Effective Nov 10, 2014 the USCG is now charging $26/year to renew vessel documentation where previously it was free other than verifying and sending in paperwork each year and the charges for initial documentation. The day I received my paperwork in the mail is the day they started charging! Documentation was a great deal since you did not have to register the boat with AK DMV for $24 for 3 years. Unless you are traveling to places requiring vessel documentation, state registration is the cheapest route to go and be legal.
