Mid-summer check: rego and beacon

Boat registration fees in most states go up on 1 July. Victoria and Queensland index them to a set government rate each year. In 2026 it was 2.75% in Victoria and 3.4% in Queensland, and NSW published new fees from the same date. By January, that's old news. What matters this month is whether your paperwork is current, because January is when you're most likely to need it.

Is your rego current?

Rego notices go to whatever address and email the agency has on file. If you've moved or changed email, the reminder may never have reached you.

• NSW: check the Service NSW app or account.
• Queensland: check online through Transport and Main Roads or Maritime Safety Queensland.
• Victoria: check through VicRoads.

If your boat needs rego, using it without one is an offence. It takes two minutes to check and saves an awkward conversation at the ramp with a boarding officer.

Make sure your registration numbers on the hull are still readable. Sun and salt fade them faster than you'd think.

Is your beacon registered?

If you carry an EPIRB or a personal locator beacon (PLB), it has to be registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Registration lasts two years from the date it was issued, then it has to be renewed. It's free, and you can do it online through AMSA's beacon registration site.

Why it matters: when your beacon goes off, AMSA's rescue centre looks up the registration. That's how they get your name, your boat and an emergency contact, and how they can ring someone ashore to ask where you were going. An unregistered or out-of-date registration means they start with less.

Check that your registration lists:

• the boat you actually use now, if you've changed boats
• your current mobile number
• an emergency contact who'll answer the phone, and who knows your usual trips

Is the beacon itself in date?

• Battery: EPIRB batteries typically last five to ten years. The expiry date is on a label on the unit. Once that date has passed, the beacon needs a new battery or replacing. Check the manufacturer's instructions for which.
• Float-free units: if your EPIRB sits in an automatic float-free bracket, the hydrostatic release unit has to be replaced every two years from installation.
• Self-test: most beacons have a test button. Follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly, because a wrong press can set off a real alert. If you do set it off by mistake, call AMSA straight away.

While you're there

Flares carry an expiry date. Check them and your fire extinguisher's service tag in the same five minutes. Don't throw expired flares in the bin. Ask your state maritime agency or local marine rescue unit how to get rid of them.

None of this is exciting. It's what makes the difference between a quick rescue and a long night if something goes wrong in the busiest month of the year.

Sources

• beacons.amsa.gov.au — AMSA beacon registration valid two years, free to renew online; EPIRB batteries typically 5–10 years; float-free HRU replaced every two years
• dtf.vic.gov.au — VIC indexes fees each year; 2026–27 rate 2.75%; fee unit $17.27 from 1 July 2026
• nsw.gov.au — NSW registration fees effective 1 July 2026, from $94 (to 3.0 m), PWC $512
• msq.qld.gov.au — MSQ recreational ship registration fees (fetch returned 403). The QLD 3.4% Government Indexation Rate for 2026–27 is from search summaries of QLD agency fee schedules and is not confirmed on a page we opened; confirm it before quoting the percentage.

From The Logbook, Waterline’s weekly email for people who love their boat. Send us a photo of yours and see it drawn before you pay.