive in our boating infrastructure and interacting with the

boating community.

Since the state steals about $25 million of boating dollars from

Tsuneyoshi’s budget already, any additional funds received by

becoming No. 1 will be used for additional boating projects.

I cannot emphasize enough how important boating is to California

through direct and indirect dollars spent in the recreational side

alone, not to mention the commercial segment that encompasses fishing

and charter boat fleets.

You can buy a copy of the 2003 U.S. Recreational Boat Registration

Statistics report after Feb. 17 by calling National Marine

Manufacturers Assn. at (312) 946-6200. The cost is $60 for

association members, $150 for nonmembers.

Tip of the week

Yes, you can become involved in the direction of Newport Harbor

for boaters and visiting boaters.

I constantly receive e-mails from those of you who read my columns

and listen to my radio show about boating issues and the lack of

boater amenities in the harbor.

However, all your e-mails include the statement that you do not

want to have your e-mails published but that you want to get

involved.

First, let me start by saying that you can get involved by sending

letters to the editor of not only the Daily Pilot, but also to

boating magazines. Keep in mind that there are many ways you can

help, and at times, I seem to feel like the lone ranger on boating

issues in the media.

Another very important way to be heard is for you to attend the

Newport Beach Harbor Commission meetings (the dates are on the city’s

website) and speak during public comments about issues, such as there

are no, none, nada boat-launch ramps in the lower bay of the largest

recreational harbor in the world.

Also, you should take the extra step of introducing yourself to

the commissioners.

Also, the Newport Chamber of Commerce has a Marine Committee, so

contact the chairman, Mark Silvey, for information and participation.

We need the support from the boating community to promote and

protect recreational boating.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from

noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and

Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to mike@boathousetv.com or visit https://www.boathousetv.com.