Documented boat

[darylann]

When I bought my boat last month, I had asked how long the seller had owned the boat, and the broker told me it was a one-owner boat. I've since discovered in some old paperwork buried among some of the musty manuals and maintenance documents on board, that the seller was in fact the SECOND owner, and that the boat had been documented under the original owner's name (along with a different boat name)! Lo and behold, I found the numbers down below in the bilge.
So what do I do with this information? Is there a protocol I need to follow or be aware of? Should I find out if the change of title and boat name was ever recorded from the first to the second owner? Do I notify the USCG as the new owner?
The surveyor seemed to shrug it off when I mentioned it to him, as if it wasn't important and was totally up to me if I wanted to spend the money for the documentation or not. What exactly are the benefits of being documented, and would it be to my benefit to follow up on this?
Any suggestions, answers or advice welcomed!

[buster53]

Document or not document...your choice...unless the mortgage holder on the boat requires it.
You can look up your boat on the CG website to see if the documentation is still valid. If it is, it will be easier to transfer over to you. If not, a little more trouble, but again, your choice.
I like being documented strictly for the snob factor of not having state numbers plastered on the bow and in VA, documented boats do not have to be state documented. It's optional.

Another question, if you have state numbers on the bow, then your boat is not documented. Documented boats cannot have state numbers even though most are registered with the state sticker somewhere on the front end of the boat.

[waybomb]

A documented boat also leaves a good trail of ownership, liens, etc, thus, easier to sell.

[Midnightsun]

Mine is "registered" mainly because the previous owner had done so. FTI, registered is basically the same thing as documented in the USA. The numbers on a boat side like we usually see is called being licensed in Canada. I also like the fact that I do not need to have numbers on my boat and that I have a unique name within Canada as no other boat in the country is allowed to use the same name.

[denpooch]

Like Buster, I have my boat documented so that I do not have to display the numbers.
I am the second owner and what I found out it that the document number stays with that vessel for the life of the boat. When I purchased my boat this spring the broker wanted $995.00 to transfer the document! I declined and told them that I will take care of that myself. It cost me $100.00 and filing a few forms.
I would recommend that you call the USCG Vessel Documentation Center. They were excellent.
Every time I called, I got through. The folks were very helpful and in one instance even returned a call.
Here is their link:
http://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organizatio ... on-Center/
Lots of luck with your new boat.

[buster53]

Denpooch is right, always handle documentation yourself and save a lot of money. Every year you will need to renew for $26 and only do that yourself thru the CG website. If you ever get a reminder letter to renew and it gives you a website that wants $75, don't do it. It is a private documentation service, not the CG.

[darylann]

Qr Bbpost ...
Another question, if you have state numbers on the bow, then your boat is not documented. Documented boats cannot have state numbers even though most are registered with the state sticker somewhere on the front end of the boat.

There are state numbers on the bow. But the boat also had been documented. According to the Illinois DMV website: "A watercraft which has a valid marine document issued by the United States Coast Guard, National Vessel Documentation Center, is required to be registered (not titled) in Illinois if used upon the waters of this State for more than 60 days in any calendar year." I'm still not sure if this means that the numbers MUST be displayed or not; I've heard conflicting answers to that question.

[g36]

My boat is documented and in tennessee I don't have to display state numbers but I do have to adhere the state sticker with the renewal date of state registration. I went ahead and put the numbers on mine to avoid the possble hassle from the Tennessee wildlife agency. To me no big deal they got my tax money anyway

[bud37]

Qr Bbpost

Qr Bbpost ...
Another question, if you have state numbers on the bow, then your boat is not documented. Documented boats cannot have state numbers even though most are registered with the state sticker somewhere on the front end of the boat.

There are state numbers on the bow. But the boat also had been documented. According to the Illinois DMV website: "A watercraft which has a valid marine document issued by the United States Coast Guard, National Vessel Documentation Center, is required to be registered (not titled) in Illinois if used upon the waters of this State for more than 60 days in any calendar year." I'm still not sure if this means that the numbers MUST be displayed or not; I've heard conflicting answers to that question.

I wonder what they mean when they say "used upon the waters".....could that be in the state ,on blocks on the hard or only apply to floating.I don't blame you for having some confusion in the matter.......

[tomschauer]

It means floating in any particular state. In Maryland, the DNR (department of natural resources) sometimes visits marinas in the spring and takes picture of (floating) boats registered in other states, and returns mid summer to do the same. Any boat that was fortunate enough to be in the same place both times receives a bill for the state 5% excise tax.