Section 9873 Of Chapter 2. Registration From California Vehicle Code >> Division 3.5. >> Chapter 2.
9873
. An undocumented vessel shall not be required to be numbered
under this chapter if it is:
(a) Already covered by a number in full force and effect which has
been issued to it pursuant to federal law or a federally approved
numbering system of another state; provided, that such undocumented
vessel shall be subject to the numbering requirements of this chapter
if it has changed its state of principal use and has been within
this state for a period in excess of 90 consecutive days.
(b) A vessel from a country other than the United States
temporarily using the waters of this state.
(c) A public vessel of the United States, another state or
subdivision thereof or municipality of such other state.
(d) A ship's lifeboat.
(e) Any vessel belonging to a class of boats which has been
exempted from numbering by the department after the department has
found that the numbering of vessels of such class will not materially
aid in their identification; and, if any agency of the federal
government has a numbering system applicable to the class of vessels
to which the vessel in question belongs, after the department has
further found that the vessel would also be exempt from numbering if
it were subject to the federal law. An undocumented vessel propelled
solely by oars or paddles and an undocumented vessel eight feet or
less propelled solely by sail are exempt from the provisions of this
chapter.