What’s involved in building a boat that would be legal in Washington or Oregon? Are there legal limits in how far offshore you can go? Who is in charge? For instance, I own a small boat in Wyoming. It is legally licensed and equipped. Can I trailer it to Seattle or Portland and put it in the water and go exploring the bays just like I do lakes here in Wyoming? Are my licenses for it honored in other states? Who would I contact to avoid breaking laws I haven’t heard of? If I build a small boat that is licensed in Wyoming, is that good in other states?
Yes, and it is of course, the USCG. The USCG is in charge.
I have attached a link below to the USCG “Boat builders Handbook”
Many sailors have sailed the world in home built boats. I for one, build my own boats.
All you need to do, is follow the rules, which are mostly & mainly for your safety, and other then that, you can build a boat, get hull id number(s), get it inspected and approved, get it registered, and walla. . . it is just like store bought. Once you do that, all the other State and Safe boating rules apply.
John