I am considering documenting my Cheoy Lee 30. I purchased it in Michigan, so it has a title. Where I am now, Tennessee, does not have boat titles. What is the process for documenting a vessel, and what is the quickest and easiest way? Thanks -M
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Ken Palmer
Go to the attached website
All of the instructions are on th US Coast Guard Website listed in the link below. I will be going through the process shortly, and it doesn't look difficult at all. They even list a phone number where you can talk with a live person to help you with any questions. Ken Palmer, S/V Water Colors 1990 Hunter 33.5
All of the instructions are on th US Coast Guard Website listed in the link below. I will be going through the process shortly, and it doesn't look difficult at all. They even list a phone number where you can talk with a live person to help you with any questions. Ken Palmer, S/V Water Colors 1990 Hunter 33.5
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Jim Anzalone
Why document
I am sure your state registers! You gain nothing from documenting and save a pain in the neck by not.
I am sure your state registers! You gain nothing from documenting and save a pain in the neck by not.
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tom
It's a work in progress
We sent the paperwork off over a month ago. Very simple form to fill out. I contacted the vessel documentation service and they said that they had all of our paperwork but that they were running 2 months behind!!!! We also registered in our state which is required. The advantage is proof of ownership worldwide. If staying in US waters the advantage is much less. But most states Tennessee included don't title boats. So if someone steals your boat and takes it to another state they can probably register it and use it. The PO of our boat said that he had a friend who bought a stolen boat.. He only found out that it was stolen when he tried to document it and discovered that it had been documented by the original owner before it was stolen. The original owner got his boat back.
We sent the paperwork off over a month ago. Very simple form to fill out. I contacted the vessel documentation service and they said that they had all of our paperwork but that they were running 2 months behind!!!! We also registered in our state which is required. The advantage is proof of ownership worldwide. If staying in US waters the advantage is much less. But most states Tennessee included don't title boats. So if someone steals your boat and takes it to another state they can probably register it and use it. The PO of our boat said that he had a friend who bought a stolen boat.. He only found out that it was stolen when he tried to document it and discovered that it had been documented by the original owner before it was stolen. The original owner got his boat back.
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dan
Im with Jim, why???
when we bought our C30 back in May we went thru the documented vessel gig. the only advantage is to the bank. they can file a mortgage against a documented vessel, they can only file a lien against a registered one. I sure you would have the boat insured (I would think) so if it gets stolen, call your insurance agent. he will have you a check long before the Coast Gaurd finds the boat. if I had it to do over again, I would just register it. It took 4 mos to get the paper work back.
when we bought our C30 back in May we went thru the documented vessel gig. the only advantage is to the bank. they can file a mortgage against a documented vessel, they can only file a lien against a registered one. I sure you would have the boat insured (I would think) so if it gets stolen, call your insurance agent. he will have you a check long before the Coast Gaurd finds the boat. if I had it to do over again, I would just register it. It took 4 mos to get the paper work back.
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Steve
Documented Boats easier to sell
I too am from TN, and have a Catalina 34 documented. It will be much easier to sell because of the lack of titling in this state. It is a guarantee to the potential buyer that the boat will be clean and free of debts, liens or theft. After the initial small fee, the yearly renewal requires nothing more than a signature - no fees involved. It's easily worth it.
I too am from TN, and have a Catalina 34 documented. It will be much easier to sell because of the lack of titling in this state. It is a guarantee to the potential buyer that the boat will be clean and free of debts, liens or theft. After the initial small fee, the yearly renewal requires nothing more than a signature - no fees involved. It's easily worth it.
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Michael O'
Yes and No......
