Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider reminds boaters to stay legal by keeping their registration up to date.

Summer boating is right around the corner, and so is the deadline for renewing boat and watercraft registration decals. In Washington, all boat registrations expire on June 30.

Boat registrations can be renewed online at the DOL website or in person at a neighborhood vehicle licensing office, or the Auditor’s Office in Coupeville. Those who choose to renew at an office should make sure to note the registration number on the bow of the boat or watercraft and take that information to the office.

Due to budget cuts, DOL discontinued paper renewal notices for boats in 2010 and instead offered boat owners the opportunity to sign up to receive email renewal reminders. It’s too late to sign up for an email renewal reminder for this year, but boat owners can sign up online at dol.wa.gov to receive renewal reminders by email in the future.