Last fall, I "adopted" a 1971 Catalina 22 from my boatyard in New York. They were going to junk it anyway, so they just gave it to me. But when I tried to re-register it, the DMV refused, saying that because the boatyard took the boat in payment for unpaid yard bills, the whole issue of ownership is unclear. How can I clear up this mess? I have paperwork attesting to the auction, and also that the boatyard filed with the NYS DMV, and a statement that they gave the boat to me as a gift. In New York State a sailboat doesn't need registration numbers if it doesn't have an engine. Do I simply buy a sculling oar, and avoid the whole mess?1VM6
Numbers, Numbers?
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You probably can get by with not registering the boat, but when you go to sell it, (eventually...) the new owner will have the same headache, and even less of a paper trail, since the yard will have gone out of business five years before, in 2015. You may also have problems getting a mooring or ramp/dock permit for an unregistered boat, even if it's not technically required. Perhaps you can convince the yard to "sell" you the boat for $1.00. THAT may allow the DMV to proceed with their end. It sounds like you have everything else you need. Perhaps you simply got a DMV employee on a bad day, and should try again. In the long run, registering the boat will save you from hassles further down the road, and from haaving to paddle long distances when the wind dies.
You probably can get by with not registering the boat, but when you go to sell it, (eventually...) the new owner will have the same headache, and even less of a paper trail, since the yard will have gone out of business five years before, in 2015. You may also have problems getting a mooring or ramp/dock permit for an unregistered boat, even if it's not technically required. Perhaps you can convince the yard to "sell" you the boat for $1.00. THAT may allow the DMV to proceed with their end. It sounds like you have everything else you need. Perhaps you simply got a DMV employee on a bad day, and should try again. In the long run, registering the boat will save you from hassles further down the road, and from haaving to paddle long distances when the wind dies.
PaulK May Be Right...
PaulK: Thanks for your input!When I tried to explain the chronology of events re the boat transfer, the DMV supervisor handed me a (4)pg. flyer that explained how a "garageman" entity(business)goes about taking posession of an auctioned boat. Guess what, that's not me! I will go to another office and try again. If worse comes to worse I can give the boat away to someone living in another state who doesn't like outboards. Then he/she can do the sculling.
PaulK: Thanks for your input!When I tried to explain the chronology of events re the boat transfer, the DMV supervisor handed me a (4)pg. flyer that explained how a "garageman" entity(business)goes about taking posession of an auctioned boat. Guess what, that's not me! I will go to another office and try again. If worse comes to worse I can give the boat away to someone living in another state who doesn't like outboards. Then he/she can do the sculling.
long shot but
if the previous owner (who owed the yard) is still around see if he can/will sign the boat over to you, either on a bill of sale or last valid state registration.
if the previous owner (who owed the yard) is still around see if he can/will sign the boat over to you, either on a bill of sale or last valid state registration.
Been there
When I did the same thing a number of years ago I did not have a problem. Did the yard file a lein against the former owner? They should have. They take legal action to sell the boat at auction to satisfy their lein and you are the legal owner. Should not be a problem after that. My only problem was the boat I bought was a homemade steel sailboat from Canada. No hull ID #. That took a visit from the NY State Police. Try to talk to a Supervisor at the DMV on a mid week day. Maybe a little easier
When I did the same thing a number of years ago I did not have a problem. Did the yard file a lein against the former owner? They should have. They take legal action to sell the boat at auction to satisfy their lein and you are the legal owner. Should not be a problem after that. My only problem was the boat I bought was a homemade steel sailboat from Canada. No hull ID #. That took a visit from the NY State Police. Try to talk to a Supervisor at the DMV on a mid week day. Maybe a little easier
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