Vessel Documentation in FL?

[redunculous]

I have recently purchased a 40.5 Hunter in Florida

I plan to keep it there and have the following questions

What documentation should I carry on board aside from insurance?

The boat is coastguard registered do I need to re-register with them?

If not, what do I need to do if I change the name?

I'm not a US Citizen, can I still have it registered with the coastguard or do I have to jump through some other hoops?

It is not state registered - no numbers on the hull.

Thanks in advance to all of you in the know

Kind Regards

Redunc

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Regardless of the CG documentation, Fl requires registration, proof of payment of sales tax being a prerequisite. Fl has folks who walk the docks for the sole purpose of verifying boats in Fl longer than 90 days are registered. displaying reg numbers isn't required.
Proof of insurance is generally only required by the marina.

 

[seadaddler]

I think

I really think they really go to the Marina office and check the list of all boats renting a slip and than check for Florida reg,that's what they do in NY.
If you spend more than 90 days in Florida waters you need to reg and pay the tax,I had to show I paid tax in NY and did not need to pay Florida tax but did pay for Florida Reg.
You should call the DMV for the real info in your case,if you are on the east coast sooner or later the police will stop you or maybe not and also call the CG for more info
Only the marina will want insurance.
Nick

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Unless the rules have changed in the last few years...

Only a US citizen can own a USCG documented ("registered") vessel...which means that not only can YOU not transfer the CG documentation, but it was actually illegal for the PO to sell a documented vessel to anyone who's not a US citizen. Legally, they should have undocumented it before transferring title.

So you really need to have a chat with the regional USCG documtenation center (I THINK there's one in Miami)to find out what "hoops you need to jump through" to UNdocument the boat so you can legally register it in FL in your name.

Btw, no state numbers on the hull doesn't necessarily mean the boat isn't state registered...'cuz although most states require ALL vessels, whether documented or not, to be registered, documented vessels are not required to display state numbers.

 

[redunculous]

Thank you all

Guess I'll be making some calls from Iraq this afternoon!

I do have a Department of Defense ID which has a FIN (Foreign Identification Number), I wonder if the USCG will take that when all is said and done

Thanks again (just thinking out loud above)

 

[Bill1565]

In Florida there is a color coded dated sticker about 4"square that should appear forward of mid ships on the port side. On boats with fl numbers it is near them. This is your registration sticker. This is what you pay and re pay and re pay for. You should also have the registration piece of paper on board, but not the "title" to the boat. That should be someplace safe

 

[seadaddler]

Bill

We pay We pay and pay and we own boats.
It sure is nice to live in Florida now,NY is still asking for my money.
Nick

 

[Alex Dare]

Much of the info you'll need is on the NVDC site.
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/

If you call and get one of their officers, they're usually very helpful and pleasant.

I'm almost 100% sure a DOD ID card isn't going to get you around the US citizenship requirement for USCG Documentation. You should however be able to make the old document go away (delete from documentation is what they call it) and apply for Florida title and registration. Some states are bill of sale states and don't issue titles but I'm pretty sure Florida does.
You'll end up with numbers on the hull but you'll be legal.

I'm assuming this was a private sale and not through a broker?

Some of the things you'll need will be:
notarized USCG bills of sale.
original (not a copy) satisfaction of mortgage (if the boat previously had a lien recorded)
a USCG document abstract (available for $25 from the NVDC site)
a copy of the Document

It might be best, if you're trying to deal with this from afar, to contact a Yacht Documentation Service in Fl. They should be able to take care of everything for you.

 

[redunculous]

Alex

Thankyou very much for that breakdown

I will do as you suggest and speak to YDS in FL. Sounds like its the sensible approach

All the best

Redunc

 

[Benny17441]

Peggie is correct, to be able to register ownership of a vessel with the USCG a person needs to be a US citizen. I would assume that you at least received a legalized Bill of Sale. It is the sellers responsibility to cancel the USCG documentation. You would need to contact the Florida Tax Collectors Office and inquire about the requirements for you to apply for a Document Of Title from the state of Florida. A legalized (notarized) Bill of Sale and the information about the USCG Documentation and proper identification will surely be required. Perhaps if the seller is willing to cooperate and go with you to the Tax Collectors Office the procces can be simplified. Whne your application for a Document of Title is accepted you will have to pay the Sales Tax based on a fair Contracted Price which may compare reasonably with the book value of the vessel. At this time you may also apply for registrattion and you will be issued your FL Numbers to place on the hull and a users fee sticker. There are Marine Title offices in Miami that for a fee will make the due diligence verifications to insure there are no liens on the vessel and will handle the title documentation for you. They are licensed and bonded agents that can even hold payment in escrow until the seller complies with what is required of him and assure you get a clean title. As insurance goes there is no Florida law requiring you to keep coverage but a Marina can and will usually require that you keep coverage. Florida probably gets more hurricanes and has more lawyers than any other state so getting insurance will be highly recommended. The only document that you may be asked to show in continental waters is a current proof of registration and ID.