State law requires any motor-powered boat, or boat operated on a Massachusetts public waterway, to be registered. This includes motorized fishing boats, canoes and sailboats with motors, and jet skis or wet bikes. You do not need to register non-motorized boats or if the U.S. Coast Guard has issued you documented registration. If your vessel is used only for a city, county, state, or federal agency, you can register it for no fee.