Can anyone decrypt the USCG registration info?

[Kings Gambit]

Marinas do not issue permits to folks for a boat slip that the applicant cannot prove ownership of the boat, and does not have documents (i.e., title). The title is in limbo until the USCG reissues it if a documented vessel. A state likely will not register a vessel also lacking proof of ownership—i.e., that title. Once you get it, THEN you can register with the state (but why?). I got into this exact same SNAFU when I bought my Pearson 30 in FL, which is why I used a documentation service my second time around. Let them deal with the headaches.

 

[jssailem]

Patrick It is possible that you can have a COD in process and register with the State. Pretty sure the DMV would gladly take your money.

Do you have a "Bill of Sale" from the Previous Owner? That and a copy of the COD from the Previous Owner plus the information that the CG is processing the document exchange should be sufficient evidence for any good lawyer to take possession of your boat should you walk away leaving the boat moored in the marina or fail to pay your moorage. That is why they want the document.

Usually the COD is reserved for commercial boats or recreational boats over a certain net tonnage. It is a nice way to have a consistent title record of the boat. It makes it easier to sail across borders into foreign countries, such as Canada.

§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.​

​

Tonnage is defined as:​

• Net tonnage (NT) is based on a calculation of the volume of all cargo spaces of the ship. It indicates a vessel's earning space and is a function of the moulded volume of all cargo spaces of the ship.
• A commonly defined measurement system is important, since a ship's registration fee, harbor dues, safety and manning rules, and the like may be based on its gross tonnage (GT) or net tonnage (NT).

Would not think your J/30 meets that standard. So getting the boat registered with the DMV is simpler

 

[ontherocks83]

Marinas do not issue permits to folks for a boat slip that the applicant cannot prove ownership of the boat, and does not have documents (i.e., title).

Don't know if I'm misunderstanding this, or if it is local to you, but I had a slip and my boat in the water for months before I actually had the boat properly documented. They just asked my for the length of boat and a check.

 

[jssailem]

They just asked my for the length of boat and a check.

Might be a regional thing. Our marina asks for the documents each year.

 

[patrickkidd]

Patrick It is possible that you can have a COD in process and register with the State. Pretty sure the DMV would gladly take your money.

Do you have a "Bill of Sale" from the Previous Owner? That and a copy of the COD from the Previous Owner plus the information that the CG is processing the document exchange should be sufficient evidence for any good lawyer to take possession of your boat should you walk away leaving the boat moored in the marina or fail to pay your moorage. That is why they want the document.

Usually the COD is reserved for commercial boats or recreational boats over a certain net tonnage. It is a nice way to have a consistent title record of the boat. It makes it easier to sail across borders into foreign countries, such as Canada.

§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.​

​

Tonnage is defined as:​

• Net tonnage (NT) is based on a calculation of the volume of all cargo spaces of the ship. It indicates a vessel's earning space and is a function of the moulded volume of all cargo spaces of the ship.
• A commonly defined measurement system is important, since a ship's registration fee, harbor dues, safety and manning rules, and the like may be based on its gross tonnage (GT) or net tonnage (NT).

Would not think your J/30 meets that standard. So getting the boat registered with the DMV is simpler

This is all super helpful. I have a notarized bill of sale (required for the COD exchange application) and original previous COD. Should be enough for the DMV.

 

[ontherocks83]

Crazy, mine doesn't even ask for proof of insurance. The only thing we aren't allowed to do is grill on the dock or on our boats while at dock.

 

[jssailem]

So Dock Streaking is permitted?

 

[ontherocks83]

HA Technically they didn't say we couldn't but, I'm assuming the acceptance of said activity is directly proportional to the perpetrator's level of attractiveness.

 

[Tally Ho]

My marina requires a copy of the registration or CG documentation, insurance, and my Drivers License...twice a year...
one for slip rental, one for winter storage.

Greg

 

[Kings Gambit]

Don't know if I'm misunderstanding this, or if it is local to you, but I had a slip and my boat in the water for months before I actually had the boat properly documented. They just asked my for the length of boat and a check.

That could not happen around here. You cannot even tie up overnight w/o all documents.

 

[jssailem]

Papers, PAPERS, We don't need no stinking PAPERS......

 

[Kings Gambit]

Gotta love this forum!

 

[kappykaplan]

Gotta love this forum!

Indeed! Quite a band of wascals!

 

[dlochner]

Like many Federal agencies, the USCG Documentation office is not over staffed. They process applications and inquiries in the order received. Depending on your timing, this can result in substantial delays.

Last February or March, my bank submitted a lien release to the USCG and it took 6 months to be processed. A recent FOIA request I made to the same office took about a month to rise to the top of the pile.

Boat sales this past year have been higher than usual which means the number of applications they have to process is higher than usual.

This fall I have been communicating with the Chief of the Documentation Office and I can assure you that she and her staff are helpful and pleasant people who are trying to do their jobs to the best of their ability.

 

[jssailem]

Add to @dlochner's comment, I suspect the agency processes commercial documents ahead of recreational documents.

 

[CarlN]

Your title is with the CG. You can not title it anywhere else - and to do so would be technically illegal.

But you can register it. And most states require you to "register" CG documented boats. There is usually a line on the state registration form that asks if the boat is documented and asks for the documentation number. Since you said this is an "exchange" just fill in the old documentation number - it never changes even if the owner changes.

The completed registration you get back from the state typically looks the same whether there is a title or not. You are not required to display numbers on the bow but should display the state registration sticker they give you. The harbormaster is likely to be happy with this.

While you're getting the boat registration be sure to seperately register the dinghy. You do need to display the state registration numbers on the bow of the dinghy or some water cop will eventually stop you.

 

[dlochner]

You are not required to display numbers on the bow but should display the state registration sticker they give you.

If the boat is documented, you may not display state registration numbers and you must display the state registration sticker if the state requires one. You must display the boats name and hailing port on the boat, there are specific size requirements for the name and hailing port.

 

[FastOlson]

Interesting thread!
Our little state has a separate agency ("Oregon Marine Board") that titles and registers only boats, and is funded solely by boat owners, i.e. no 'General Fund $'.
While we sometimes get criticized for not having a sales tax like so many others, it is *great* to have a dedicated state agency that handles all these sort of questions. I have transferred several titles and also created a new title thru them, over the decades, and was always able to talk to a live person on the phone easily.
Now I wonder how many other states have a similar agency? I would not want to be doing this specialized marine title stuff thru the DMV, where 98% of the expertise is necessarily focused on cars and trucks... !

 

[dlochner]

Interesting thread!
Our little state has a separate agency ("Oregon Marine Board") that titles and registers only boats, and is funded solely by boat owners, i.e. no 'General Fund $'.
While we sometimes get criticized for not having a sales tax like so many others, it is *great* to have a dedicated state agency that handles all these sort of questions. I have transferred several titles and also created a new title thru them, over the decades, and was always able to talk to a live person on the phone easily.
Now I wonder how many other states have a similar agency? I would not want to be doing this specialized marine title stuff thru the DMV, where 98% of the expertise is necessarily focused on cars and trucks... !

Boats are registered and titled in NY by the DMV. I've never had an issue dealing with them on boats or cars.

 

[Benny17441]

Put it in the hands of a professional. They maintain relationships and have some open channels with the USCG to inquire about or expedite the processing of Documents. Yes they will charge for something you can do yourself but if time is of essence it might be worth it. The trick is to find a good agent among all the companies that process title documents. Explain the situation to your harbormaster and ask him if there is anything that he will accept as proof that the documentation is being processed. Perhaps an agent or the USCG could issue a corroboration that the documents are being processed.