proper documents
- Thread starter AbbySedge
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They would stand you on the lee rail and shoot you. 
You would/should have some evidence that you are rightfully in possession. At the worst they could impound the boat and hold you on suspicion until you could prove right of possession. You are required to carry the registration papers. My canoe wasn't registered but I also was never questioned. My dink isn't registered because it doesn't carry an engine. In that case possession is 9/10ths of the law.
You would/should have some evidence that you are rightfully in possession. At the worst they could impound the boat and hold you on suspicion until you could prove right of possession. You are required to carry the registration papers. My canoe wasn't registered but I also was never questioned. My dink isn't registered because it doesn't carry an engine. In that case possession is 9/10ths of the law.
if your name isnt on the registration and the owner reports it missing, you WILL not maybe but WILL be charged with theft and burdun of proff lies on you. Boat will be towed to nearest port and siezed.
just my humble professional opinion.
200 ton master
just my humble professional opinion.
200 ton master
Re: Proper Documentation
Always a pleasure to help. If you have read enough novels then you know that it is posible to get very good papers for a price in almost any city. The state registration papers are all we ever carry same as registration in your car. if the name on the registration and on your ID match you are home free. Just be sure to remember who you are today.
Always a pleasure to help. If you have read enough novels then you know that it is posible to get very good papers for a price in almost any city. The state registration papers are all we ever carry same as registration in your car. if the name on the registration and on your ID match you are home free. Just be sure to remember who you are today.
I've been sailing on and off since I was a kid in the 1980s. In Michigan, South Carolina, and Florida. I've yet to be stopped or boarded by the Coast Guard, but if I were, I'm pretty sure I'd like to have my registration and I.D. available.
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Only time we've been stopped was coming out of Mexico (VeraCruz) toward Houston. US Coast Guard.. we had all papers/passports, etc.. and they were fairly brief and well mannered.. Never boarded the boat from their high speed inflatable which had come from a cutter following us. The only scary thing was that the machine guns were pointing our way until they'd made radio contact and verified that we were OK.. Ohh this was at 3 AM .. quite a surprise when the billion watt searchhlight shown on the sail and blinded us all!..
The way boats are handled over to delivery captains or lent to friends unless the veswsel has been reported stolen chances are the rights of the operator to be in possesion of the vessel will not be questioned. Wether he has enough life jackets aboard for the number of persons will be more relevant.
Is it usually OK to carry photocopies of registration and ownership docs? With a smaller, more dinghy-like boat, it's harder to stow original docs securely.
Also, you'd think that by now that boat ownership and registration could all be verified electronically through your registration #, same as police can do with licence plates, and the docs are mostly a formality.
Also, you'd think that by now that boat ownership and registration could all be verified electronically through your registration #, same as police can do with licence plates, and the docs are mostly a formality.
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Pleasure boats must be either state registered or Coast Guard (Federally) documented ; according to tonnage.
Boats with state registration are required to display state registration numbers, and carry state registration document.
Failure to comply with either requirement is a misdemeanor and operator is subject to being fined much like a motor vehicle.
Documented vessels are not required to display exterior marking numbers, but are required to display boat name and "home port", usually on the stern, and to carry their current CG documentation papers.
Having been stopped and boarded twice (in the Ches. Bay) for "safety inspections", and, having been intercepted (but not actually boarded) twice (at night off SE Florida Coast) by the Coast Guard, I can tell you that as a practical matter, once given the boat name, home port, and owner's name, etc., ... they have ALL of your information in their on board computer databases and don't actually have to see the piece of paper.
I and several friends with boats were in Roque Island harbor last August when the Coast Guard from Jonesport came to inspect. Roque is a typical "first port" for people coming from Canada. so I expect that it gets a lot of attention. They were very professional and courteous. I keep my CG Documentation on the boat, but they also asked for and took my driver's license and were able to do a background check on me on the water (no wants or warrants, and I'm not on the "no sail" list). I am extremely happy and proud to be served by these men and women.
