Renew Registration or USCG Documentation for the first time
- Thread starter SailMaster
- Start date
Either choice is fine. One cannot choose one over the other based upon the notion that boat value might be effected because boat value has almost nothing to do with ease of transferring title. If the boat is not documented - instead titled within your state - then stick with the state process. If the matter is cost annual renewal of documented boat is $26 but fees to take the boat to documentation (out of the state title process) will cost more than $26. There might be a savings but that is an arithmetic exercise which may not be all that much different.
By the way - either way state taxes and registration fees will almost certainly be owing to the state - no matter whether title stems from federal documentation or state title.
Documentation can matter in some cases - limitation of liability, international transits, ship mortgages, foreclosure etc., and other admiralty claims - but these are rare in recreational vessel cases.
Charles
By the way - either way state taxes and registration fees will almost certainly be owing to the state - no matter whether title stems from federal documentation or state title.
Documentation can matter in some cases - limitation of liability, international transits, ship mortgages, foreclosure etc., and other admiralty claims - but these are rare in recreational vessel cases.
Charles
It can largely be a decision based on your state and whether they see your personal property (boat) as a lucrative municipal funding resource. Maryland is boater friend. Virginia is not. So you might want to take a local boat broker to lunch and get some advice. I find documentation to be simpler and less bureaucratic.
No problem that you feel warm and fuzzy holding a federal document but your title becomes no less clean under state law than it might be under federal law.
It is not clear what you intend by the phrase 'thefts leading to scam paperwork.' Can you tell us why you think a state title registration regime is more susceptible to a scam lien or theft than is the federal documentation regime?
The fact is anyone could file a false lien on your documented boat tomorrow morning with virtually no effort - just a form and a fee whereas state law requires far more detail in order to perfect a false lien.
As far as passing title to a buyer lien free, there is no case where the either form of title could possibly matter - excepting only cases where a lender might insist upon federal documentation so as to obtain a preferred ship mortgage.
Charles
It is not clear what you intend by the phrase 'thefts leading to scam paperwork.' Can you tell us why you think a state title registration regime is more susceptible to a scam lien or theft than is the federal documentation regime?
The fact is anyone could file a false lien on your documented boat tomorrow morning with virtually no effort - just a form and a fee whereas state law requires far more detail in order to perfect a false lien.
As far as passing title to a buyer lien free, there is no case where the either form of title could possibly matter - excepting only cases where a lender might insist upon federal documentation so as to obtain a preferred ship mortgage.
Charles
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We transferred CG documentation when we bought Bella. But unless you are involved in commercial trade, I don't think it's necessary. We post the state registration sticker on the bow but not required to show state registration numbers.
All documented vessels must comply with the laws of the state in which they are operated. The vessel’s COD must be shown to state law enforcement personnel upon demand. States may require documented vessels to be registered (but not state numbered) and to display state decals showing that they have complied with state requirements.
All documented vessels must comply with the laws of the state in which they are operated. The vessel’s COD must be shown to state law enforcement personnel upon demand. States may require documented vessels to be registered (but not state numbered) and to display state decals showing that they have complied with state requirements.
I think Justin understands but I will just note: If you represent your vessel as Documented, you have to keep it current to be in compliance. There are federal penalties. You thereby risk being out of compliance with state registry law by not actually being federally Documented and therefore subject to state registration.
Correctamundo Gunni. We just renewed ours last month. The folks at the USCG office are very courteous and helpful.
The USCG now charges a sizable (was it $150 usd) fee to END your documentation. Some, if not most states, now require a previously unregistered but documented boat to get the USCG letter before they will register it. And, BYW, if the documentation is past due, you have to pay to bring it up to date.
Can you provide a citation or double check this? My info is $15 to delete documentation (plus a letter and surrender of the last document.)