KRS 235.210: Boats exempt from registration requirement.

(1) A motorboat 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 awarded

to it pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of

another state; provided, that such boat shall not have been within this state for

a period in excess of sixty (60) consecutive days;

(b) A motorboat from a country other than the United States temporarily using the

waters of this state;

(c) A motorboat whose owner is the Unite d States, a state or a subdivision

thereof, except when such boat is leased to the public for compensation it

must be registered according to KRS 235.080(2);

(d) A ship's lifeboat used or intended to be used as such;

(e) A motorboat belonging to a class of boats which has been exempted from

numbering by the department after said agency has found that the numbering

of motorboats of such class will not materially aid in their identification; and,

if an agency of the federal government has a numbering system applicable to

the class of motorboats to which the motorboat in question belongs, after the

department has further found that the motorboat would also be exempt from

numbering if it were subject to the federal law.

(2) Boats exempt from registration may be required by the department to apply for an

official identification number to be displayed in accordance with KRS 235.110.