I agree with most of the previous replies, but do think that documentation is an advantage for reasons given plus the advantage if you are in coastal waters. Documentation gets an "approving reaction" when visiting a marina or Harbor Patrol office (even, in our case, proof of attempt to document) and it will be good to have travelling through the Canal next year. However..... we sent in paperwork in April when we purchased and STILL haven't received our documentation number! BTW, it sure seems easier to get a loan with documentation. That is, the banks seem to prefer it. For inland waters it may be more hassle than it's worth? Michael O'
I agree with most of the previous replies, but do think that documentation is an advantage for reasons given plus the advantage if you are in coastal waters. Documentation gets an "approving reaction" when visiting a marina or Harbor Patrol office (even, in our case, proof of attempt to document) and it will be good to have travelling through the Canal next year. However..... we sent in paperwork in April when we purchased and STILL haven't received our documentation number! BTW, it sure seems easier to get a loan with documentation. That is, the banks seem to prefer it. For inland waters it may be more hassle than it's worth? Michael O'
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Bill Kinney
Reasons to document
Different states have different rules. Out here on the left coast (California) the state does not require documented boats to be registered. If you are documented, you save the annual registration fee. Note well, however, that most states do not allow this source of revenue to pass them by and require a registration sticker even on registered boats. Check your local rules.
Different states have different rules. Out here on the left coast (California) the state does not require documented boats to be registered. If you are documented, you save the annual registration fee. Note well, however, that most states do not allow this source of revenue to pass them by and require a registration sticker even on registered boats. Check your local rules.
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Chris Burti
Additional Input
Our lender required the documentation and did the work (after we haggled over the charge). We purchased in May and had the Doc. Number in June. NC does not require registration of documented vessels. Note that the USCG documentation of a vessel does not cover its tender which must comply with state requirements.
Our lender required the documentation and did the work (after we haggled over the charge). We purchased in May and had the Doc. Number in June. NC does not require registration of documented vessels. Note that the USCG documentation of a vessel does not cover its tender which must comply with state requirements.
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Richard Briggs
visit WV
Hello, As I mentioned in an earlier post, if you want instant documentation go to the documentation center in WV. You will walk out with your # in less than an hour. They handle walk-ins on the spot. They are very user friendly, and you also get to see a beutiful state. The documentation center is only about an 1 1/2 drive from Annapolis and Baltimore, other nice places to visit while your here. Have a nice vacation. Regards, Richard s/v La Vida Feliz
Hello, As I mentioned in an earlier post, if you want instant documentation go to the documentation center in WV. You will walk out with your # in less than an hour. They handle walk-ins on the spot. They are very user friendly, and you also get to see a beutiful state. The documentation center is only about an 1 1/2 drive from Annapolis and Baltimore, other nice places to visit while your here. Have a nice vacation. Regards, Richard s/v La Vida Feliz
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tom
Love WV
been there several times. Hawk's Nest and Rainelle are great. Charleston I can live without. However going to WV in person for documentation should not be required!!!! How is navigation on the Ohio River??? Can a slow sailboat go upriver??? We saw a lot of barges but I don't know how fast they can go. We rode our motorcycle along the river for 150 miles or so. Except around coal mines it was beautiful. If possible it might be a nice trip on the water!!!
been there several times. Hawk's Nest and Rainelle are great. Charleston I can live without. However going to WV in person for documentation should not be required!!!! How is navigation on the Ohio River??? Can a slow sailboat go upriver??? We saw a lot of barges but I don't know how fast they can go. We rode our motorcycle along the river for 150 miles or so. Except around coal mines it was beautiful. If possible it might be a nice trip on the water!!!
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dan
Chris of NC
as I stated previously, bank favor the documented vessel because they can file a mortgage instead of a lien. documented vessel goes thru a title search just like a house and then a "clear title" is provided to the bank. when a bank files a lien there is no guarntee that they are first in line if they have to repo.
as I stated previously, bank favor the documented vessel because they can file a mortgage instead of a lien. documented vessel goes thru a title search just like a house and then a "clear title" is provided to the bank. when a bank files a lien there is no guarntee that they are first in line if they have to repo.
Normal turn around is about 6 weeks.
Documentation starts with a fee of $133. If you own the boat free and clean. If you are changing ownership (like we did) there is an additional $8 charge. There may be another fee if you have a mortgage on the boat. They are backed up right now because they are in the process of automating the system. We submitted ours in June and got it back last week (about 10-12 weeks). If it takes longer than this there may be some problems and one should contact them to see what the status of their paper work is.
