Changing Home Port

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Jan 27, 2008
3,086
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Anyone ever change their home port on a documented vessel? What forms and fees are required? What rules designate how you select your home port? I've seen people use their home town that is hundreds of miles from the ocean for instance.
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,701
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Anyone ever change their home port on a documented vessel? What forms and fees are required? What rules designate how you select your home port? I've seen people use their home town that is hundreds of miles from the ocean for instance.
I have but it cost me close to, or the same, if I recall correctly, as a new documentation. Not big deal just send in your money and fill out the forms. Your documentation number does not change. M

My neighbor Tom's Sabre 362 hails from Memphis, TN, he lives in Maine. He has an apartment there and fly's for Fed EX so it was obviously something about saving on some sort of fees/taxes..
 

Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
There is no practical reason to change a boat's hailing port. The primary purpose of a "hailing port" is to help diferentiate boats bearing the same name. There are no restrictions on duplicate names and unique registration numbers are not shown in the exterior. There are no regulations requiring a change in hailing port once a boat has been registered irrespective of where the boat is kept. It would be an unnecessary expense to make a change includying the lettering. Hailing ports are chosen by the person registering the boat and may include inland locations. I can understand if you purchase a boat with a not too salty inland port but recognize that ito change the name would be a matter of vanity and not requirements.
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,701
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
I can understand if you purchase a boat with a not too salty inland port but recognize that ito change the name would be a matter of vanity and not requirements.
Or the hailing port you chose, in this case Cumberland Foreside, ME, does not fit on the transom in the legal size letters, of the boat you just purchased..?? Doh'... Measure first document once....:doh:I was not required to change it but was required to have it on there and it would not fit. We simply shortened it to Cumberland, ME..
 
Dec 2, 1997
8,913
- - LIttle Rock
Not quite true if the boat is documented, Benny...

CG regs for documented vessels require that the current owner's hailing port be displayed along with the vessel name. "Hailing port" can be the location of the owner's residence or the vessel's location. For instance, someone who lives in Philadelphia but keeps his boat in Baltimore can use either as his hailing port.

There is no cost of changing it other than the price of the lettering. But when it comes to local taxes, the tax man doesn't care what's painted on the transom...he only cares about the actual location of the boat.
 

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,704
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I recently changed my hailing port. It cost $80. I could have legally stayed with the old port, but I want others to know where I sailed from.

It is important to keep your registered port posted as the CG will use the port of call info to help identify your boat if the need arises. I don't know what the penalties are for not properly complying, but, in the present security conscious climate we find ourselves in, I don't want to find out.
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
There you have it Dave: It's free; It costs money; You don't have to do it; You DO have to do it.

I suggest you do what you should have done in the first place. Go to the Coast Guard documentation on their web site and get the FACTS- not erroneous OPINIONS.
 
Jan 27, 2008
3,086
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
CG Website

I have been to the CG website but there is little to no useful information on this subject that I could find. Maybe I didn't search long and hard enough? I've printed out the documentation forms and not much on the forms either. I figured someone on here has already done it so why not ask.
Peggy the fee for changes to the document are 80 bucks so its' not free. if you change the port on the boat without changing the document could be a big problem if boarded for inspection or to get arrested for some illegal activity.
 
Jan 27, 2008
3,086
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Check this out

This fine is almost as large as the EPA for pouring toxic chemicals down the drain.

What are penalties for Coast Guard documentation violations? - The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 included legislation which increased the penalties for violations of documentation laws. The maximum penalty each day of continuous violation is now $10,000 per day.
 
N

NC-C320

Info

For change of hailing port, go the the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (Yahoo or Google can take you there). Change of hailing port is in Frequently Asked Questions. Requires file CG-1258. Fee schedule shows $84 currently.
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,818
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
$80.00

I called the Coast Guard about changing my documented sailboats hailing port and was told it cost $80.00.:eek:
I moved to Florida from NY and just wanted to put a Florida hailing port on it,it is registered in Florida so I don't really need to change.:naughty:
Every time the new yearly papers come from the CG I think about changing it but ask myself why pay the $$$$,maybe next time :doh:
Nick
 

Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
Yes, the lettering for the hailing port on the boat has to match the USCG registration. A change of boat name or port of hailing is not free, you get to fill a form and pay $80 plus handling. Maine, you could have placed the Boat's name and hailing port on the sides; some of us have open transoms.
 
Sep 29, 2008
1,936
Catalina 310 #185 Quantico
When in doubt call the NVDC

The paperwork can be a little confusing, but there are email and phone contacts on there and the USCG people are very helpful. I am a total fan of small government, but this is one thing that is really good for us and they do a great job.
 
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