Has anyone any advice on obtaining a Title w/no information?

[richpcliquid]

Has anyone any advice on obtaining a Title w/no information about the previous owners or history on the vessel? I picked this one up way too cheap at a local auction for a charity and they had no title to give or info. This is my first boat purchase and I'm really looking forward to the restoration project but now I'm wondering if that might all be for naught.

Also, does anyone know pedro444 and/or how I might contact him? It's possible he may hold answers to some of my questions (i found this site because I did a search on the FL registration tag # and his username popped up).

Anyway, hope this site becomes one of my online homes away from home and look forward to getting to know my new lady and making new friends out there.

 

[caguy]

I don't know about Florida but I went round and round with the State of California on an old boat that didn't show up on any of their old records. The cat had been abandoned for about 20 years. Each clerk gave me a different story and forms to go with them. The I called the AAA club and in two visits I got it done with a simple affidavit. New numbers were issued for both the trailer and the boat.

 

[Raftco]

I think it depends on your state laws, in MA you can file for "abandonement" and after a review they will issue a new title (which I believe can take up to 3 months) OR you can take an etching of the HID # to the registry and they'll give you the info of the previous owner and you can have a new title issued and ask them to sign it over.

I was given a boat and had to locate the owner from 20 years ago and have them sign it over to me, everything is legal and I have a new title - cost me $20 to have a new title issued and a few hours of my time to meet the old owner. It was easier to do it that way then waiting for them to review an abandonement request.

 

[Benny]

Do you have the hull ID#. You should have gotten at least a receipt from the Charity organizer. Take the hull ID# to the tax collector's office and have them research the title. If they ask, just tell them you purchased the boat at a charity auction and need the title information. If you have a receipt to show them is good but should not be necessary. Check to see if the boat has a registration sticker and if it does copy the date and number. Ask the clerck about your options depending on what information you are able to research. It should not be hard, remeber their priority is fee and tax collection so if they can replace a dead tiltle with a paying one it is in the best interest of the state to pave the way.

 

[jtm]

what about asking you insurance company for some information/guidance- also what's the case if one "salvages" a boat there must be some procedure the USCG or the state marine police follow in thise cases.

 

[wufibugs]

Where does one find the hull ID number?

 

[richpcliquid]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful information. The Hull ID number is located on the stern over the starboard side. The HIN on mine is HUN54937M81F-27 which is actually what brought me here because pedro4440 had listed that same HIN on his profile page back in 08 so I was hoping I might be able to get in touch with him through here. I'm glad I joined though because it's great to get helpful input from other owners and IF i don't end up driving everyone nuts with my questions I'm sure this will become an online home away from home.

 

[jtm]

have you tried looking up the vessel name- assuming you didn't change it-
http://www.marinetitle.com/vesselrecordsearch.htm

or did you try send him an email via the owners directory contact tab here?

I think that if you have the vessel ID # you should be able to find the equivalent of carfax on the boat id # but it will cost some $ to the database companies .much like a title search