What is the purpose of a boat's registration?

The primary purpose of a boat's registration is to legally identify the vessel and its owner. This registration serves as an official record that helps authorities and law enforcement verify ownership, prevent theft, and ensure that boats are properly accounted for on the water. It provides a unique identification number for the boat, which is particularly important in situations like accidents, inspections, or legal disputes.

While options such as ensuring insurance or managing docking rights might be relevant to boat ownership, they are not the primary functions of registration. The registration process itself does not involve tracking fishing licenses, as that pertains to fishing regulations rather than the identification and legal ownership of the vessel. Therefore, recognizing the boat and its owner through registration is critical for maintaining order and safety on the water.