1. Every motorboat on the waters of this state must be numbered and titled, except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 and NRS 488.175.

2. Upon receipt of an original application for a certificate of ownership or for transfer of a certificate of ownership on an undocumented motorboat, the Department shall assign an appropriate state hull number to the motorboat whenever there is no builder’s hull number thereon, when the builder’s hull number has been destroyed or obliterated, or if the builder’s hull number does not meet the requirements prescribed by the United States Coast Guard. The state hull number must be permanently marked on an integral part of the hull which is accessible for inspection.

3. A person shall not operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat on the waters of this state unless:

(a) The motorboat is numbered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or with the federally approved numbering system of another state;

(b) The certificate of number awarded to the motorboat is in effect;

(c) The identifying number set forth in the certificate of number is displayed on each side of the bow of the motorboat; and

(d) A valid certificate of ownership has been issued to the owner of any motorboat required to be numbered under this chapter.

4. Any person who purchases or otherwise owns a motorboat before January 1, 1972, is not required to obtain title for the motorboat until the person transfers any portion of his or her ownership in the motorboat to another person.

(Added to NRS by 1960, 474; A 1971, 1378; 1985, 342, 1962; 1993, 1645; 2003, 1567, 2823; 2015, 37)