Idaho Boaters Paddle Plans For Tax State’s Proposal For Tax On Canoes, Kayaks Is Unpopular, Confusing

Kayakers, canoeists and other paddlers fear a move to tax Idaho’s non-motorized boaters will just send their money floating away.

The state Department of Parks and Recreation is proposing legislation to require that all manually powered watercraft using Idaho waters register with the state. Fees would be charged for kayaks, canoes, row boats, paddle boats and other vessels 7 feet and longer.

Kootenai County Assessor Tom Moore - who would have to enforce the law - says it’s ridiculous, poorly designed and would create more work with no additional money. Paddlers fear the law would charge them for improvements used by power boaters.

But Parks and Recreation officials maintain the plan would merely help nonmotorized boaters.

“It’s an idea whose time has come,” said Rinda Just, a legislative affairs attorney with the department.

The proposal mirrors registration fees for motor boats that have been in place for decades, she said. Boaters would be charged a similar annual fee: $5 to $13 for vessels up to 12-feet long and another $2 for each additional foot.

It would help police identify the owners of lost or stolen watercraft, she said.

“Motorized boating actually pays its way, and has for years, but non-motorized boating is just as much a burden to law enforcement,” Just said. “If police or rescuers find a kayak washed up downstream now, they don’t know if they need to look for a body or not.”

The bill also would set aside 85 percent of the estimated $60,000 to $100,000 collected each year from paddlers for facilities and services for non-motorized users. Just said that would include docks, launch ramps and restrooms.

Skeptical North Idaho and Washington paddlers, however, don’t trust the state to use the money wisely or solely for them. The state doesn’t understand their needs, they said.

Kayaks and canoes don’t really need ramps and docks like power boats do, said David Hunt, co-owner of Kootenai Kayaks. Their greatest need is for more motorboat-free areas.

“I might be supportive if the money went to give us more access to remote, quiet places,” he said. “But I’m apprehensive. I would guess the money would end up going to the power boat crowd.”

Spokane Canoe and Kayak is an association that boasts a membership of 205 households in Idaho, Washington, Montana and Canada. Club president Andrew Brewer says Idaho’s plan doesn’t take into account that most kayakers and canoeists own several vessels. It has the same drawbacks as a U.S. Coast Guard proposal that failed several years ago.

“We’d be unfairly taxed by the numbers,” he said, adding that he owns five boats.

The state would offer a discount to owners of more than five vessels.

Moore, with the county, said the bill simply leaves too many unanswered questions.

It requires boaters to apply registration stickers, but doesn’t say if county inspection is required, he said. Inner tubes under 7 feet long don’t have to pay a fee, but the bill doesn’t state whether they must register with the county.

“Does that mean every kids’ raft has to register?” he asked.

Just couldn’t say, but maintained that was not the intent.

“Our goal was not to be unduly burdensome on simple recreational users,” she said.

She said she believed many paddlers across the state support the plan.

“If they don’t, it probably won’t go anywhere,” she said. “We’re not in the business of falling on our swords before the Legislature.”