I encountered a Coast Guardsman and asked him where he was stationed. He told me he was stationed in Topeka Kansas. I asked how he guarded the coast from there. He said, "Have you noticed any of it missing?" Ba-Dum-Bump!!:cussing: Seriously these folks do a great service for us under dangerous coditions. Semper Paratus, Always ready. Fair Winds...
I have made a point of scribing my name and address in hidden places on my boat. That way if it ever goes missing I can inform the powers that be where to look and what to look for when they find it. In a case where someone I know might be involved I would also state that if this boat is found in the possession of XXXXXX it has been wrongfully acquired and should be considered stolen.
Large yacht registration??
Someone in this thread probably can explain to me why so many large yachts....motor and sail...are registered in the Cayman Islands. Is it simply taxes...and does the Coast Guard have access to all that 'info' also?
Great answers so far though...I enjoy the wealth of knowledge.
Someone in this thread probably can explain to me why so many large yachts....motor and sail...are registered in the Cayman Islands. Is it simply taxes...and does the Coast Guard have access to all that 'info' also?
Great answers so far though...I enjoy the wealth of knowledge.
is for taxes--no one wants to pay tax --on their babies, that would be s much as we pay for our sailboats when new!!! and who can blame em, anyway--do WE pay taxes without complaints???
lol..a far as boardings goes--we were boarded on my boat on my mooring-- we were advised there was a call made for excessive oiling and excessive holding tank effluent in our area. funny--there was nothing in or on the water except for fishies...... so we got dog treatment and jacked up for no reason--yes they CAN do this--my cat is still freeked and looking for the doberman that was brought into our boat.
yes they CAN board ANYWHERE and yes they CAN impound a boat and sell to another party, not affiliated with the boat in any way, at a much later date , after everyone has lost all and there is no recourse. i have watched this happen. ramifications of drama are very vast an all encompassing, as well as devastating to all involved.
why is it those CG inflatables, in fact, any inflatable with a blue LEO light, are always moving at WOT, as if they were in hot pursuit of dangerous persons all the time?
I was coming into an inlet this summer and a GC boat was coming along side almost every boat coming into the inlet. They came close to me three times but never came along side. I believe that it was because I had a urrent GC aux sicker on my mast.
USCG boarding
As a regular sailor to the Florida Keys I can say that I have only been approached by the USCG once. As one post stated, if your properly documented with your vessel name and port-of-call on your transom the boarding officers will know everything about you in minutes...before they board.
My experience was a 3am sail past Government Cut (Miami), three or so miles offshore headed south, as a couple of cruise ships were arriving. Once they pulled alongside, saw we weren't middle eastern...I guess, along with my quick invite to come aboard and check my paperwork and firearms (yes, many of us that sail the Florida Straits carry firearms), they bid me a fond farewell. They seemed pleasant but gave me a hard look. I guess three guys aboard a sailboat listening to Buffet and smoking cigars didn't seem too suspicious!
As a regular sailor to the Florida Keys I can say that I have only been approached by the USCG once. As one post stated, if your properly documented with your vessel name and port-of-call on your transom the boarding officers will know everything about you in minutes...before they board.
My experience was a 3am sail past Government Cut (Miami), three or so miles offshore headed south, as a couple of cruise ships were arriving. Once they pulled alongside, saw we weren't middle eastern...I guess, along with my quick invite to come aboard and check my paperwork and firearms (yes, many of us that sail the Florida Straits carry firearms), they bid me a fond farewell. They seemed pleasant but gave me a hard look. I guess three guys aboard a sailboat listening to Buffet and smoking cigars didn't seem too suspicious!
licensed captain
Chuck my son is a 200 ton captain and currently working on his 500 ton. he works for Cal Dive our of Louisiana. It is a diving boat. Are you familiar with them?
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