Question about a documented boat I bought

Calif. Ted · Jan 29, 2014

Probably your boat was documented but has expired when previous owner purchased, you can look it up by name or number here;
http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html
Renewing a documentation is free while most states charge a small annual fee to renew, if leaving the US, documentation is more recognized by other countries.
Usually title to a documented boat is passed by signing the back of the document and the new owner has it transferred to his name. Do you have a copy of the document ? What's your number ?

centerline · Jan 29, 2014

besides the fact that other countries recognize a documented vessel easier than a state registered vessel, are there any other advantages? such as, are there any advantages to it if we never leave our country?

although we do cross the border into canada, we have had no problems with our state registered vessel. but then, we cross where its a common thing for many non documented boats to do (san juan islands, washington state to the gulf islands of canada)..

we are in the process of the paperwork on a boat right now, and one of the questions is, "do you want to document this vessel with the coast guard?" we said no...

and, as I understand it, florida does not recognize federal documentation as good enough to boat in their waters for any length of time. they require florida state registration, regardless of how you are licensed.
Disclaimer; I do Not know this for fact, but i read it somewhere.....

quadrille38 · Jan 29, 2014

Documented or registered there should have been a title for the boat. Just like a car. Title is what proves ownership.
Without the title proving ownership is shaky. You may be able to go to the secretary of states office with the bill of sale and hull ID number and as much other information as you can get your hands on and attempt to get a new title issued.

Benny17441 · Jan 29, 2014

Go to your State motor vehicle deparment/tax collector and ask what are the requirements to title and register a previously documented boat. Have the Hull number with you and let them run it through their system to see if the boat had been previously registered for user fees in the State. Even USCG registered boats have to be registered to get tags in most States. They will probably want to see notarized Bills of Sale. Request the information on record from the USCG registration and if you can patch up the ownership chain it may not be that difficult. The alternative would be hiring an attorney and posting public notices to get a court order. There is no need to get a USCG registration unless you intend on taking the boat to other countries.

azguy · Jan 30, 2014

In Arizona boats change hands without titles. It's bill of sale and signing of the boats registration card.

Benny17441 · Jan 30, 2014

A USCG registered boat does not need State numbers but in most States a registration is issued to collect user fees. The stamp is usually affixed in the port side of mast, cabin or topside. Does the name under the 2006 USCG registration correlates to the entity that sold the boat to the prior owner? A USCG registration is usually required by lien holders to protect their interests and by owners frequently visiting foreign ports. Being the fact that most States require a yearly registration fee anyways it makes sense to also title and register with that State getting numbers. In NC boat registration is done by:

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Transaction Management
1709 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1709

They do require proof of Ownership and a notarized bill of sale can serve as that. Go ahead and google the State requirements. See attached file.

centerline · Jan 30, 2014

kito said:
USCG information on this boat does reflect my previous owner's previous owner NC vessel registration is through the Wildlife Conservation department. I guess their form of title is called something like a vessel registration certificate, which I have for my C22. The USCG info shows that this boat hailed from miami FL. After the 5 digit vessel number it has a -NET9 on the plaque. Anyone know what the NET9 means?

probably designates a 9 ton vessel.....????

rsotomayor · Jan 30, 2014

I would like to add a comment. My boat was bought in the BVI- they had all the paperwork and had a letter of deletion from the UK so I could register it in Puerto Rico. When I went to register in PR, it showed that the boat had been registered here in 2004 but never deleted from the local registry. So, in order to get it registered here, I had to get an Abstract history and a letter of deletion from the US Coast Guard. If the boat was ever documented with the USCG , you request it online via their website- National Vessel Documentation Center- or call them up- in my case they were really helpful.
RKS

Warren Milberg · Jan 31, 2014

Net Tons

kito said:
Makes sense but my boat is only 5 ton. 9700 lbs actually. At first I thought it meant a coast guard region like north east so and so.

Net tons for documentation purposes do not have anything to with your vessel's weight/displacement, but rather its volume.

See USCG page on this subject:
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY VESSEL MEASURES FIVE NET TONS?

Net tonnage is a measure of a vessel's volume. It should not be confused with the vessel's weight, which may also be expressed in tons. Most vessels more than 25 feet in length will measure five net tons or more. For information about how tonnage is determined, including a web-based interactive form that calculates tonnages, visit the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center's web site .

Crazy Dave Condon · Feb 6, 2014

Kito;

To resolve the issue of whether or not the boat is registered in North Carolina, call them with the full hull number explaining to them what you bought and now you are trying to simply find out it was registered. About 8 years ago, North Carolina went to mandatory titling of boats but the one you have if it is even registered, ask if it was titled. If the response is no to both, that resolves the issue with North Carolina if purchased in North Carolina from the previous PO. If not, ask the previous PO where he bought it from what state and ask that state. As for Wildlife Resources Commission, go to the registration and titling division. You should be able to do this by phone vs. a trip into Raleigh.

Bill1565 · Feb 6, 2014

centerline said:
besides the fact that other countries recognize a documented vessel easier than a state registered vessel, are there any other advantages? such as, are there any advantages to it if we never leave our country? although we do cross the border into canada, we have had no problems with our state registered vessel. but then, we cross where its a common thing for many non documented boats to do (san juan islands, washington state to the gulf islands of canada).. we are in the process of the paperwork on a boat right now, and one of the questions is, "do you want to document this vessel with the coast guard?" we said no... and, as I understand it, florida does not recognize federal documentation as good enough to boat in their waters for any length of time. they require florida state registration, regardless of how you are licensed. Disclaimer; I do Not know this for fact, but i read it somewhere.....

Florida, as other states recognizes federal documentation, but still requires your money if you stay more than 90 days. Not"registration" but "user fee". I have no personal knowledge, but I think other states have similar rip offs ?Maine?, Connecticut?

Crazy Dave Condon · Feb 12, 2014

Kito;

North Carolina will not along with other states allow state registration if a boat is federally documented even if that documentation has lapsed. Keep me posted on what you found out from the Wildlife resources commission.

crazy dave

Question about a documented boat I bought

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