Documentation starts with a fee of $133. If you own the boat free and clean. If you are changing ownership (like we did) there is an additional $8 charge. There may be another fee if you have a mortgage on the boat. They are backed up right now because they are in the process of automating the system. We submitted ours in June and got it back last week (about 10-12 weeks). If it takes longer than this there may be some problems and one should contact them to see what the status of their paper work is.
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Debbie
Problems documenting
We are currently in the process of trying to document our boat and the process was taking awhile, so I called the documentation center and found out that this boat has been previously documented and the bank has not received the satisfaction of mortgage from a bank on a loan that existed 6 years ago. I think I finally have tracked down the right bank to get the satisfaction and contacted them a couple weeks ago and still have not heard anything from them, so I'm about to pursue that more. I hope this glitch doesn't prevent us from documenting. In Maine we have the choice to register or document and we chose documentation. We'll see what happens.
We are currently in the process of trying to document our boat and the process was taking awhile, so I called the documentation center and found out that this boat has been previously documented and the bank has not received the satisfaction of mortgage from a bank on a loan that existed 6 years ago. I think I finally have tracked down the right bank to get the satisfaction and contacted them a couple weeks ago and still have not heard anything from them, so I'm about to pursue that more. I hope this glitch doesn't prevent us from documenting. In Maine we have the choice to register or document and we chose documentation. We'll see what happens.
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Debra B
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Jim A
Re - Documented Boats easier to sell
No really! I bought a documented boat and it was one big pain! The owner owe the marina money and needed to get a loan to pay them off first. I don't buy it!
No really! I bought a documented boat and it was one big pain! The owner owe the marina money and needed to get a loan to pay them off first. I don't buy it!
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Jim A
NJ registration fee
Is the same for documented and undocumented boats. $65 for boats over 26 feet! OUCH!
Is the same for documented and undocumented boats. $65 for boats over 26 feet! OUCH!
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
You'd rather find out AFTER you bought it that
there's a lien against it that could result in the boat being seized and held till the lien is paid off by whomever has the most incentive to pay it off--or just happens to be the only person left who's collectable...which could be you? You obviously don't know how lucky you were that the boat was documented...'cuz documenting isn't a type of registration, it's a type of boat title. Without it, you'd have had no way of knowing about the lien the marina had against the boat till after you'd bought it...and the lien was against the boat--the security for monies owed--and the marina had first claim to it till the debt was paid...which means the seller no longer had clear title to it, and therefore no right to sell it. Compare it to selling a car or a house that still has a loan or mortgage balance outstanding...and making off with the full purchase price without paying off the bank. The bank doesn't care who supposedly owns the car or house now...they just want their money. Unsuspecting buyers have lost cars and houses--and boats!--this way. Instead of making a case against documenting, you just made an excellent case FOR documenting.
there's a lien against it that could result in the boat being seized and held till the lien is paid off by whomever has the most incentive to pay it off--or just happens to be the only person left who's collectable...which could be you? You obviously don't know how lucky you were that the boat was documented...'cuz documenting isn't a type of registration, it's a type of boat title. Without it, you'd have had no way of knowing about the lien the marina had against the boat till after you'd bought it...and the lien was against the boat--the security for monies owed--and the marina had first claim to it till the debt was paid...which means the seller no longer had clear title to it, and therefore no right to sell it. Compare it to selling a car or a house that still has a loan or mortgage balance outstanding...and making off with the full purchase price without paying off the bank. The bank doesn't care who supposedly owns the car or house now...they just want their money. Unsuspecting buyers have lost cars and houses--and boats!--this way. Instead of making a case against documenting, you just made an excellent case FOR documenting.
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Steve
Re Re - Documented Boats easier to sell
That's my point. Would you have rather found out about the money owed to the marina after you'd bought the boat? Guess who would have been liable for that money - that's right - you. Documentation saved you that money.....
That's my point. Would you have rather found out about the money owed to the marina after you'd bought the boat? Guess who would have been liable for that money - that's right - you. Documentation saved you that money.....
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rob
name change
We have a documented vessel and we are about to change the name..is it true we now have to reapply for documentation? thanks Rob
We have a documented vessel and we are about to change the name..is it true we now have to reapply for documentation? thanks Rob
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