This question pops up often. Rather than post my beliefs, I thought better to post the relevent regulations and let you be the judge "Is being Documented is of value". Entries in
ITALICS are my thoughts about the regulation and how I understand it is applied. I have included the link to the regulations that may be of interest. Blue Text is linked text to the CFR documents.
Opinion of Blue Water Yacht Sales:
Top Reasons to Document Your Vessel
1) You plan to use your boat in international waters.
If a boat will be used in international waters, the owner should absolutely obtain USCG Documentation for their vessel. Documentation offers a further protection from the United States to vessels as they move through international waters. State titling verses USCG Documentation for a vessel is like comparing a driver’s license to the passport.
bluewateryachtsales.com
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATION
Subpart A - General
§ 67.1 Purpose.
A Certificate of Documentation is required for the operation of a vessel in certain trades, serves as evidence of vessel nationality, and permits a vessel to be subject to preferred mortgages.
§ 67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
NOTE: Our "Recreational Vessels are identified as "Uninspected Vessels.
46 CFR 7.145(a)
§ 7.145 Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait and Strait of Georgia WA.
(a) A line drawn from the northernmost point of Angeles Point to latitude 48°21.1′ N. longitude 123°02.5′ W. (Hein Bank Lighted Bell Buoy); thence to latitude 48°25.5′ N. longitude 122°58.5′ W. (Salmon Bank Lighted Gong Buoy “3”); thence to Cattle Point Light on San Juan Island.
(b) A line drawn from Lime Kiln Light to Kellett Bluff Light on Henry Island; thence to Turn Point Light on Stuart Island; thence to Skipjack Island Light; thence to latitude 48°46.6′ N. longitude 122°53.4′ W. (Clements Reef Bouy “2”); thence to International Boundary Range B Front Light.
§ 24.15-5 Canadian pleasure craft temporarily using navigable waters of the United States.
Uninspected Canadian pleasure craft (uninspected vessels) temporarily using navigable waters of the United States may carry in lieu of the equipment required by this subchapter, the equipment as required by the laws of the Dominion of Canada and the regulations of the Department of Transport, Ottawa, Canada.
NOTE: It appears logical that this section is part of a Maritime Treaty action that recognizes the laws for vessels of both countries. I have not verified this in Treaty documents at this time. If so I think there could be a benefit here for Documentation.
PART 25 - REQUIREMENTS
§ 25.01-1 Applicable to all vessels.
The provisions of this part shall apply to all vessels except as specifically noted.
PART 26 - OPERATIONS
Authority:
46 U.S.C. 3306,
4105,
4106,
6101,
8105; Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2439; E.O. 12234,
45 FR 58801,
3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
Source: CGFR 65-50,
30 FR 16656, Dec. 30, 1965, unless otherwise noted.
§ 26.01-1 Applicable to all vessels.
(a) The provisions of this part shall apply to all vessels except as specifically noted.
NOTE: This regulation specifies the minimum operating requirements for the vessel. Our vessels are differentiated from Commercial vessels.
§ 28.245 Communication equipment.
46 CFR 28.245(a)
Except as provided in
paragraphs (b) through
(e) of this section, each vessel must be equipped as follows.
(1) Each vessel must be equipped with a VHF radiotelephone capable of transmitting and receiving on the frequency or frequencies within the 156-162 MHz band necessary to communicate with a public coast station or U.S. Coast Guard station serving the area in which the vessel is operating.
Note:
Each vessel which uses radio equipment to meet the communication requirements of this section must have a Ship Radio Station License issued by the Federal Communications Commission, as set forth in
47 CFR part 80.
NOTE: The relevance of Communication Regulation comes into play when a vessel goes out beyond the Boundary Line. Stated above isn the Boundary Line between Canada and the US. The section on Communication Equipment is associate with Fishing Vessels. This is also the area applicable to Pleasure Craft that are "UnInspected Vessels". Having a Ship Radio Station License is recognized in Canada.
